Manhattan Murder Mystery (DVD)

...boyfriend), you´re likely to enjoy Manhattan Murder Mystery. Woody Allen is there, but doesn´t dominate the movie, and Diane Keaton has more screen-time than he does,(so if you also hate Diane Keaton, this probably really isn´t a film for you). Alan Alda plays the third character in the film´s romantic triangle, so Alan Alda lover/haters -- take note.

The plot is that the Diane Keaton character is getting bored in her marriage with ...
...to her life, starts playing detective with the Allen Alda character, investigating the suspicious death of an elderly neighbour which begins to look more and more like murder.

One of the things that is so marvellous about this film is that it is two different kinds of movies at the same time – romantic comedy and detective story – and both genres are pulled off flawlessly and seamlessly interwined. The love story is ultimately moving, ... more

Whether you like Woody Allen (like me), or hate him (like my boyfriend), you´re likely to enjoy Manhattan Murder Mystery. Woody Allen is there, but doesn´t dominate the movie, and Diane Keaton has more screen-time than he does,(so if you also hate Diane Keaton, this probably really isn´t a film for you). Alan Alda plays the third character in the film´s romantic triangle, so Alan Alda lover/haters -- take note.

The plot is that the Diane Keaton character is getting bored in her marriage with the Woody Allen character, and, to add a little spice to her life, starts playing detective with the Allen Alda character, investigating the suspicious death of an elderly neighbour which begins to look more and more like murder.

One of the things that is so marvellous about this film is that it is two different kinds of movies at the same time – romantic comedy and detective story – and both genres are pulled off flawlessly and seamlessly interwined. The love story is ultimately moving, the comedy is really funny, and the detective story full of plot-twists and a clever plan to entrap the suspect. And there is a brilliant scene at the end (don´t worry – I won´t give anything away) with the characters are running around behind a movie screen in an old cinema, where mirrors have been propped around, and you don´t know what is reflection, screen image, or reality.

The pacing of the film is just right – everything takes just the right amount of time to happen, and some gripping suspense is created at one point by rapid cutting between Diane Keaton, who has broken into the suspected murderer (Jerry Adler)´s flat to spy around, and Jerry Adler, unexpectedly on his way home.

And I thought the acting was perfect. It is one of those Woody Allen movies where all the characters seem to be playing themselves and improvising their lines, and the effect, for me, is utterly convincing. Diane Keaton, in particular, seems to have a weird ability to be absolutely Diane Keaton in every situation and to react to everything naturally as if it were really happening to her. You could say it´s the opposite strength of actors like Meryl Streep who amaze with their ability to seem not themselves.

I normally get bored if I see a film more than once, and I have seen this one three or four times so far, and continue to enjoy it. Highly recommended except for people who hate at least two out of the three actors, or who hate romantic comedy AND detective movies, or for young children, who might be alarmed by scenes where corpses turn up unexpectedly.
 

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