The Purple Rose of Cairo
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Movie Reviews of The Purple Rose of Cairo
Movie Review: It was great seeing it again after so many years!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I loved this movie when it came out in the 80's and saw it many times in VHS; however, had not seen it since. Still consider it to be one of Woody Allen's best films, and one with a most original storyline. I can say I enjoyed it as much now as then, although certain lines that I vividly remembered didn't have the same punch as then. For me it was a most pleasant reminiscing...Movie Review: Woody's Most Philosophica Film. Buy It!
Summary: 5 Stars
`The Purple Rose of Cairo', written and directed by Woody Allen, is one of those rare movies which is so strongly and imaginatively crafted that it is almost painful to watch a second or third time. While it is certainly not Allen's best, it almost seems like Allen, his actors, and his crew almost flawlessly craft it. Even the fact that Allen does not appear in the film seems to heighten its quality.
While movies (or fiction) in movies play a big role in many of Allen's films such as `Play it again, Sam', `Stardust Memories', and `Deconstructing Harry', this film is unlike those, most especially since this one is not at all biographical. It is most similar to `Zelig' in that the primary premise of the plot has something of a sci-fi twist to it. In addition to the foreground story of the principle characters played by Mia Farrow, Jeff Daniels, and Danny Aiello, there is the comic relief provided by the actors on the screen in the New Jersey theatre who are free to ad lib their time on the screen, since they cannot follow through with the plot with one of the main characters out roaming the streets of New Jersey. One has to thank Allen for this, as without the relief of the figures coming alive on the screen, the movie would be almost unbearably sad.
As Allen's movies are typically done on a small budget and he has a great reputation for bringing projects in on time and within budget, it is a little surprising to see the quality of the filming in this movie. Of course, since the whole premise is based on the contrast between the fictional film and the `real' film, much effort was put into the quality of both. The quality of the `film within a film' is especially well done, as the characters really look like they are from an early 1930's film, except for the very recognizable Edward Herrmann.
And, the acting in the `real' film is even better, as the `fictional' film acting is just a bit over the top. Daniels and Aiello are especially strong throughout the film. Farrow seems just a little too much like her usual `Rosemary's Baby' mousy character until the final scene when she shows a transformation on her face over the course of about two minutes which is so subtle, you may miss it if you were not expecting it. Since you do look for it, the incredibly slow but obvious transformation from sadness to engagement in the Fred Astaire / Ginger Rodgers movie is a tour de force.
This may be one of Allen's most philosophically deep films, which enhances the film's interest without weighing it down so that you can no longer appreciate the story. I can attest to the deep philosophical content with the fact that when I was young, I wondered whether I was `real' or only part of a movie. And, this was at least 25 years before the release of `The Purple Rose of Cairo'. This puzzle led me to take up the study of philosophy in college.
None of Allen's films have any director's commentary, but this is one where I would be most interested in hearing where Allen got some of his inspiration. Then again, there is very little here which is entirely new. Allen is giving us a new treatment of many of his usual themes using many of his usual devices. But, as usual, every time Allen throws all these ingredients into to the mix for a new movie, he seems to come up with a new and engrossing way to bring them all together.
Surprisingly, for a film with a fantasy premise, this work has a lot less humor than the very realistic movies such as `Crimes and Misdemeanors' and `Hannah and Her Sisters'. For that reason, it may be less enjoyable to own, but I think it is easily among the upper half of Allen's films in overall quality.
Movie Review: Another Woody Allen Masterpiece!
Summary: 5 Stars
A poignant glimpse at the fantasies of everyday people in the depression relating to the glitz of Tinsel Town. In 1930 New Jersey, a forlorn woman toughs out the depression with a dead-end job and a philandering, dead-beat husband who beats her and takes her for granted. Like so many in blue-collar America, the only solace she can find is in the hey-day productions of RKO with the like of Fred and Ginger and the offbeat serio-comic fluff such as presented in their latest feature, ";The Purple Rose Of Cairo";. After walking out on her husband and losing her job she retreats into the bowels of the 'Jewel' theatre watching a full days showing of ";Rose"; when the romantic lead incredibly starts a dialogue with her and boldly goes where no character has gone before. Who has been a fan of the movies and not wished to be part of the many stories unfolding on the silver screen? Allen skillfully brings this premise to bear in a touching and romantic fantasy so unlike his other efforts. The Author has never found the merit in him that so many critics have, but with this film; he mercifully stays out of it and relies on his pen to trigger the necessary drama without overdoing his trademark wit. A first.Movie Review: One of my favorite Woody Allen films, by far!
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Purple Rose of Cairo" is one of those rare films whose concept is intriguing as the end product. "Rose" is witty, thoughtful, masterfully directed and acted, and, for once, we get a chance to enjoy Woody Allen's great talent as a skillful director, without his setting foot on the screen (not even in a cameo--like Alfred Hitchcock did in all of his films).
Cecilia (Mia Farrow), is a waitress at a diner, during a time in the 1920s when the Great Depression has set in, times are tough, jobs are scarce and the people are looking for an escape. What better way to seek a diversion than in a movie theatre, where one can live a life of romance, comedy, drama and adventure, vicariously through the larger-than-life actors on the projecting screen?
Cecilia's all-consuming passion for films is her one refuge from the grim life she has built with her abusive, philandering husband (Danny Aiello). One of her favorite films, by far, is "The Purple Rose of Cairo." When she likes a film she will see it over and over again, almost nightly. Furthermore, when she isn't in the movie theatre watching the film she knows almost line-for-line, she discusses the plot and the smoldering actors with her co-workers. Cecilia may have stepped away from the fantasy of the silver screen, once the picture has ended, but it lives on in her heart long afterwards.
One night, when she goes to "The Purple Rose of Cairo" for the upteenth time, the adventuresome and brawny Tom Baxter, the romantic lead (Jeff Daniels), sees the starstruck Cecilia sitting alone in the theatre, and literally steps off of the screen to be with this mysterious and beautiful woman whose life revolves around films and melding life on screen with life in the day-to-day world. This has never happened before, and Tom causes quite a stir in the film world, as well as up on screen, because the characters literally cannot leave the scene they were acting in until he returns. Also, the actor who portrays Tom Baxter is stunned and concerned that his clone, or, rather, his character has taken on a life of his own in the 3-D world!
This film truly has staying power from beginning to end. It is packed with witty dialogue, clever insight and plenty of warm, over the top humor that is, oftentimes, uproariously funny. You can tell that Woody Allen wrote and directed this film as a tribute to the films that inspired him--perhaps, to become the great director and screenwriter that he is today. "The Purple Rose of Cairo" is truly an underrated masterpiece.
Movie Review: The best thing about 'Purple Rose' is its ending
Summary: 4 Stars
It is amongst the best of Woody Allen's diverse oeuvre, along with my favorites - "Love & Death", "Manhattan", "The Manhattan Murder Mystery", "Everything Says I Love You" & his more recent work "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion".
I won't spoil it for those of you who have yet to see the DVD but, in a nutshell, the bestest thing about 'Purple Rose of Cairo' is its ending with a twist. The ending made it less of a cliche but a well thought-out, sophisticated and touching piece of work. Watch it and weep!