Review of Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) by Joel M — 14 Jan 2012

Woody Allen's most perfect film. While several other films made during this phase of his career were Bergman rip-offs with little of the comic touch of his earlier films, Allen here is able to wholly synthesize the lessons he learnt from Bergman into his own personality, creating a work that is more powerful than his funniest comedy or his most serious drama.

There are elements here that would resurface in many of Allen's better works in his later years, but very rarely would he be as brilliant as he is here at his absolute peak.