Who doesn't enjoy a Woody Allen film? Scarlett Johansson certainly loves them; Woody Allen was the one to jumpstart/kick start her brilliant career. He has such wonderful comic timing in all of his films and clever stories within all of it; I love the fact that he is talented enough to write, direct and act in his films, also like the lovely Roberto Benigni (Life is Beautiful among other films) who I absolutely respect. Crimes and Misdemeanors was produced by Jack Rollins and Charles H Joffe and hosted a slew of respected actors, which include: Caroline Aaron, Alan Alda, Woody Allen, Claire Bloom, Mia Farrow, Joanna Gleason, Anjelica Huston (who also starred in The Royal Tenenbaums), Martin Landau, Jenny Nichols, Jerry Orbach, and Sam Waterson.
The camera techniques slow and deliberate, the dialogues always thought provoking, the transitions impeccable, certainly a cinematic gold. Laughter galore, yet definite drama and a tinge of sadness, as each person involved needs to find their own sense of morality. There is a line in the film which goes: "If you want a happy ending, you should go see a Hollywood movie." Well, this ending certainly wasn't Hollywood. There was an old Jewish professor that character Cliff Stern (Woody) interviewed and whose voice/narration is used throughout the film, as a way each man is able to examine what love and life means to them which I found fascinating; and towards the end of the film he sums it up quite beautifully even though he himself seemingly a lover of life commits suicide.
He says:
"We are all faced throughout our lives with agonizing decisions; moral choices. Some are on a grand scale; most of these choices are on lesser points. But we define ourselves by the choices we have made. We are in fact the sum total of our choices. Events unfold so unpredictably, so unfurl; human happiness does not seem to be included in the design of creation; it is only we with our capacity to love and give meaning to the indifference of the Universe. And yet most human beings seem to have the ability to keep trying and even to find joy from simple things, like their family, their work, and from the hope that future generation might understand more."
Well done again Woody Allen…too bad I'm not Jewish and my name isn't Scarlett Johansson! J The journey continues…
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