The movie mixes great suspense and comedy. The skepticism of woody allen and the wild (but maybe not so wild) imagination of diane keaton make for highly entertaining dialogues. The new york atmosphere of the movie is quite lovely too. The story moves fast and as Diane Keaton discovers more and more clues you find yourself seating on the edge of your seat wondering what next is going to happen.
This movie is wonderfull all the way to the end that parodies the ending of an old movie classic.
Allen plays Larry Lipton, a writer/publisher who just wants his and his wife's life to be normal. We soon meet his wife, Carol (Keaton), who is definitely more ambitious and more willing to take a risk. The supporting cast includes Alan Alda, Anjelica Huston, Ron Rifkin, and Joy Behar.
For the Liptons, things are just fine until they meet their neighbors, who seem very nice and welcoming. When they learn that the wife has 'died' of a heart attack, Carol becomes suspicious, especially when she learns that the wife had a heart disease, something she never told Carol. Larry dismisses this and wants her to leave it alone and let the husband grieve. Yet Carol thinks he is a little too up-beat after losing his wife of over 20 years. So naturally, Carol investigates along with her very good friend Ted (Alda). Larry slowly becomes jealous that the two of them are together all the time and thinks that if he doesn't become more ambitious, that his marriage is going to fall apart. So he decides to join his wife on solving this mystery. Together, the two encounter much more than they had planned on. The result is priceless. Their little one-liners to each other (Carol calling him a 'Fuddy-Duddy,' reminding me of Annie Hall saying 'La de da...') are great.
If you're a Woody Allen fan, this is a must see movie. If you're not a Woody Allen fan, you may not enjoy it. But if you have never seen any of his movies and don't know much about him, rent this and see if you like it!
So onto the review. As you may already know, Manhattan is often just as much a character in Woody Allen films as the human characters. This is certainly no exception. The opening aerial scenes showing the Brooklyn Bridge, and the impressive night view of Madison Square Garden are a great setting to start the film. As the film progresses, we see Larry (Woody Allen) and wife Carol go to the famous "21 Club," Larry and sexy Marcia (portrayed brilliantly by Anjelica Huston) dine and play cards at the Cafe Des Artistes. It is very hard not to simply sidetrack the story for the great scenery.
Let's talk about chemistry! The chemistry between Allen and Keaton, is truly top-notch in this film (as well as Annie Hall, another favorite), holding the story together nicely. Supporting cast members, namely Alan Alda and Anjelica Huston add a great twist to the story.
The homage to vintage mystery is evident in this film, and adds to its appeal. Witty dialogue, excellent character development, bustling backdrop of Manhattan, and the "murder mystery" make this an intelligent, fun and stylish mystery-comedy. It is fun to watch the first time, the second time, and many subsequent viewings.
Sensing this stale mate, the wife played by Diane Keaton, is out for some excitement. Which she gets, in a big way, when a neighbor dies. Just the evening after the two couples had a casual evening coffee.
Suspicions ensue. Old flames pop up. Relationships intertwine and flare. Clues unravel. Marital discord and sensitive chords are struck. All with vintage Allen humor, part neurotic, part drunk on its wit.
The cinematography is handsome, literally here, as candid steady cams are employed, giving the film its constantly roving hand-held look. I personally find this cloying after a while.
The murder itself is mildly suspenseful, but that's barely the point with a W-Allen movie. The twists are intelligent enough and managed to hold my attention for the duration of the movie.
All in all, despite the slightly cop-out denouement, it is generally quite an amusing experience. Recommended rental.
