Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989)
Average Rating: 7.9/10
Reviews Counted: 38
Fresh: 35 | Rotten: 3
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 7.3/10
Critic Reviews: 6
Fresh: 5 | Rotten: 1
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 4/5
User Ratings: 22,358
My Rating
Movie Info
Woody Allen spent most of the 1980s and '90s veering between comedy and drama, and he rarely combined the two with greater success than in Crimes and Misdemeanors, in which he weaved together two stories, one deadly serious, one often funny, both ending in sadness. Martin Landau plays Dr. Judah Rosenthal, a prominent ophthalmologist with a successful practice, a loving family, and a reputation for generous charity work. But Rosenthal also has a secret: his mistress, Dolores (Anjelica Huston).
Oct 13, 1989 Wide
Jun 5, 2001
Orion Pictures Corporation
Cast
-
Martin Landau
Judah Rosenthal -
Woody Allen
Cliff Stern -
Mia Farrow
Halley Reed -
Alan Alda
Lester -
Anjelica Huston
Dolores Paley -
Jerry Orbach
Jack Rosenthal -
Sam Waterston
Ben -
Joanna Gleason
Wendy Stern -
Caroline Aaron
Barbara -
Claire Bloom
Miriam Rosenthal -
Stephanie Roth
Sharon Rosenthal -
Jenny Nichols
Jenny -
David S. Howard
Sol Rosenthal -
Anna Berger
Aunt May -
Victor Argo
Detective -
Martin Bergmann
Prof. Louis Levy -
Hy Anzell
Seder Guest -
Robin Bartlett
Wedding Guest -
Bill Bernstein
Testimonial Speaker -
Merv Bloch
Wedding Guest -
Thomas Bolster
Wedding Guest -
Frances Conroy
House Owner -
Gregg Edelman
Chris -
Joel Fogel
TV Producer -
Sol Frieder
Seder Guest -
Zina Jasper
Carol -
Sylvia Kauders
Seder Guest -
Dolores Sutton
Judah's Secretary -
Jerry Zaks
Man on Campus -
Justin Zaremby
Seder Guest -
Nora Ephron
Wedding Guest -
Warren Vache
Jazz Band -
Kenny Vance
Murray -
Donna Castellano
TV Producer -
Thomas P. Crow
TV Producer -
Randy Aaron Fink
Groom -
Barry Finkel
TV Writer -
Steve Maidment
TV Writer -
Chester Malinowski
Hit Man -
George Mason
Photographer -
Stanley Reichman
Chris' Father -
Nadia Sanford
Alva -
Rebecca Schull
Chris' Mother -
Garrett Simowitz
Young Judah -
Marvin Terban
Seder Guest -
Grace Zimmerman
Bride -
Rabbi Joel Zion
Rabbi -
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All Critics (38) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (37) | Rotten (3) | DVD (12)
The overall 'philosophical' thrust -- that good guys finish last and that crime does pay -- is designed to make the audience feel very wise, but none of the characters or ideas is allowed to develop beyond its cardboard profile.
Top CriticThe structural and stylistic conceit is that when Landau is onscreen, the film is dead serious, even solemn, while Allen's own appearance onscreen signals hilarious satire and priceless one-liners.
Dramatically, the film seldom fulfils its promise, and its pessimistic 'moral' -- that good and evil do not always meet with their just deserts -- looks contrived and hollow. Intriguing and patchily effective, nevertheless.
The movie's secret strength -- its structure, really -- comes from the truth of the dozens and dozens of particular details through which it arrives at its own very hesitant, not especially comforting, very moving generality.
The movie generates the best kind of suspense, because it's not about what will happen to people -- it's about what decisions they will reach.
A relative of Hannah and Her Sisters in its duplex structure and of The Purple Rose of Cairo in its bitter theme, Crimes is two movies in one, a blend of Allen's satiric and pretentious dramatic styles.
Using the paper-thin lead characters as symbols to show how blind people are about themselves and their relationships has little gravitas, but the comedy is stinging.
The result is a frighteningly intelligent, and often hilariously funny whole.
Allen's expertise is evident everywhere.
Um discurso filosófico-religioso sobre moralidade e culpa que, por incrível que pareça, não apenas comove como também nos faz rir de maneira surpreendente.
Allen starts with a sketchy premise and after working it through for 107 minutes he still has no more than the premise he started with.
Intelligent, insightful and funny. One of Woody Allen's best films.
This examination of the nature of evil interweaves masterfully comedy and melodrama in equal proportion. Instead of taking a casually brutal approach, Allen dwells on the consequences of sin.
Near top of line Woody Allen with Alda, Landau, Huston shining.
...this dark meditation on justice and the lack of it may be his best film.
one of Allen's best, a must-see!
Allen's neurotic outlook on life has never been presented with more clarity.
Audience Reviews for Crimes and Misdemeanors
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
-
- Cliff Stern: The last time I was inside a woman was when I visited the Statue of Liberty. [Woody Allen describing his sex life]
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- Judah Rosenthal: Without God the world is a cesspool.
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Foreign Titles
- Crimes et délits (FR)
- Delitos y faltas (ES)
With the dramatic story, we get wealthy society man Judah Rosenthal whose ex-mistress is planning to expose his marital and financial indiscretions. He finds himself torn between taking the advice of his rabbi or following the propositions made by his mob-connected brother. Comedically, there's the story of filmmaker Cliff Stern who is torn between making an important work full of integrity or selling out to make a commercial piece that flatters a man who doesn't really deserve it. Yeah, the two stories have a big contrast in terms of the immediate impact of things, but the repercussions of things are matched in the weightiness of ow it'll all end.
This really is a joy to watch, even when it gets dark and heavy. It's impeccably written, wonderfully acted, very compelling, and succeeds with both the drama and the comedy (some of the best laughs being the interactions between Cliff and his niece). And on top of that, the climax and final monologue are simply perfect. I very highly recommend this masterpiece.