Manhattan Murder Mystery
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Movie Reviews of Manhattan Murder Mystery
Movie Review: first Woody Allen film I saw and it didn't disappoint me!
Summary: 4 Stars
'Manhattan Murder Mystery' was the first Woody Allen film I saw, and quite admittedly, I was about to refuse to view more Woody Allen films after that because the lighting and the irregular effects was enough to bore me. But, as the movie deepened, I found myself being wrapped up into the plot. Now, I am proud to say that I am a fan of Woody Allen's works. 'Annie Hall', 'Manhattan', and 'Sleeper' to name a few. Plus, the other reason why I got through this movie was because I am a huge Diane Keaton fan, so I'm trying to watch all of her movies. This movie is basically about a bored, restless Manhattan housewife (Diane Keaton) who suspects her next-door neighbor just committed a murder and is sniffing around. Meanwhile, her neurotic husband (Woody Allen) is going crazy with his wife's strange and new change. Two of their friends (Alan Alda and Anjelica Huston) become interested too, and they become wrapped up into the event. This movie is fascinating and absorbing without having to show the usual murder-movie effects:blood, gore, creepy shadows, and all that dreck. The dialogue is fantastic. I especially love these Woody Allen lines: "Funeral ashes? Did you wash your hands?", "They're ashes. What, did they resemble Mrs. House?", "This is serious. This could be with the Warren Comission or something." and "Oh, jesus. Claustrophobia and a dead body. This is a neurotic's jackpot." I wish the ending could have been a little more surpirsing and satisfying. But, most of the movie have been really good. Seeing Diane Keaton and Woody Allen together for the first time was enough to make me run out and rent all the movies with these two together in. They make a wonderful acting pair. Now, thanks to 'Manhattan Murder Mystery', I've been opened up to the dimension of Woody Allen films with Diane Keaton starring in it. Who knows, you might get the same results-if you do, you won't regret it. Because of 'Manhattan Murder Mystery', 'Annie Hall','Manhattan', and 'Sleeper' has instantly become a few of my favorite movies. If it's not too late, run out and grab this movie! And while you're at it, pick up some more Woody Allen and Diane Keaton films, too. You won't regret it.Movie Review: Allen-Keaton Reunion Enlivens a Not So Inconsequential Cat-and-Mouse Caper
Summary: 4 Stars
It's tempting to look at this fairly lightweight 1993 comedy mystery as a bookend for Woody Allen and Diane Keaton after his Mia Farrow years. After all, as a long-married Upper West Side couple, they rekindle their natural chemistry like no time has passed at all since 1977's "Annie Hall" and 1979's "Manhattan". That's the primary but not the only joy to be derived from watching this often hilarious cat-and-mouse tale.
As they see their son (a young Zach Braff) off to college, Carol and Larry Lipton have become mired in a marital routine until Lillian House, an elderly neighbor, suddenly dies. It appears to be a heart attack, but Carol suspects foul play involving Lillian's husband. Most of the plot has Carol sleuthing for clues to fit her Agatha Christie-like murder theory with the help of Ted, a friend too close for Larry's comfort. Of course, Larry thinks Carol is going off the deep end and becomes jealous of Ted's burgeoning involvement in the case. Enter Marcia Fox, a glamorous, crafty writer who devises creative ways to unearth the killer (the pre-recorded phone conversation scene is a hoot), and you have romantic complications mixed up chaotically with the mystery. Naturally the shenanigans enliven the Lipton marriage.
Co-written by Allen and Marshall Brickman, reunited years after those first two classic Allen-Keaton films, this is all fun stuff and a great excuse for the filmmaker to pay tribute to favorite classics like "The Thin Man", "Rear Window" and "The Lady from Shanghai". Allen is Allen as Larry, a good thing here, and Keaton is her breezy energetic self as Carol. Again using his unctuous personality to advantage, Alan Alda plays Ted like the talkative friend you don't quite trust. Ideally cast, Angelica Huston is at her cunning best as Marcia. Carlo DiPalma's cinematography is a bit too shaky for my taste especially when the details of the characters' clandestine actions are divulged. But the other Allen touches are in check here, and the result is an ingratiating entertainment. The DVD came out in 1998 and consequently has none of the extras we have come to expect from more recent releases.
