Customer Reviews

Manhattan Murder Mystery [VHS]

5 star:		(42)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Diane Keaton and Woody Allen make quick friends with an older couple. After the woman dies of a heart attack, Diane Keaton starts investigating on her own thinking that it was not a heart attack afterall. Woody on the other end does not believe in this murder idea and thinks his wife is getting too excited for no reason.

The movie mixes great suspense and comedy. The skepticism of woody allen and the wild (but maybe not so wild) imagination of diane keaton make for highly entertaining dialogues. The new york atmosphere of the movie is quite lovely too. The story moves fast and as Diane Keaton discovers more and more clues you find yourself seating on the edge of your seat wondering what next is going to happen.

This movie is wonderfull all the way to the end that parodies the ending of an old movie classic.

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.

Woody Allen's love of New York City really shines through in this comic caper about a pair of aging but sophisticated Manhattanites who suspect their neighbor of murdering his wife. Actually, it is Keaton's character who suspects; Allen plays the doubting and timid husband who gets dragged into her amateur investigation, if only to save his marriage. Keaton is looking to add excitement to her life; Allen, as usual, is perfectly comfortable with how things are. Their interaction is very, very funny, as is the sweet performance by Alan Alda as a family friend and writer who dreams of opening a restaurant with Keaton (who he has always had a crush on. Can we blame him!), and Angelica Huston as a cool and sexually provocative writer whose book Allen is editing. By the end, all four have joined in a wacky plot to catch the killer. We also hear some great music and see a side of New York City as only Allen's eye for charm can capture it.

Although it lacks the patina of greatness that surrounds "Hannah and Her Sisters" or "Crimes and Misdemeanors," Manhattan Murder Mystery is one of my favorite Woody Allen movies. From the opening credits, with swooping night aerial shots of Manhattan as Bobby Short sings, "I Happen to Like New York," Allen clues us in that this movie will be his biggest, happiest, most loving valentine ever to his home town. The murder mystery of the title is good enough--it even contains "un hommage a' Orson Welles" at the end, borrowing from "The Lady from Shanghai"--but what's really important to Allen are the city itself and the people who live there. The film is filled with loving, mature relationships; it's really sad to think that Allen finished writing the screenplay (with Marshall Brickman) just before the big blowup with Mia, which dragged his name through the mud and led to the unwatchable orgies of self-justification ("Celebrity," "Mighty Aphrodite") which have comprised most of his later work. But one good thing arose from the split with Mia: Woody got to work again with Diane Keaton in Manhattan Murder Mystery, thus reuniting a screen romantic team that ranks with Tracy and Hepburn, Powell and Loy, or Wayne and O'Hara. To see their hand-in-glove screen chemistry once again is alone worth the price of this video, while Alan Alda and Anjelica Huston are almost equally charming as the second leads. Manhattan Murder Mystery, in my opinion, holds roughly the same place in Allen's oeuvre as "Donovan's Reef" does in John Ford's; it's not one of the "major" works, but it's eternally refreshing and delightful, and all the director's major themes are there.

This was another one of Woody Allen's wonderful movies. I love how his character is so nervous all the time when he and his wife (played by the wonderful Diane Keaton) investigate is great.

Allen plays Larry Lipton, a writer/publisher who just wants his and his wife's life to be normal. We soon meet his wife, Carol (Keaton), who is definitely more ambitious and more willing to take a risk. The supporting cast includes Alan Alda, Anjelica Huston, Ron Rifkin, and Joy Behar.

For the Liptons, things are just fine until they meet their neighbors, who seem very nice and welcoming. When they learn that the wife has 'died' of a heart attack, Carol becomes suspicious, especially when she learns that the wife had a heart disease, something she never told Carol. Larry dismisses this and wants her to leave it alone and let the husband grieve. Yet Carol thinks he is a little too up-beat after losing his wife of over 20 years. So naturally, Carol investigates along with her very good friend Ted (Alda). Larry slowly becomes jealous that the two of them are together all the time and thinks that if he doesn't become more ambitious, that his marriage is going to fall apart. So he decides to join his wife on solving this mystery. Together, the two encounter much more than they had planned on. The result is priceless. Their little one-liners to each other (Carol calling him a 'Fuddy-Duddy,' reminding me of Annie Hall saying 'La de da...') are great.

