Review of Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) by Sausages M — 27 Jan 2012

I'd forgotten how absolutely brilliant this film is. And wonderfully, unremittingly bleak in its vision of the universe. Despite this, Allen manages to make it so that the more serious story (the crime) and the less serious one (the misdemeanour) compliment each other to make a profoundly logical and realistic statement about the nature of man. That in itself is an achievement, but the real genius is that the philosophy isn't allowed to overwhelm the film or the audience. I don't know how he does it. It should leave you shellshocked if you're paying attention, but it's nonetheless totally gripping. Very much an 80s film, but not in the way you think.

***SPOILER ALERT*** This is the ultimate social satire, one on the whole of humanity.