Movie Review: Woody in (Almost) Top Form
Summary: 4 Stars
Reuniting with Marshall Brickman, who co-wrote the two films that are considered Woody Allen's masterpieces (Annie Hall & Manhattan),
Annie Hall brings us a funny whodunit that also marks his reunion with Diane Keaton. "Manhattan Murder Mystery" was reportedly inspired by a murder subplot that was featured in the original version of Annie Hall. If you've seen Annie Hall, than you know that there is no murder subplot. It was cut from the film entirely. Anyway, Allen and Keaton play a married couple Larry and Carol Lipton. They, of course, live in New York and seem to be basically playing older versions of Alvy Singer and Annie Hall; Larry is a neurotic, film lover and etc. Anyway, one night they meet their neighbors Paul and Lillian House (Jerry Adler & Lynn Cohen); Larry doesn't particularly like them (he's sick of having to look at Paul House's stamp collection), but Carol does...Everything takes a strange twist though when, the next day, Lillian House is dead. Oddly enough though, Paul doesn't seem saddened by it at all which rouses Carol's suspicions. When she mentions to Larry that it might've been murder, he writes it off as crazy. But their friend Ted (Alan Alda) sees this as being logical enough and helps Carol to solve the mystery. Although, mystery might be stretching the word a little bit. Every theory I had while the film progressed turned out to be right in some way and, personally, I didn't really care if it was murder or not because the film was entertaining and funny enough to keep me from caring. The film is funny and entertaining (Allen, Alda, Keaton, and co-star Anjelica Huston all deliver big laughs), it's still not perfect. It drags at times, seems to go on a little too long (odd since it's only 108 minutes). If you're a fan of Woody Allen, however, than you should definitely like it because it's an entry in his filmography that surpasses some others.
GRADE: B+
Movie Review: So long, Mia. Hello, Keaton.
Summary: 4 Stars
After the abrasive brilliance of "Husbands and Wives", Woody wisely lightened up and reteamed with two of his old partners-in-crime, Diane Keaton and writing partner Marshall Brickman. What's amazing is that though the movie seems rather lightweight on the surface, it really juggles a lot of different ideas at once. It is a comedy crime caper, but it toys with the idea that Keaton is imagining the whole thing in an effort to spice up a humdrum marriage. Does Alan Alda's character find the possibility of a murder tantalizing, or does he simply see it as a great way to get closer to Keaton? Does Anjelica Huston's character find the possibility of a murder tantalizing, or does she simply see it as a great way to get closer to Woody? Or both? The only sure thing is Woody, who reminds us that, aside from everything else, he's an absolutely peerless comic actor. He goes from being skeptical and annoyed at Keaton's obsession, to gradually escalating levels of fear, fear of both the murder and of losing his wife. It's great to see these two working together again so effortlessly, as though "Annie Hall" had just wrapped the week before.Movie Review: Neurotic neighbors in NYC.
Summary: 4 Stars
This film will appeal to anyone who has ever had a kooky neighbor. Woody Allen's 1993 screwball-comedy, Manhattan Murder Mystery, tells the story of neurotic Manhattan book editor Larry Lipton (Allen), who is drawn into a murder mystery by his equally neurotic wife, Carol (Diane Keaton). (Keaton's role was originally written for Mia Farrow, who dropped out of the film when she and Allen were separating.) Carol becomes suspicious about the death of a neighbor in their luxury high-rise apartment building, and begins losing sleep while fretting over possible homicide theories. Larry believes the best neighbors are those who mind their own business. Anjelica Huston and Alan Alda play friends who also get drawn into Carol's obsession. In the end, Manhattan Murder Mystery is not so much a murder mystery as a comedy about neurotic neighbors living in close quaters. While Allen and Keaton recreate characters similar to their parts in Annie Hall, Manhattan Murder Mystery is less brilliant than that film.
G. Merritt