Hannah And Her Sisters DVD > Reviews > Autumn In New York

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Liked it
Story	Good
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Standard
How does it compare to similar films?	Good

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

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

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 Wiest) and Lee (Barbara Hershey). Hannah is a retired actress married to wealthy Elliot, wonderfully played by Michael Caine. Elliot is secretly infatuated with Hannah's sister Lee who is already in a relationship with a morose and reclusive artist/painter called Frederick, played by Max Von Sydow. Meanwhile, Hannah's other sister, artistic misfit Holly, eventually becomes involved with Hannah's ex-husband Mickey, a hypochondriac television producer played by Woody Allen...

Despite the interior monologues, chapter titles and nod to 'Fanny and 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 but with a big dose of Woody's gift for comedy. Hannah and Her Sisters was unsuprisingly Allen's most succesful film since Annie Hall and an elegant (if slightly rambling) and stylish visit to 'Woody Allen's New York', infused with terrific one-liners and funny set-pieces. The tone is lighter than even a film like 'Manhattan' for example although Allen does explore the rivalry, tensions and secrets that can exist within a family. And as usual Allen goes out of his way to make the city of New York look stunning, especially in Autumnal shades under overcast skies with beautiful photography by Carlo Di Palma.

The two major story strands that stick out for me and are most enjoyable are Elliot's pursuit of Lee and Mickey's battle to resolve his growing suspicion that life is pointless. Michael Caine gives a tremendous performance as Elliot, a respected, wealthy and stable man who suddenly has a bit of a mid-life crisis. There is a great scene where he waits on a street corner for Lee to leave her house and then literally runs around several streets and corners to make it look like he's just bumped into her by coincidence. Caine does tap into the nervous Woody persona a bit but his accent stops it becoming an impersonation unlike Kenneth Brannagh's unbearable and pointless Allen impression in 'Celebrity'. Mickey's existential crisis is triggered when the Hospital gives him the all clear after a brain scan. Despite the good news he becomes obsessed with death and the pointlessness of life. "How the hell do I know why there were Nazis?" replies his father when Mickey touches on the subject of evil in the world and God. "I don't know how the can opener works!"

Allen has some funny scenes in the film as he investigates different religions (including Hare Krishnas) and attempts to commit suicide in typically clumsy Woody fashion. He remembers a terrible night out he once endured with Hannah's sister Holly. This is probably my favourite scene in the film. Holly takes Mickey to see a punk band and Allen's face is a picture as he sits listening to them. Asked if he's enjoying the show he replies that he's worried that the band might start taking hostages when they finish playing! Mickey then takes Holly to a swanky Jazz club and she makes no secret of the fact that she's bored, dipping into her bag for hits of cocaine. "I had a great evening," says Mickey as they part. "It was like the Nuremberg Trials."

Dianne Wiest is one of the best American screen actresses on her day and she's excellent as the unfocused and disorganised Holly. Holly drifts from job to job never quite working out what she wants to do and borrows money from Hannah. Barbara Hershey is also terrific in the film and there is a great scene where the three sisters have lunch and Allen pans the camera in circles around them so we catch glimpses of their mood and expressions as tensions simmer gently below the surface and bubble to the surface. Mia Farrow also does well as Hannah. Hannah comes across at the start of the film as Miss Perfect but she gradually reveals vulnerable qualities as the film progresses.

The 'slice of life' structure was taken on to far more complex levels in films like Short Cuts and Magnolia but it does give Hannah and Her Sisters an ambitious and interesting form. I do think the film is a trifle overrated when judged agaisnt its high position amongst Allen fans. Personally I slightly prefer Crimes and Misdemenours and Broadway Danny Rose from this Allen era. The large ensemble cast inevitably means that a few characters and storylines get forgotten or dropped. As usual Allen tinkered with the film a lot in the transition from script to screen and he doesn't quite tie everything up in the finished product. On the whole though I think audiences in general found Hannah and Her Sisters, with its touches of warmth and comedy, more accessible than the likes of Stardust Memories and Zelig.

Of course the greatest thing Hannah and Her Sisters has going for it is its cast. Allen allows himself to be funny again and the female leads are all great. Max Von Sydow is all gloomy seriousness as he rails agaisnt modern culture ("If Jesus came back and saw what's going on in his name, he'd never stop throwing up.") and becomes highly offended at the thought of a rock star played by Daniel Stern owning some of his paintings. Sam Waterston and Tony Roberts also have welcome cameos.

So overall, while not quite in my very top tier of favourite Woody films, Hannah and Her Sisters is still a stylish and enjoyable experience and offers much to enjoy. A must for Woody Allen fans and one of his most popular films with general audiences.

You'll only get a basic package with this because Woody Allen has no interest whatsoever in DVD extras.