Review of Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) by Asif K — 26 Aug 2011

A Woody Allen Manhattan mosaic, Hannah and Her Sisters concerns the lives, loves, and infidelities among a tightly-knit artistic clan. Hannah (Mia Farrow) regularly meets with her sisters Holly (Dianne Wiest) and Lee (Barbara Hershey) to discuss the week's events. It's what they don't always tell each other that forms the film's various subplots. Hannah is married to accountant and financial planner Elliot (Michael Caine), who carries a torch for Lee, who in turn lives with pompous Soho artist Frederick (Max Von Sydow). Meanwhile, Holly, a neurotic actress and eternal loser in love, dates TV producer Mickey (Allen), who used to be married to Hannah and spends most of the film convinced that he's about to die. Appearing in supporting parts are Lloyd Nolan and Maureen O'Sullivan (Farrow's real mom), as the eternally bickering husband-and-wife acting team who are the parents of Hannah and her sisters. The film begins and ends during the family's traditional Thanksgiving dinner, filmed in Farrow's actual New York apartment.

Starring Woody Allen, Mia Farrow, Barbara Hershey, Dianne Wiest, Carrie Fisher , Michael Caine , Maureen O'Sullivan , Lloyd Nolan , Max von Sydow , Daniel Stern , Paul Bates , Lewis Black.

Directed by the wonderful Woody Allen. I call it his best written and directed movie and his 2nd best favorite movie after Annie Hall. he is great as usual.

Nominated for 7 Oscars including Best Picture, Director, Film Editing, Art Direction, Original Screenplay, Supporting Actor Michael Caine and Supporting Actress Diane West. winning 3 Oscars, Original Screenplay, Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress.

I knew I would love this movie. everyone loves Annie Hall and calls it his best and his favorite. I call it his favorite but not his best. this was better than Annie Hall in just few ways. still Annie Hall has its own charming feel to it but this movie was such a great was to spend an afternoon. it had laughs and some drama and finally a good ending.

This is a comedy drama about a family. story is told over a period of 2 years beginning and ending at the family thanksgiving dinner. Mia Farrow as Hannah married to Elliot played by Michael Caine is a very giving and helpful woman, she organizes thanksgiving parties. Elliot develops an adulterous romance with Hannah's sister Lee played by Barbara Hershey who is living for 5 years with a artist who is much old. she no longer feel anything is left with him and wants to move on. Mickey is played by Woody Allen himself is a neurotic tensed man who is ex husband of Hannah is now a TV producer concerned with his healthy and death thoughts he winds up doing stuff that is so hilarious to watch, he provides the comic laughs in the movie. Hannah's third sister is Holly played by Dianne West who is a cocaine addict woman with not much thoughts of what she wants to do. story continues like this and many other incidents that reaches 2nd thanksgiving day and things have totally changed for every person till that which you should see for yourself.

Mia Farrow did a nice job, she was good in her character but she isn't a good performer lets be honest. her performance wasn't that good. Barbara Hershey though wasn't nominated did a good job I really liked her. Dianne West truly is one of the best actress in supporting roles. though her character is not much likeable and annoying as hell but she truly did a really good job didn't overplayed it but kept it in a nice way. Michael Caine was stellar in this movie he did a fantastic job. Woody Allen did another neurotic laughable character and I liked him in this movie too.

Woody Allen as a director was extremely good. and so was the screenplay which was written extremely good like his best. I was truly impressed by his work. good cinematography and art direction and I love the score.

I had a really good time while watching this movie. I think it is his second best movie after Annie Hall but in few ways it surpasses Annie Hall. one of my all time favorites and one of the best movies ever. brilliant and outstanding. one of the fabulous storytelling, I was completely glued to the movie. a MOVIE NOT TO BE MISSED. you will have a bloody good time.