Review of Zelig (1983) by Jason M — 20 Mar 2008

Woody Allen serves up many laughs and an oddly affecting story, in this mock documentary about Leonard Zelig(Allen), a man who in the 1920's becomes a celebrity because of his ability to change into anyone, he becomes known as the human chameleon.

First of all, it must be said that this film is technically brilliant, Allen is seamlessly put into numerous historical films, in fact so seamlessly it becomes difficult to tell which scenes are recreations and which scenes are not.

The film is quite funny, and Allen's allegory about the dangers of conformity is certainly still timely. Throw in Allen's nostalgia for old New York, and Jazz, and shots at celebrity, and you have a film that may not stand with classics such as Annie Hall and Manhattan, but is certainly a bright spot in Allen's filmography.