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Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)

tomatometer

93

Average Rating: 8.4/10
Reviews Counted: 43
Fresh: 40 | Rotten: 3

Smart, tender, and funny in equal measure, Hannah and Her Sisters is one of Woody Allen's finest films.

100

Average Rating: 8.5/10
Critic Reviews: 8
Fresh: 8 | Rotten: 0

Smart, tender, and funny in equal measure, Hannah and Her Sisters is one of Woody Allen's finest films.

audience

88

liked it
Average Rating: 3.9/5
User Ratings: 29,416

My Rating

Movie Info

A Woody Allen Manhattan mosaic, Hannah and Her Sisters concerns the lives, loves, and infidelities among a tightly-knit artistic clan. Hannah (Mia Farrow) regularly meets with her sisters Holly (Dianne Wiest) and Lee (Barbara Hershey) to discuss the week's events. It's what they don't always tell each other that forms the film's various subplots. Hannah is married to accountant and financial planner Elliot (Michael Caine), who carries a torch for Lee, who in turn lives with pompous Soho artist

PG-13,

Drama, Romance, Comedy

Woody Allen

Nov 6, 2001

Orion Pictures

Cast

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All Critics (43) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (41) | Rotten (3) | DVD (10)

Its plot has the elegant geometry of a Philip Barry play.

November 21, 2008 Full Review Source: TIME Magazine
TIME Magazine
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Hannah is the New York of competitive living and, as such, it's as true a city portrait as they come.

January 18, 2008 Full Review Source: Time Out New York
Time Out New York
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Allen's way of setting himself up as a fount of moral wisdom is as insufferable as ever, but at least the preachiness is alleviated by some genuine wit.

October 10, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader
Chicago Reader
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One of Woody Allen's great films. Indeed, he makes nary a misstep from beginning to end in charting the amorous affiliations of three sisters and their men over a two-year period.

October 10, 2007 Full Review Source: Variety
Variety
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It is an articulate, literate film, full of humanity and perception about its sometimes less-than-loveable characters.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out
Time Out
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A dramatic comedy not quite like any other, and one that sets new standards for Mr. Allen as well as for all American movie makers.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Allen's talent for witty screenwriting and note-perfect observational touch are in full force, and his stunning cast never fails to mesmerize.

January 14, 2013 Full Review Source: OK! Magazine
OK! Magazine

Caine's performance, so fervent, so agonisingly dedicated, actually gains in force and touching sincerity with the years.

December 22, 2011 Full Review Source: Guardian [UK]
Guardian [UK]

The tangled web of relationships is very effectively done, but just as affecting is Allen's portrayal of the city he loves.

October 14, 2009 Full Review Source: Film and Felt
Film and Felt

The comedy-drama succeeds as a sharply pointed portrait of sibling rivalry.

September 14, 2008 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Sharply written and extremely well-acted, Allen's serio-comic ensemble-driven saga about one large neurotic family, a huge artistic and commercial hit at the time, is arguably his last great picture.

February 28, 2008 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com
EmanuelLevy.Com

One of Woody's best ever; a highly intelligent and witty comedy with a magical script and perfect portrayls of well rounded characters.

October 10, 2007 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine
Empire Magazine

A film of great tenderness and humanity.

October 10, 2007 Full Review Source: Film4
Film4

The film lives and breathes. It's a masterwork.

November 17, 2006 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid
Combustible Celluloid

This movie feels real, the people seem real and the situations all ring true.

July 28, 2006 Full Review Source: JoBlo's Movie Emporium
JoBlo's Movie Emporium

Ranks among Allen's masterpieces.

October 25, 2005
Capital Times (Madison, WI)

Achieves the kind of perfect balance that comes along maybe once in a filmmaker's career.

May 26, 2004 Full Review Source: Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Audience Reviews for Hannah and Her Sisters

Woody Allen skillfully blends comedy and drama in this wonderfully observed portrait of the lives, loves, and issues of a close knit family and their significant others over the course of a couple of years.

Hannah (Mia Farrow) is the oldest child of artistic parents. She's a successful, kind, and thoughtful actress, wife, and mother. She's basically the backbone of the family, who both hate and need her. Her two sisters, Holly (Dianne Wiest) and Lee (Barabra Hershey) are more aimless and resent her because of her stable and successful life, yet the rely on her for support so much that they couldn't possibly truly hate her. However, Hannah begins to realize that she's just as lost as the rest of the world when her life starts to unravel due to sibling rivalry and betrayal.

This movie has some really serious dramatic moments, but they are nicely balanced out by some terrifically funny stuff involving Woody's character- a hypochondriac in the TV industry who goes through existential and spiritual crises, There's humor with some of the other characters, but the bulk comes from Woody's Mickey. This film has it all: comedy, tragedy, pain, relief, laughs, and tears. It all works wonderfully and reeks of realism and experience. Simply put, this is some truly great writing.

The performances are also just terrific. The three ladies playing sisters have a great rapport together, Woody is great as usual doing his trademark shtick, Michael Caine (who, along with Wiest snagged an Oscar for his work here) is quite good as the husband to won sister who has an affair with one of the other two. Showing up in some nice supporting roles are Carrie Fisher and Max von Sydow, both of whom, despite being supporters, do a good job. I also enjoyed seeing Daniel Stern make a brief appearance, as well as Julie Kavner, who I think pretty much stole the few scenes she was in.

All in all, this is just an excellent study of human relations, and ranks pretty high as some of Allen's best work. In a way, this almost felt like light opera or super high art, only not as pretentious and more accessible. Even then this won't be for everyone, but if you give it a chance, there's bound to be something here for you to enjoy. Definitely give this one a go.
January 6, 2011
cosmo313
Chris Weber

Super Reviewer

It was Dianne Wiest and Michael Caine that won Academy Awards for their great performances here. Though it may not be the only example, itâ(TM)s the best proof that the Academy does not particularly appreciate roles that are purely humor. Allen was absolutely hysterical in this film, and his performance was stellar, albeit entirely comical. Anyone who has seen at least three of his onscreen appearances is used to his portrayals of prejudiced Jewish men who blatantly discuss Catholicism and its many flaws. I was laughing like never before during scenes in which his character rambled on about how the world was a godless place, and when he tried hopelessly to understand reincarnation (âSo does that mean my soul is transferred to a moose or an aardvark after I die?â?) in a conversation with an advertising Hindu. The fact that his role is of a depressed hypochondriac who canâ(TM)t seem to tale himself seriously makes way for even more humor.

I thoroughly enjoyed HANNAH AND HER SISTERS, as did many who consider it the downright classic it is. The film is so entertaining, biting, amusing, and forgivingâ"all at the same time!â"that it seems itâ(TM)s only flawed in a respect of it seeming more than a tad bit dated. The cinematography often makes it seem like a cheesy television sitcom of the late â(TM)80s or early â(TM)90s. I wouldnâ(TM)t say this is Woody Allenâ(TM)s best work. My personal favorite work of his is 1979â²s MANHATTAN, followed closely by his overlooked sci-fi satire SLEEPER. To say that this is not up there as one of his best works would be a gross understatement.
March 11, 2012
spielberg00

Super Reviewer

    1. Mickey: The heart is a very, very resilient little muscle.
    – Submitted by Enrique G (20 months ago)
    1. Frederick: If Jesus came back and saw what's going on in his name, he'd never stop throwing up.
    – Submitted by Chad E (21 months ago)
    1. Mickey: What did you do? Swallow a drugstore?
    – Submitted by Chad E (21 months ago)

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Foreign Titles

  • Hannah und ihre Schwestern (DE)
  • Hannah et ses soeurs (FR)
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