by Anthony O'Connor
Worth: Discs: 4, The Film: 4/5, The Extras: 2.5/5, Overall: 6.5/10
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
Cast:
Woody Allen, John Cusack, Mia Farrow, Diane Keaton, Chazz Palminteri, Jennifer Tilly, Alan Alda, Anjelica Huston, Liam Neeson, Juliette Lewis
Intro:
… if you absolutely adore these flicks, and yearn to have Bullets Over Broadway in 4K, then you won’t go far wrong with this small sample of the director’s ‘90s output.
The Films:
Woody Allen, the New York cinema auteur responsible for some 50 films over the years, tends to release three types of movie: the wacky, pure comedy flicks (Bananas, Sleeper, Love and Death), the intellectual romcom/family drama (Annie Hall, Manhattan, Hannah and Her Sisters) and darker, more complex human dramas (Interiors, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Match Point). With the release of Directed By… Woody Allen – Volume One (1992 – 1994), Imprint delivers three films that represent, to one degree or another, all three flavours of Allen’s output. And it’s a fine boxset, even if there are some confounding omissions.
Husbands and Wives (1992)
Husbands and Wives is the story of two married couples, Jack (Sydney Pollack) and Sally (Judy Davis), and Gabe (Woody Allen) and Judy (Mia Farrow). The story kicks off when the former couple announce that they’re getting a divorce, which throws Gabe and Judy’s world into chaos, self doubt and a desire to perhaps follow suit. Shot in mock documentary style, Husbands and Wives is all about yearning, self doubt and the idea that we never entirely know the one we’re with. It’s heady, heavy stuff with fabulous performances from Pollack and Davis in particular, and superb supporting turns from the likes of a very young, dishy Liam Neeson and an uncomfortably seductive 20-something Juliette Lewis.
While it’s always wise to try and separate the art from the artist, this film represented the final movie that Allen and Farrow did together before their hideous divorce and the appalling allegations that followed. The film itself hews uncomfortably close to some of the real life drama (a burgeoning attraction between Allen and Lewis’ character, for instance) and it makes an already at times tough watch even more wince-inducing.
That being said, there’s a lot of wisdom in the script, plenty of pithy observations on love and relationships and some beautiful New York cinematography. If you can get past the icky narrative parallels, Husbands and Wives is a sharp, acerbic, bittersweet film and one of Allen’s best ‘90s flicks.
Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993)
Manhattan Murder Mystery is the story of middle aged married couple, Larry (Woody Allen) and Carol Lipton (Diane Keaton). After the sudden death of their across-the-hall neighbour Lillian House (Lynn Cohen), Carol becomes obsessed with the idea that it was the deceased’s husband Paul (Jerry Adler) who somehow did the deed. Egged on by Carol’s friend Ted (Alan Alda), they begin to investigate the so-called “murder” but along the way find that they may have bitten off more than they can chew.
First things first, Manhattan Murder Mystery is a fun little movie. The main cast are mostly terrific, particularly Diane Keaton, and there’s capable support from the likes of Anjelica Huston as a super toey, slightly psychotic author (is there any other kind?). However, and this might just be an age thing, but Allen’s twitchy, nebbishy schtick in this flick is dialled up way too high and at times watching him gurn and stammer his way through scenes put your humble scribe’s teeth on edge. It’s not terminal, but it was certainly a relief in the next flick to see Allen replace himself with “perfectly good white boy”* John Cusack.
Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
Definitely the most commercially successful film in the boxset, and the only one presented in 4K, Bullets Over Broadway is a charming farce. Set in 1928 New York during prohibition, it’s the story of eager, pretentious playwright David Shayne (John Cusack), who is desperate to put on a show. After nagging his long-suffering producer Julian Marx’s (Jack Warden) ear off, David Shayne finally gets his shot, but there’s a catch. Due to the fact that the play’s investors are of the organised crime persuasion, Shayne must include gangster’s moll Olive Neal (Jennifer Tilly) in an important role. The playwright swallows his pride and goes ahead, especially when he manages to cast the great Helen Sinclair (Dianne Wiest) in the lead role. But things don’t always go smoothly, and Shayne is sent on an existential crisis when Olive’s taciturn bodyguard Cheech (Chazz Palminteri) starts giving him script notes that are actually… good.
Bullets Over Broadway is a charmer, full of era appropriate style and plenty of wacky, over-the-top characters. Cusack makes an excellent Allen analogue and his arc is actually very well observed with a surprisingly subversive denouement. Performance highlights include a fabulously awful Jennifer Tilly and a terrifically understated Palminteri, however, it’s undeniably Dianne Wiest who steals the show, with her recurring “Don’t speak!” bit of business howlingly well done. She absolutely earned her Oscar for this one.
The 4K print is very pretty, although it lacks sharpness in some scenes. Still, it’s undeniably the best way to see this flick and a welcome addition to anyone’s 4K library.
The Extras:
So, all three movies come packaged in a handsome looking hardbox and the blu-rays come with theatrical trailers and isolated music and effects tracks. And that’s it. That’s the lot. Which is a bit of a shock.
Woody Allen apparently thinks his films should stand on their own and has specifically forbidden any release of his to contain any special features. Which is bizarre stuff, but that’s just how it is.
However, three films with zero extras seems a little stingy for the price, and it would have been nice if an extra film or two had been included or even a documentary about Allen’s work.
The Verdict:
Directed By… Woody Allen – Volume One (1992 – 1994) is a boxset that contains three great (or at least, very good) movies but it isn’t necessarily a great boxset. The lack of extras and a scant three films feels a little half-baked and not necessarily the best value.
That being said, if you absolutely adore these flicks, and yearn to have Bullets Over Broadway in 4K, then you won’t go far wrong with this small sample of the director’s ‘90s output.
*Yeah that’s right, we’re making Better Off Dead references up in this bitch!
