Saturday, June 19, 2021

Movie review - "Crimes and Misdemeanours" (1989) *****

 So good. So incredibly good. Tight. Smart. Funny. Sad. Grown up. 

Alan Alda's slimy producer is a sensation. Mia Farrow is lovely in a not-much role. Woody very good in a more dramatic part - though he is married when pursuing Farrow, my heart didn't break for him that much. Joanna Gleeson's grumpy faced wife is very good. 

Martin Landau is sublime, as is Anjelica Huston (admittedly another in Allen's long, long line of bitches be crazy, but still very good) and Jerry Orbach (whose sad eyed resignation as he deals with his snobby brother is a marvel of acting).

I even like the random grace notes of the sub sub plot involving Allen's sister. Maybe not so much him taking his young teen niece to movies. (Was that how it started with Soo Yi? Sorry, couldn't help myself.)

It's a masterpiece. No wonder Woody returned to the well several times in films such as Match Point and Cassandra's Dream.

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