If you're a Woody Allen fan, this is a must see movie. If you're not a Woody Allen fan, you may not enjoy it. But if you have never seen any of his movies and don't know much about him, rent this and see if you like it!

This is Woody Allen doing screwball comedy for the contemporary film viewer. The familiar Allen schtick of neurotic tension, fearfulness, and anxiety, the effective Allen-Keaton chemistry, the lovely New York settings, and a cast of great supporting players make this an easy watch.

Sure, the humor veers into slapstick, but the characters are so rich and multi-layered and the script is so dense and fast moving that one forgives some of the broadness. The references to film noir and classic detective yarns embellish the pleasing story. The interplay between Allen and Keaton allows the history of their fictional marriage to be evident, with all its warmth, frustrations, doubts, and reliability. The distractions that Huston's and Alda's characters provide to each heightens the fun. The comic apsects of the movie don't stop it from having some genuine surprises. Although not the finest film in the world or even Allen's best, I have watched this many, many times and plan to enjoy it for a long while more.

First and foremost, this is a Woody Allen film. So, you say -- "SO WHAT? Of course I know that!" There are many people I know that detest Woody Allen films (for what reason I have never discovered), and go out and try to see a "NON Woody Allen" Woody Allen film. Then always cry and whine that it didn't like it. This film is a little different, in that I have watched this with anti-Woody Allen types -- and YES, they DO like it!

So onto the review. As you may already know, Manhattan is often just as much a character in Woody Allen films as the human characters. This is certainly no exception. The opening aerial scenes showing the Brooklyn Bridge, and the impressive night view of Madison Square Garden are a great setting to start the film. As the film progresses, we see Larry (Woody Allen) and wife Carol go to the famous "21 Club," Larry and sexy Marcia (portrayed brilliantly by Anjelica Huston) dine and play cards at the Cafe Des Artistes. It is very hard not to simply sidetrack the story for the great scenery.

Let's talk about chemistry! The chemistry between Allen and Keaton, is truly top-notch in this film (as well as Annie Hall, another favorite), holding the story together nicely. Supporting cast members, namely Alan Alda and Anjelica Huston add a great twist to the story.

The homage to vintage mystery is evident in this film, and adds to its appeal. Witty dialogue, excellent character development, bustling backdrop of Manhattan, and the "murder mystery" make this an intelligent, fun and stylish mystery-comedy. It is fun to watch the first time, the second time, and many subsequent viewings.

MANHATTAN MURDER MYSTERY is a pleasant film that can be enjoyed even by people who are luke warm about Allen and his films. The pace is a bit slow and the "mystery" is not all that exciting but Allen's gags and take on relationships are as usual entertaining and Keaton and Allen make a convincing married couple. The other parts are also well acted. Not a must see but an OK way to spend a snowy evening.

This is the only Woody Allen film I have ever seen, and I LOVE IT! It is so hilarious and entertaining throughout. Diane Keaton is truly the star here and in top comedic form! I think her character reminds us all about ourselves in a way. Keaton plays bored housewife Carol Lipton who becomes convinced that her next door neighbor is a murderer. So she sets off on a Nancy Drew-like mystery to find clues and discover the truth. Her antics are soon causing tension in her marriage while she grows closer to a recently divorced friend played by Alan Alda which is all handled in a subtle way. Angelica Huston has a great supporting role as a client and author of Woody Allen's character who also gets involved in the mystery. If you have overlooked this comedic gem, you are missing out! It's rare you will find comedy this superb and with such outstanding performances. 5 stars!

Woody Allen has spent his career paying homage to various genres that have influenced him since childhood. Or that he just plain liked. Here he tips his hat to the amateur sleuth murder mystery. The plot centers on the mysteriously doings of his apartment building neighbors. Spurred on by his wife (played by Diane Keaton) and pal (played by Alan Alda) he gets caught up in the mystery more to save his marriage than anything else. This movie reminds me mostly of Alfred Hitchcock's famous Rear Window from the 1950's in its plot line but with a 1990's sensibility. But as always not to worry there is plenty of social commentary/ humor of the well -know Allen type. Do you absolutely need to see this movie? No, you absolutely need to see Annie Hall or Manhattan, films made in Allen's prime. But this one is okay if you need a little funny sardonic entertainment.