Year: 1989
Director: Woody Allen
Country: US
Language: English
When one thinks of "great comedic film personalities" usually some names that come to mind are Groucho Marx, Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Woody Allen. Being the only one alive, Allen continues to entertain us, even throughout his seventies. 2011's Midnight in Paris received great acclaim, as well as obtaining a few Oscar nominations. His 80's masterpiece Crimes and Misdemeanors received a tremendous amount of praise as well. .
The film is about Ophthalmologist Judah Rosenthal, who has had an affair with a woman named Dolores for several years, and now she threatens to ruin his life if he doesn't marry her. When his brother Jack suggests to have Dolores murdered, Judah is faced with a big moral dilemma. Meanwhile, documentary filmmaker Clifford Stern is trying to make a film of a philosophy professor, but instead he's commissioned to make a portrait of successful TV producer and brother-in-law Lester.
Crimes and Misdemeanors is very Bergman-esque, an incredibly meditative film that will have you thinking about love, death, morality, god and so much more. Depending on how you interpret the film, this is one of Allen's bleaker comedies. Firing on all cylinders, Allen addresses great pain and anguish while simultaneously discussing the nature of good and evil. Like The Purple Rose of Cairo, we also see the many different pleasant and unpleasant truths about film and reality. Remarkably Allen's film remains incredibly funny despite having the being able to break our fragile hearts.
The film's construction allows viewers to frame their own conclusion given its wide distance of tone. Does the film deny the existence of God or confirm it? Is the end of the film tragic or filled with opportunity? It's a bit difficult to say. During a scene in which Judah remembers a childhood dinner discussion his aunt says "Hitler got away with it!" in response to Judah's rabbi father claiming that God punishes all evil. This line is incredibly important as it blurs the line of karma. Perhaps not all evil is punished. However I would argue that Hitler didn't get away with it and while evil may have a short term advantage, good will always conquer in the end. Though "good" must not be "meek".
In conclusion, Crimes and Misdemeanors has a wonderful cast and hilarious dialogue. It is brilliantly directed and extremely thought provoking. The ending will have you in tears, certainly you will be thinking about it long after the film ends. If I had more time I would dissect every scene, however a review will do. More films like this need to be made. Praise it! 5/5
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