Review of Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) by Joe T — 13 Aug 2007

My favorite Woody Allen film. All his favorite themes, obsessions, musings, and anxieties coalesce into a film that moves fluidly from comedy to drama, from ruminations on philosophy and art to those on religion, from irreverent absurdism to Bergmanesque fatalism.

Stylistically, he makes several explicit homages to Bergman and his cinematographer, Sven Nykvist. The performances are excellent, especially those of Martin Landau and Alan Alda. In talking of Allen's character in the film, perhaps it is best to reference a quote from Allen (used recently in his elegy to Bergman): "I've said it before to people who have a romanticized view of the artist and hold creation sacred: In the end, your art doesn't save you.

No matter what sublime works you fabricate...they don't shield you from the fateful knocking at the door that interrupted the knight and his friends at the end of 'The Seventh Seal.'" As with any movie I really love, I could talk for hours about this, but I won't go into any plot details.

Just find a copy of it and enjoy!