Play it Again, Sam
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Movie Reviews of Play it Again, Sam
Movie Review: One of Allen's Best!
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw this film at Cal State Northridge with Eric Lax as a special guest. He is the author of Woody Allen: A Biography, as well as bios on Humphrey Bogart and Paul Newman. David Kipen, book critic for the San Francisco Chronicle moderated the program.
In answer to an audience member's question during the Q&A session, Lax said that Woody Allen has never made a bad film. I agree with this comment because I've enjoyed most of Allen's films. The ones I haven't been too fond of have plenty of redeeming qualities in them anyway. Even the heavy-handed Interiors had a lot to recommend it, at least for true movie buffs. Play It Again Sam was one of the funniest and most underrated Woody Allen film I have ever seen.
Based on a play written by Woody Allen in 1968 and directed by Herbert Ross (who also directed film versions of Neil Simon plays back in the 70's), the film concerns a mild-mannered film critic named Allan Felix, played by Allen, who is dumped by his wife (Susan Anspach). What a gorgeous woman like her was doing with a guy like Allan Felix is beyond me, but for some reason, Allen (was Woody playing himself?) tends to pair himself up with a slew of gorgeous females in almost all his films.
Felix's apartment is a shrine to Humphrey Bogart and it is none other than Bogey himself who counsels him in the romance department since his ego is crushed. Felix's best friend Dick (Tony Roberts) and his wife Linda (Diane Keaton) also try to find a woman for him by setting him up on one disastrous date after another. When Felix finds himself falling for Linda, a series of hilarious complications take place as he is guided by Bogey on what to do. This results in a funny yet touching reworking of the Casablanca ending with Linda even donning the Ingrid Bergman hat and Felix giving her the "Maybe Not Today, Maybe Not Tomorrow" speech, after which he replies, "It's from Casablanca. I've been waiting my whole life to say that."
Play It Again Sam was the first screen pairing of Woody Allen and Diane Keaton, who would go on to star in over a handful of films together. All four lead actors, including Tony Roberts and Jerry Lacy, who does a perfect Bogart, were in the stage play together. It is interesting to note that, according to Lax, the actors knew which lines would get the most laughs because they performed the play on stage so often, that they slightly paused before continuing, so moviegoers wouldn't miss out on the next punchline.
This often overlooked film is, in my opinion, one of Woody Allen's most enjoyable comedies. The film has aged well, and the witty one-liners and comical situations are still hilarious. Perhaps the reason this film is hardly ever mentioned in lists of Woody Allen's best is because he didn't direct it, although it has the look and feel of an Allen directed film in every aspect. This was a sophisticated and worthwhile film that made me long for the days when comedies were actually funny.
Movie Review: Top 5 Woody Allen
Summary: 5 Stars
It has almost been forgotten that this film was not directed by Woody Allen - but this makes no difference it is still one of his greatest films.
We start the film with Allan Felix (Allen) watching Casablanca in the Cinema and feebly impersonating Bogart as he leaves the Cinema. The film proceeds with an imaginary Bogart advising Allan on how to deal with Women. Allan as you would expect is pretty hopeless!
This film is consistently funny with the blind date scene being one of the greatest comedy scenes ever filmed.
The script (based on Woody Allens own stage play) is full of great dialog, as you would expect.
Diane Keaton is wonderful in her role, and Tony Roberts is very funny in his supporting role as the business man who leaves a telephone number so he can be contacted everywhere he goes.
"I'll be at 362-9296 for a while; then I'll be at 648-0024 for about fifteen minutes; then I'll be at 752-0420; and then I'll be home, at 621-4598"
Remember this film was made more than a decade before mobile phones even existed in brick form.
The film finishes with a great recreation of the end of Casablanca.
If you don't like Woody Allen then you probably won't like this. However, if you have any appreciation of Woody and haven't seen this, you should buy this DVD now.
Movie Review: A Treat For Woody Fans: subtle and funny as hell
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm currently at 516-674-7077 and will be going to 516-759-8010. And so it goes as one of the funniest sub plots in another of Woody's "trying to score" themed films, (come to think of it, aren't they all...)this time with the big B, (Humphry Bogart) providing the guidence.
This is a really fine, fine film, and one scene in his apartment when meeting his blind date can almost hurt......
Everyone knows that Woody Allen is one of the best and most original American Film directors of our generation, and will be one of those guys like Bob "trust in America" Hope who is so big, they have to be given a special Academy Award because the folks around him just can't deal with his true stature.....
Fortunately for us, we have his work, and laughter will always be the best medicine, and the best compliment to his brilliance
*Note, there was a scene in the theatical release of one of his films with Woody watching the Zapruder Film and stating that JFK was clearly shot from the front...there ain't many people of his depth to do that. He will always have my respect for that single action. (Annie Hall)
Movie Review: Play it again, Sham... Go on!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
A work of genius. While this is one of Woody's finest moments, it also brilliantly underscores one of the dilemmas of modern man.
Allen's nerdy new age man Allan Felix is so in his head and ineffectual that his wife simply abandons ship - a brilliant observation on a social a trend that is if anything, on the increase.
The magic and true genius of this movie lies in the way Bogart's grounding yet wild Dionysian energy drives Allen's UberNerd to stop whining and intellectualizing and just act. I'm slightly paraphrasing, but Bogie's ghost's advice to Felix to 'Tell her she's beautiful' and 'Go on, kiss her... Go on!' are a joy to behold.
The revelation is that by finding his inner warrior, his wild man energy, he is actually successful, and creates a scenario in which the man and the woman can be more comfortable in their clearly defined, yet non-hierarchical roles.
While there is immense significance in the role and transforming power of the Bogart figure, this is still a warm, loving and utterly crazy Woody classic and can be enjoyed on any level.
Diane Keaton... sigh...
Movie Review: an oasis of humour
Summary: 5 Stars
This is perhaps the funniest film of all time, bar none. I had recently become disenchanted with the comedies of today. I found myself watching whole movies, and never even smiling, let alone laughing. Than I happened upon this little known oddity at the video store. I took it home, and laughed in a way that I had never laughed before. It is wonderful to see Woody Allen and Diane Keaton looking so vibrant and full of life! The jokes come fast and furious, but they do not beg the viewer for a response, they just happen. That, in itself, makes it funnier than most comedies of today. Also, there is very little, if any, profanity in this movie. I've noticed that movies of today seem to rely too much on juvenile toilet humor and profanity to provide laughs. There is none of that here. To watch this is to have the senses rejuvinated, and to laugh so hard that your jaws ache. Basically, this is the movie that you can innocently recommend to anyone, and they will love you for it later. Make it a point to see this film!