MUBI

This movie had me in stitches! It’s both hilarious and suspenseful. “Manhattan Murder Mystery” is an homage to the old mystery films of the 40s and 50s; Alfred Hitchcock would most certainly be proud. This isn’t one of Allen’s classic comedies, but it’s certainly close. It’s often forgotten in a conversation about great Woody Allen films, but I usually remind people of its existence. I’m a huge fan of the chemistry between Allen and Keaton and she is by far my favourite of Allen’s leading ladies. They’re bickering in this movie is absolutely great, but sometimes the relationship drama is unnecessary. The only problem I had with the film is how Allen tried to balance the romantic side of the film with the mystery side of the film. It kind of gets muddled up and sloppy at points, but the comedy and dialogue is what makes the movie great. It has a wonderful cast that includes the great Anjelica Huston, Alan Alda, Jerry Adler, “The View” co-host Joy Behar and a young Zach Braff in what is his first acting role. Highly recommended, especially for Woody Allen fans. The one scene that had me laughing myself into a stupor was when they are playing their doctored message to the murderer over the phone and Allen screws up his tape recorder and ends up fumbling around with the film which gets tangled in his fingers. I was on the floor. Funny, funny stuff. (B)

This is supposedly the remnants of the murder mystery subplot that was removed from Annie Hall, and I find that all too believable. It felt to me like a lazy assemblage of conversational punning and some frustratingly stagnanat cinematography. It was also repetitive, and Allen is at his most fervant and whiny, second to Shadows and Fog. I’m a fan of his work, and his neuroticism is trademark, but once he gets on the whiny trip I have a hard time with it. Keaton is adorable, and Alda is good, and the climactic scene with the mirrors behind the movie screen is very cool and somewhat symbolic. Not bad, just half-assed.