Deconstructing Harry (1997)

Woody Allen wrote and directed this comedy about turmoil in the erotic and creative life of immature New York writer Harry Block (Allen), who calls himself "spiritually bankrupt." Harry has gone through numerous lovers, three wives, and a half-dozen psychiatrists (including one he married). With a plot structure inspired by Ingmar Bergman's Wild Strawberries, Harry must travel to upstate Adair College to receive an award, but he can't find anyone to accompany him. Recent girlfriend Fay (Elisabeth Shue) has decided to marry his best friend Larry (Billy Crystal). Harry asks her to reconsider, drop Larry and come back to him. His friend Richard (Bob Balaban) can't commit to the trip because of heart problems. Harry wants his small son Hilly (Eric Lloyd) to see him honored at Adair, but Hilly's mother Joan (Kirstie Alley) steps in to prevent this from happening. Former sister-in-law Lucy (Judy Davis), angry after finding their secret relationship detailed in one of his novels, arrives at Harry's apartment carrying a weapon. Throughout, scenes from Harry's novels and short stories (inspired from Harry's real-life situations) are intercut: In a scene from one book, Ken (Richard Benjamin) fools around in the kitchen with his sister-in-law Leslie (Julia Louis-Dreyfuss). In another book scene, Paul Epstein (Stanley Tucci) marries his psychiatrist Helen (Demi Moore). Other scenes come from his short stories, including movie actor Mel (Robin Williams). With turndowns from all his friends, Harry eventually heads for the college with black prostitute Cookie (Hazelle Goodman) and Richard. Allen described the script before he began shooting: "I'm going right into the teeth of it. It's about a nasty, shallow, superficial, sexually obsessed guy. I'm sure everybody will think-I know this going in-they'll think it's me." The title suggests a reference to Deconstructing Sarah, a 1994 British thriller. Jazz standards punctuate the soundtrack. Working title: The Worst Man in the World. Shown at the 1997 Venice Film Festival.