Zelig
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Movie Reviews of Zelig
Movie Review: Woody Allen Does It Again: Hilarious Documentary
Summary: 5 Stars
1983's "Zelig" was written and directed by Woody Allen. This is of course years after 1977's Annie Hall and so Woody Allen's comic talent was already established. Woody Allen's witty, intellectual humor is most prominent in this film which he directs as if it were a documentary. It's entirely in black and white, except for the contemporary scenes of interviewed characters, there is footage from the 20's, 30's and 40's, including footage of Adolph Hitler making a speech at a Nazi rally. Woody Allen plays Leonard Zelig, a shy, unassuming little man with an identity disorder. He cannot truly be himself because he becomes transformed into his surroundings. When he is around Jewish rabbis, he becomes Jewish, when he is around African-Americans, he becomes black, when he is around overweight people, he becomes fat, etc. This miracle of biology earned him the title of the Chameleon or "The Changing Man". Mia Farrow, who coincidentally was romantically linked with Woody Allen at this time in the 80's, plays the role of Zelig's love interest Dr. Eudora Fletcher. Eudora Fletcher takes a genuine interest in Zelig and examines him psychologically through hypnosis. The scenes of their sessions are extremely funny but then again so is much of this movie. Woody Allen is the first Forrest Gump, being as funny and awkward, at least 10 years before Tom Hanks did it in the 90's. Zelig is so loved that he is hob-nobbing with all the greats of the time- Charlie Chaplin, William Randalph Hearst, Fanny Brice, F. Scott Fitzegerald and Zelda, etc. The music for this movie is appropriately cartoonish and Charleston/Jazz Age style. There is one dance segment called The Chameleon and another with the voice of Betty Boop singing "Chameleon Days". Witty dialogue, lots of humor and visual jokes, it's a movie that is sure to delight you.Movie Review: A Nugget Found
Summary: 5 Stars
"ZELIG" is one of the reasons I subscribe to cable TV.In the desert sand and boggy quagmire of standard TV, it takes sifting through more than a few channels to find a few happy morsels with which to spend a free hour or two. Occasionally you find a hidden nugget like this that makes it all worth while.
I had never before seen "ZELIG" when I chanced upon it this week. I fact I cannot remember even being aware of the movie. However, I enjoy the subtle understated irony of Woody Allen's humor and found this movie to be one of his best.
As covered in other reviews, the story line concerns the treatment and rehabilitation of a weak neurotic man (Woody Allen, of cause) who converts to the values and traits of whomever he is with. The process of unconditional love (provided here by his psychiatrist played by Mia Farrow) overcoming one's insecurities and weaknesses is cleverly done in mock documentary style cutting from old B&W newsreels to contemporary interviews.
This is a wonderful film that will keep you watching and make you smile while appreciating that there is something deeper here. Allen displays a light touch to get his message across without becoming heavy handed or taking himself too seriously. I was especially impressed by the quality of the splices which realistically placed the characters into old newsreel footage and gave historical perspective and meaning to the story. Though 'pre-Gump' this was accomplished better here, especially since the greater part of the movie was done in newsreel style.
I recommend this little nugget highly.
Movie Review: A masterpiece - an awesome work
Summary: 5 Stars
This film is a keystone in Woody Allen's career. It truly shows him to be the definitive descendant of Franz Kafka. Hundreds have imitated & paid homage to Kafka in the 80 years or so since he wrote his masterpieces but noone has come close to metamorphosing Kafka's vision & mindset to contemporary Amerian culture as Allen has.
Leonard Zelig's relationship to other people, worldly events, "identity" & the "otherness" in society exactly expresses the the points of view of Joseph K, Gregor Samsa, the Hunger Artist & the rest of their bethren.
On a personal level one can view the "chameleon" message of the film as Mr. Allen's gentle explanation of how & why he makes so many different kinds of films, imitations to some, homages to others, to great authors, directors. Classic comedies, domestic dramas, social satires, you name it, he does it. He truly speaks everyone's language, he thinks & feels like them (us), he becomes them (us).
On top of which the purely film-making aspects of Zelig are stunning. The seamless integration of newsreel footage with contemporary invention. The 100 percent authentic feel of the music, dance, film grain, sound, with the time depicted. All of it a major accomplishment of a giant artist.
No question in my mind that this is Woody Allen's greatest achievement among many many stupendous accomplishments.
Movie Review: Humoristic dissection of the human mind
Summary: 5 Stars
Woody Allen stands, by far, as my favorite director of all times. I have seen all his movies, since I was a kid. Of course, there are the big ones, the masterpieces, but I find a great pleasure in some of his -for the mainstream- less known plays, such as Zelig.
This not comedy, this is pure genius in the understanding of human nature. It is Allen's essay of the desperate need of people to fit into society, to be accepted, to belong. This is the kind of movie that separate Allen for the ordinary and make him of the greatest genius of cinema.
Psychology in cinematic therms, I always consider Zelig as the ultimate dissection of the social distress: how an person needings to be part of something drive him to the point of eliminate his own individuality.
The movie's approach as a fake documentary is also one of the biggest achievements of Allen, a brilliant portrait of humanity.
Movie Review: One of the foremost films of Woody Allen
Summary: 5 Stars
Allen was in a surrealistic mood when he made this film. The powerful content about Zelig in the thirties is a bitter gaze about a disfunctional , a low level person , an example of the mass media rank can become.The film is abolutely delightful with countless laughable situations . But the remaining message after the movie has finished still turns around in your memory.
Oscar Wilde wrote this funny but clever sentence . The fashion is easy to define ; it's what will become old fashioned tomorrow.
This could be a smart joke . But I link with Zelig , because Zelig is a human being who wants to be accepted by the world , but lacks of center . So these countless characters mean a trial and error behavior , just for achieve this goal .
And notice that Allen is original because he seeks and goes to the origen of the things.
And this film overcomes this limit.!