Review of Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) by Hugo S — 25 Dec 2009

CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS (1989).

Directed by Woody Allen.

Starring Martin Landau, Woody Allen, Mia FarrowCrimes and Misdemeanors is an expertly crafted movie by Woody Allen, its one of his best. Its actually two films for the price of one as we follow two stories, which have nothing to do with each other, but we can only assume there is a point coming at the end.First, we have Martin Landau as an opthamologist whose mistress threatens to reveal their affair to his wife, not knowing how to deal with the situation and not able to convince her not to do it, he thinks of getting rid of her in an old-fashioned pseudo film noir plot way. Then we have Woody Allen, as a documentarist with a failing marriage who falls for the associate producers of the profile he is directing about his brother-in-law, whom he hates. That cute little lady isnt ready for a relationship as she isnt over her divorce yet. In the end, both characters end up in the same room give a sense to everything we jsut witnessed.The Martin Landau plot is dealt very seriously, its dark and ambiguous to some extend. The tone isnt the same with the other plot, its lighter and looks like most Woody Allen films we've seen before, except for once, he isnt trying to create a hatable character for which we care. He is simple normal, with issues trying to deal with them, a bit more realistic and less neurotic.The soundtrack used for this film is very suiting, there are some incredible scenes with little lighting and low violin giving some chills and tension rightfully suiting for the scene. Yet, there are other scenes which are simply funny as it could be expected with Allen. Both tones mixes up perfectly.There are some pretty good performances in this one. Anjelica Huston is often on the edge of over-acting but she keeps it together and delivers the goods. Martin Landau is amazing and does show how his character feels inside with just one simple look. Alan Alda is fun to hate. Mia Farrow is charming and cute, as usual. And Woody Allen, is well, Woody Allen.In the end, Crimes and Misdemeanors is a film about guilt people may suffer over decisions they take, its often about morality but it also have some interesting insight on infidelity, love and religious education. It makes its point quite valuable in that last incredible scene involving the two main characters, wether you agree or not. One of Allen's best screenplay yet.