The
Essentials- #2
Crimes
and Misdemeanors (1989)
That awkward moment when you find out you were responsible for your mistress' murder.
"The Essentials" is a special column that will feature
some of my favorite films of all time and films that I personally feel are
classics. The movies featured in “The Essentials” are films that I could not
imagine living without. I sincerely hope to open readers up to new, wonderful
experiences.
“I’ll
say this again, the eyes of God see all. Listen to me Judah, there is
absolutely nothing that escapes his sight. He sees the righteous and he sees
the wicked. The righteous will be rewarded, but the wicked will be punished…for
eternity.”
The quote above is from the father of Judah
Rosenthal. One of the central characters of Woody Allen’s “Crimes and
Misdemeanors.” This film unravels a story about morality, faith, and making
wrong choices for all the wrong reasons. Judah Rosenthal is a success. He possesses
great wealth through his medical work. He’s got a wife who adores him, a close
family and many friends. What Judah unfortunately also has is a mistress who is
edging closer to exposing herself to Judah’s wife.
Judah consults one of his patients named Ben about
his personal problems, a man who ironically happens to be a rabbi. He believes
Judah should confess his affair to his wife, but Judah feels it will not only
ruin his marriage but his image in his community. The audience, however, is
compelled to wonder about Judah’s true motives. How much does he really care
about his wife versus his image?
Ben, the rabbi, is also the brother-in-law to a
documentary filmmaker named Cliff Stern. Stern’s marriage is beginning to go
downhill and he’s been out of work for many years. At the start of the film, he
is offered work from his wife’s other brother, Lester. Lester is a cocky big
time producer who has many Emmys and his success has left him smug. It is clear
that Cliff and Lester hate each other, and Cliff only works with Lester for the
money. Their feud boils over when they both try to win the heart of the same
girl.
The story is a back and forth between the lives of
Judah and Cliff. Judah reaches a breaking point leading a double life, and
consults his brother who has connections to the mafia. He wants to be free of
his mistress. He wonders though, is murder the answer? Cliff is the nice guy, and
obviously we want him to get the girl in the end. But how much luck does favor
him against a guy who is a rich success?
The cast includes: Martin Landau as Judah Rosenthal,
Woody Allen as Cliff Stern, Alan Alda as Lester and Sam Waterston as Ben the rabbi.
The film also features Anjelica Houston as Dolores (the girl having the affair
with Judah) and Mia Farrow as Hailee Reed (the girl who Cliff and Lester
compete for). The whole cast shines in the film and every performance is done
just right.
Woody Allen is the key man behind this film. Not
only does he play a central character, but he also wrote and directed the film
as well. As a lifelong Woody Allen fan, I am pleased to report this is one of
his very best movies. The movie is particularly well written and pleasantly
stocked with humorous scenes that will make you laugh. Don’t be fooled though!
This film falls first and foremost within the drama genre and earnestly commits
to its seriousness.
The secret weapon to this movie is the story. It unorthodoxly
features a character that views murder in a positive light. Another character
goes blind and commits suicide. Divorce and the struggle to obtain love are
other interesting side plots that this film depicts. Oddly enough, the only
people whom are successful in the film are jerks. Evil and sorrow plague each
character we root for in the film. If the eyes of God are on them always, what
does that say about God? “Crimes and Misdemeanors" is a blisteringly angry film. A tale which celebrates an existentialist ideal. Yet it is an instant classic which
deserves to be seen.
+Philosophy
+Woody Allen
+Movies You May Have Missed
+Philosophy
+Woody Allen
+Movies You May Have Missed
People need to see more of Woody Allen's movies. Glad you mentioned this film
ReplyDelete