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Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989)
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Reviews Counted:37
Fresh:34
Rotten:3
Average Rating:7.9/10
Synopsis: CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS is Woody Allen's most mature, most profound film. Martin Landau plays Judah Rosenthal, a successful ophthalmologist having an affair with Dolores (Anjelica Huston), who is... CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS is Woody Allen's most mature, most profound film. Martin Landau plays Judah Rosenthal, a successful ophthalmologist having an affair with Dolores (Anjelica Huston), who is threatening to reveal their relationship unless Judah commits to her and leaves his wife. He admits his sin to Ben (Sam Waterston), a friend, a patient, and a learned rabbi who is losing his eyesight but not his faith. Judah turns to his brother Jack, who is connected to the mob and can make Dolores disappear. Allen plays Cliff Stern, a documentary filmmaker who accepts an assignment to film his pompous, successful brother-in-law, Lester (Alan Alda), a comedy star; both Cliff and Lester fall for Hallie Reed (Mia Farrow), a producer involved in the documentary. Allen the director brings all the characters together in a fabulous mix of comedy and drama, deceit and delight. CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS is a marvel of complexity, with fascinating, well-written characters; deep, complicated relationships; and thought-provoking examinations of religion, infidelity, morality, murder, comedy, and tragedy. [More]
Starring: Martin Landau, Anjelica Huston, Woody Allen, Joanna Gleason
Starring: Martin Landau, Anjelica Huston, Woody Allen, Joanna Gleason, Alan Alda, Caroline Aaron, Claire Bloom, Mia Farrow, Jenny Nichols, Jerry Orbach, Sam Waterston
Director: Woody Allen
Director: Woody Allen
Screenwriter: Woody Allen
Producer: Robert Greenhut
Reviews for Crimes and Misdemeanors
The movie's secret strength -- its structure, really -- comes from the truth of the dozens and dozens of particular details through which it arrives at its own very hesitant, not especially comforting, very moving generality.
Allen supplies no easy 'crime doesn't pay'answers, nor does he supply blatant redemptive baptismal scenes or bestow beacons of light upon his characters
Strangely enough, the side-by-side sagas only serve to reinforce the argument that Allen is at his most serious when he's being funny.
...tackles too many of life’s mysteries and provides too few answers. But isn’t that what life is all about: More questions than answers?
A metaphysical comedy about how we conduct our lives in a time when many think the world is devoid of moral purpose.
Like Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing, it is designed to inspire discussion rather than solve problems.
By far the most stark blending of humor and tragedy to come to the movies in some time.
A relative of Hannah and Her Sisters in its duplex structure and of The Purple Rose of Cairo in its bitter theme, Crimes is two movies in one, a blend of Allen's satiric and pretentious dramatic styles.
The movie generates the best kind of suspense, because it's not about what will happen to people -- it's about what decisions they will reach.
Latest News for Crimes and Misdemeanors
August 14, 2008:
Woody Allen Looks Back With EW ![]()
As he prepares to launch his latest feature, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Woody Allen has taken a few minutes to revisit a dozen of his career highlights with Entertainment Weekly. More...
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