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John Leslie's Chameleons (full title: Chameleons: Not the Sequel) is an adult film that only a true auteur like Leslie could succeed at (I could see someone like Paul Thomas attempt to do a film like this, but not deliver on the sex). In one of these rare adult films, we have a film with a substantial plot, good production values, quality performances (especially by Ashlyn Gere; although it is a bit hard to understand Rocco Siffredi at times, a wonderful soundtrack and scorching sex. In other words, Chameleons is the kind of film that every adult film should aspire to be. For those familiar with John Leslie's 1989 video Chameleon this film is indirectly related with people who can transform shape, form, and even sex to fulfill their sexual appetites. The plot is also similar to the 1983 Tony Scott film The Hunger. I don't want to reveal too many plot details but the film is basically a love triangle between wealthy couple Claudine (the exquisite Deidre Holland) and Reynaldo (Rocco Siffredi) and the abrasive Casey (Ashlyn Gere), who becomes obsessed with them after meeting them in a sex club. The film eventually becomes a battle of wits of who's fooling who to the point where even the viewer isn't sure. The late John Leslie had a reputation of being the first person to successfully transition over from actor to director and this film is a perfect example of why. Every shot of the film demonstrates that Leslie was a true auteur and in my humble opinion, is only second to Henry Paris (Radley Metzger) in making adult films that can stand on their own without the sex (although that is certainly watchable as well). If pressed for my favorite John Leslie movie this would easily be my choice and if pressed for my favorite adult film ever made it, I think I would have to settle on a tie between this and The Opening of Misty Beethoven.

"Celebrity", along with "Melinda and Melinda" are Woody's two underrated gems. This film pays tribute to Fellini's "8 1/2", along with other avant-garde cinema, down to the gorgeous black and white photography.

Kenneth Branaugh plays Lee Simon, a celebrity journalist, who finds himself entangled with different women, using them as stepping stones to get to another one. Judy Davis is Robin, Lee's neurotic ex-wife. Branaugh is essentially playing the Allen role here, but puts his own spin on it making it more than just a caricature, although he does fit the type well. Davis is great as usual, and the all-star ensemble also bring depth and meaning to their portrayals. One of my favorite Allen movies.

I got this movie out of the library on VHS of interest mainly because Harry Chapin did the music. It has every cliché you can imagine and the writing/acting are typical at best, but the characters and scenarios still kept me intrigued.

Tuesday Weld as Lillie, who gets pregnant as a teen and spends the rest of her life doing anything she can for her daughter (Kathleen Beller), repeating the same cycle her mother did for her.

As I said before, I got this for the Chapin music and it's the best part of it. It features some new music he did just for the movie, as well as some old classics ("Woman Child", "Tanged Up Puppet" and the Chapin anthem "Circle"). He also makes a cameo appearance in the end.

5/10