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Reviews
Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
Cynics Be Damned...
"Hannah and Her Sisters" is quite possibly Woody's best film, certainly his most accessible, and arguably one of the ten best films of the 1980's. With an ensemble cast and multiple story lines interwoven and interrelated, Allen tells a wonderfully rich, and often times hilarious, human story; several, actually. Though some might make the case for this film being a drama, the true comedic element always finds its way to the surface, even during scenes of great dramatic tension. It's a testament to the talent of Woody and his cast that all the other characters, whose stories are so ostensibly dramatic, have instances where they're as funny as Woody's character, if not more so. The awkward bumbling of Elliot, the immature hostility of Holly and the existential plight of Mickey Sacchs all contribute, within the confines of their solemnity, to some of the funniest moments in any Woody Allen movie. Not to mention the interaction between Dusty and Frederick, which is probably the most jocularly gratifying scene in this or any Allen film. "Hannah and Her Sisters" has something for everyone, even those not familiar with or partial to the majority of Woody's work. It's funny, tumultuous and it has a happy ending, which feels less like a contrivance and more like a miracle.
Superman (1978)
Unbelievable...
Having recently seen the huge disappointment: Superman Returns, I felt an obligation to watch this version to see how it measured up. I couldn't believe my eyes, and ears! 'My God!' I thought, 'Characters that actually interact with one another!'. That is one of the key elements Superman Returns was missing: dialogue. This movie had so much fun with the story, and the characters, that despite its lack of modern effects, it was still immensely enjoyable to watch. There was real character development, real humor (particularly the scenes between Lex and Otis, which I found hysterical) and a palpable chemistry between Lois and Clark/Superman. From the very beginning, this movie grabs you tightly and keeps you interested. It has an enlivening effect on you, where you feel genuinely happy after watching it, which, to my understanding, is what the movies are all about. Gene Hackman had great one-liners, for instance,"Otis, do you know why the number 200 is so vitally descriptive to both you and I? Because it's your weight, and my IQ", and the entire cast sat right. The roles fit, the effects (for their time) were great, and the script was wonderful. It's amazing to me, that movies like this can still hold up against movies that are made with the gross national product of a small country. If you want Superman in all his glory, ignore 'Returns', and pick up this one; you won't be disappointed.
"Otis, do you want to see a very, very long arm?" "Oh no, Mr. Luthor!"
Superman Returns (2006)
Very poor...
Bryan Singer should have stayed with the X-Men franchise, so we would at least be able to enjoy ONE good superhero film this summer. X-Men 3 lacked in many ways, but still provided more entertainment than this heap of special (or, not-so-special) effects, coupled with boring characters and the silliest damn plot since Austin Powers: Goldmember. Superman Returns is a movie of assumptions. It assumes that we should make assumptions about things that should be explained, but are never explained, and are left for us to assume. Sound lame? Yeah, it really is. Lois Lane has a kid (Superman's son), and is engaged to another man: James Marsden. That's right; Cyclops accompanied his buddy Bryan Singer on this movie. Bad moves on both of their parts. The film jumps into a part of the Superman story that leaves out crucial details, which are assumed by the filmmakers to be assumed by us. Superman has already been around, already been romantically involved with Lois Lane, and has already sent (or, so we assume) Lex Luthor to jail. Why was he sent to jail? I don't know. They didn't care to explain it. But that's a nice reason for revenge. Two life sentences; why is Lex out of jail? Did that old woman help him? I don't know. And they never cared to explain it. The movie is a mess. I was actually so numb to the whole experience that I preferred Richard (James Marsden) to Clark Kent/Superman, and would have been disappointed if Lois and Clark had gotten together in the end (which, thankfully, they didn't). I didn't care about the characters, didn't care about the plot (Lex is building a continent out of crystals... what?) and I didn't care what happened to anyone (minus the kid; he was cute). My favorite guy in the whole damn movie (Kal Penn) had one line, consisting of three words. I don't even remember what he said. I don't care, either. The movie's bad. Special effects and audacious, presumptuous filmmakers, a great film does not make.
Vamp (1986)
An extremely underrated comedy...
When I started using IMDb, one of the first movies I wanted to check out was this one. I knew in the back of my mind that its rating would be low, and that not too many people would have seen it. It seems that both of my assumptions were correct. In any case, this movie is a personal favorite of mine. It's one of those films that make you feel at home (as odd as that may sound), because it's a movie my dad introduced me to when I was young, and that we've continued to watch, quite often, in all subsequent years. If you watch it as if it's a horror movie, then you're going to hate it, as I did the first time I saw it (when I was 8 or 9-years-old, I think). But, if you watch it without any preconceptions, you'll walk away with a big, dumb grin stretched across your face. One of the most quotable movies I've seen, and one of the funniest (for its sheer quirkiness). My dad and I are constantly throwing lines of this movie into conversation, most notably "Kid, I used to own thiiis cluuub. You know who used to work here? Louis Prima, Buddy Greco, Phil Harris: class!" along with "Do they do that in Vegas? Whoa! That's classy, now that's classy!". Is it Oscar worthy? Not even a little bit. Is it a perfect film? 'Course not, but it does what it's supposed to do: entertain. And very well, at that. For that reason alone, I'd say it's a great film.
8/10
Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989)
May be Woody's best...
Crimes and Misdemeanors seems to be a forgotten classic, as is the case with most Allen films. Put simply: every aspect of the movie is top notch (with the minor exception of Anjelica Huston, whom I personally felt was slightly over-acting, at least in her first scene). The script was magnificent, acting was terrific, and the overall message is thought-provoking and brilliantly represented. It's that kind of film, after you're done watching it (at least for me, anyway), you find it hard to snap right back into reality, because you've been so involved in the story and are still thinking about those last words . It's uplifting in an odd way, considering the circumstances at the end of the film, and the final message almost counteracts that.
It certainly ranks among Woody's best, and may just claim that title.
Buy it. Watch it. It's great.