Once upon a time, Woody Allen made movies that were funny, clever, biting and memorable. Lately, if a film by the elder statesman of satirical cinema meets just two or three of those criteria, we're lucky.

 Sweet and Lowdown, opening today at the Garneau Theatre, does manage to be at times charming, touching and even wistfully funny, but its appeal might be limited to fans of Allen and of the subject matter - the late, great era of 1920s and '30s jazz.

 Still, you have to think that even Allen's most devoted fans might be reaching a point where they're beginning to get tired of seeing the man explore his neuroses in film. It may be great therapy for him, but unless it's also entertaining, there's little reason for us to go.

 This time around, we're examining the curse of the artist, through the (fictional) jazz guitarist Emmet Ray, played by Sean Penn. While it quickly becomes evident that Penn is portraying another Woody alter-ego, at least he isn't actually impersonating Woody, as Kenneth Branagh did (excruciatingly) in Celebrity.

 Ray is an extraordinarily talented guitarist who only manages to rise to a limited and fleeting degree of fame, due to his many foibles - drinking, petty crime and womanizing.

 Sprinkled with fake-documentary inserts by Allen and real-world jazz experts, Sweet and Lowdown tells a simple, if not particularly compelling, tale of how Ray finally realizes that there might be more to life than booze and music - that something called love might get in the way.

 Penn's performance is solid but strays towards over-the-top territory, suited more for the stage than screen. Uma Thurman as an inquisitive author trying to get inside Ray's head also goes this route.

 But the true gem in Sweet and Lowdown is the subtle but stunning performance by Samantha Morton, as a slow, mute woman who ultimately captures Ray's heart.

 Morton doesn't speak a single word and never resorts to facial contortions to get an emotion across. But she's a joy to behold and lights up the screen with every scene she's in.

 Another plus is Sweet and Lowdown is lovingly shot and drips with the atmosphere of Depression-era jazz clubs. Penn even appears to be playing guitar himself.

 But despite its good performances and interesting subject matter, Sweet and Lowdown never rises much above being just mildly amusing and slightly involving. The lowdown is it's sweet, but not filling.

(This film is rated PG)

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