Comedy > Allen, Woody Comedy > 1986

Advantages: An ambitious and classy addition to Woody Allen's CV
Disadvantages: You might dislike Woody Allen!

Hannah and Her Sisters is one of the most ambitious films in the long career of director Woody Allen. It was first released in 1986 and has the longest running time of any Allen picture. The film interweaves between the lives and relationships of several characters in a large upscale New York family and features an amazing ensemble cast. Central to this of course are the seemingly perfect Hannah (played by Mia Farrow) and her two sisters Holly (Dianne ...
...Alexander' (Like Fanny and Alexander, Hannah and Her Sisters begins and ends with a festive family gathering) Hannah and Her Sisters is not Woody in his ultra serious mode. If the 'early funny ones' (Sleeper, Bananas, Take the Money and Run) constitute 'comedy Woody' and the likes of Interiors, Another Woman and September 'serious Woody' then Hannah and Her Sisters is a return to the 'inbetween Woody', a film with serious themes and dramatic elements ... Read review

Advantages: Reasonable retro comedy
Disadvantages: I prefer George and Mildred. Yes, really.

Terry and June Medford are a middle-aged couple whose daughter has left home. Now that Terry has been promoted, they move to Purley and settle down to a comfortable suburban existence. But with Terry and his hare-brained schemes, life is never quiet for long. And with neighbours like Tina and Brian, there isn't much hope of him staying out of trouble. Thankfully, June is a loyal wife and puts up with much of Terry's madness because she loves him. ...
...another go. At the time, Terry and June became synonymous with the happily married surburban lifestyle that everyone was supposedly aiming for, although in hindsight, it is sometimes a little bit hard to take - worrying about the carpet when others are struggling to survive does seem like a problem taken too far. However, I think it is important to try to remember that it isn't supposed to be insulting - it is just a reflection of society at the ... Read review

Advantages: Warm and nostalgic
Disadvantages: Nothing major

Radio Days is a film directed and written by Woody Allen in 1987. Allen does not appear in the film but he does feature as a narrator. Radio Days is inspired by Allen's childhood in the forties and is a nostalgic and bittersweet comedy about an era when radio was the most influential and popular medium and everyone gathered around their sets at night to listen to serials and comedy shows. The film has two broad strands that tie it together. The frst ...
...Allen has said that Radio Days is an exaggerated view of his childhood with many autobiographical traces. He did live by the beach (Long Beach) for a time and characters in the film were inspired by some of the relations he grew up with. He wanted to pick out a group of old songs that each evoked a memory and make a film about how important and glamorous radio seemed when he was a child. In Radio Days we meet little Joe's eccentric but warm family ... Read review

Advantages: quality acting, many fine scripts
Disadvantages: a couple of episodes to regret, last series with Aunt Clara, no extras

Season four of this perennial family favourite is where the storylines began to undergo more experimentation. Mostly the result was good, but there are a few clinkers when compared to the brilliance of the other episodes, though none are painfully bad and unwatchable. Many fans hold this season as their favourite, as Serena makes many more appearances, as does Dr Bombay, Aunt Clara is still knocking about, and Tabitha begins exhibiting her powers ...
...chemistry between actors Dick York and Elizabeth Montgomery made this a joy to watch and the young twins playing Tabitha acted with a sweet naturalness sadly missed by many TV child stars today. With her feet now firmly wet from the previous season, the new Gladys Kravitz gets to dig into her role more deeply, and we see a return to the flighty, flaky Gladys that we had known and loved so much. Memorable highlights for this season are: Samantha ... Read review

Advantages: Great acting and very funny
Disadvantages: None

This DVD was another of my bargain buys to watch during the football. Me and my hubby were both very impressed with it. THE FILM The film involves Paul Vitti,. Played by De Niro who is involved with the mob, he has been suffering panic attacks and seeks the help of a shrink so he can get better for a big meeting which is taking place with all the main men of the gangs. Ben Sobel, played by Billy Crystal is the unlucky shrink who Vitti chooses to ...
...he is unable to treat him for 2 weeks as he is going on vacation and getting married, his wife to be is played by Lisa Kudrow. As he sets off on vacation Vitti follows him. Ben is finding that everywhere he goes Vitti is there and in need of help. Ben's wedding day arrives but all does not go to plan, did Vitti have anything to do with it? Ben finally agrees to give Vitti the help that he needs but all does not go to plan and the FBI and other gangsters ... Read review