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Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989)

Director:
Woody Allen
COUNTRY
USA
GENRE
Drama/Comedy
NORWEGIAN TITLE
Mord og andre misforståelser
RUNNING TIME
107 minutes
Producer:
Robert Greenhut
Screenwriter:
Woody Allen


Cast includes:

CHARACTER ACTOR/ACTRESS RATING
Judah Rosenthal Martin Landau
Cliff Stern Woody Allen
Dolores Paley Anjelica Huston
Halley Reed Mia Farrow
Miriam Rosenthal Claire Bloom ½
Lester Alan Alda ½
Barbara Caroline Aaron -
Jenny Jenny Nichols -
Wendy Stern Joanna Gleason
Jack Rosenthal Jerry Orbach
Ben Sam Waterston
Cameos Daryl Hannah
Mercedes Ruehl
-

 

Review

Here is one of Woody Allen's finest moments. Crimes and Misdemeanors is a remarkably coherent and well-written rendering on moral and ethics which has an earnestness and intelligence that belies its characters and gives the audience a captivating insight. The film has Allen's usual richness of character, but with unusual nuances - for most of them at least. Allen has a tendency to throw on too many characters and relations in his films, but here he keeps it tight and focused and weaves his two stories nicely together. Martin Landau carries the weight of the film and does so solidly, but the real treat here is Alan Alda's slick and arrogant but ultimately charming and reasonable Lester. Woody Allen is daring as well, as he attempts to answer the very weighty questions he raises. We don't necessarily learn any universal truths, but the film is both perceptive and enjoyable.

Copyright © 14.3.2005 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang [HAVE YOUR SAY]