Review of The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) by Marko H — 29 May 2008
It doesn't sound terribly unusual--a movie character comes off the screen to meet a depressed 1930's woman and romance/comedy ensues. Except that Allen handles the premise almost straight. While ignoring, often forcefully, the scientific implications, he touches on every other problem that could arise from such a situation.
What about the actor that plays the character? What about legal liability if he's out "raping broads" with the actor's fingerprints? How's he supposed to get by as a fictional and apparently immortal person? But the movie isn't even about that, as amusing as the scenes with the movie executives and theater owner are.
From what I can figure, Woody Allen put a big chunk of his own personal philosophy into this picture. Mainly, life is pretty depressing, but it's real, and that's better than the imaginary. And clearly Allen still has a soft spot for that imaginary.
It's a great movie with Allen's typical perfect cinematography and dialog. Nobody can film the 1930s New York like this guy.
This review of The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) was written by Marko H on 29 May 2008.
The Purple Rose of Cairo has generally received very positive reviews.
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