Review of Play It Again, Sam (1972) by John M — 16 Feb 2014
I have always felt a kinship with Woody Allen characters because of their love for movies and their failure after failure with women. He may be a harsher critic than I am in regards to movies, but our failures with the fairer sex are 90% our fault.
Mostly because we can read them very well. Which is Allen's problem in Sam. He's obsessed with movies which turns him into one of the world's great watchers according to his ex-wife who wants to be involved in life rather than watch it.
He is a loving husband the problem is he doesn't really listen to what his wife wants, so she leaves. The movie is Allen attempting to connect with women his best friends, husband and wife Diane Keaton and Tony Roberts, set him up with.
He also has a constant companion in the form of Humphrey Bogart, who spits him love advice throughout the movie. Of course only Allen can see Bogey. The movie opens with the final scene of Casablanca and a reveal of Allen watching it in the theater.
This movie is the rare Woody Allen flick that he wrote but did not direct, however it very much feels 100% Woody. The final scene is a clear homage to the movie that inspired the title from music to cinematography to art direction.
But the scene is still all Woody just with a Casablanca flair. Definitely one of Woody Allen's best movies.
This review of Play It Again, Sam (1972) was written by John M on 16 Feb 2014.
Play It Again, Sam has generally received positive reviews.
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