Hannah and Her Sisters

Pros: an extraordinary and important film about family and all of its chaotic interactions
Cons: not a one.

In 1986, Woody Allen returned, older and perhaps a bit wiser, to territory he had previously visited somewhat in both Annie Hall and Manhattan. The result was the Oscar nominated film Hannah and Her Sisters, a movie inspired by...

Pros: Allen's Direction/Script/Performance, Locations, Look, Music, Structure, & Cast.
Cons: None.

Throughout the long, successful career of Woody Allen, there's been a few masterpieces he's created along the way. Whether it's the romantic comedy of 1977's Annie Hall, the love to New York City in 1979's Manhattan, or the 1989 ...

Pros: lots and lots of pros
Cons: none

In trying to cover the highlights of 80's cinema, I realise that I had long left out any films by Woody Allen. A fact I had realised for some time, which prompted me to pick up a few titles. Before this year, "Sleeper" and "Everything You Ever Wanted ...

Pros: Everything.
Cons: Nothing.

The best thing about good Woody Allen movies is that they're worth infinite replays. There's something about Allen's eccentric, imperfect characters and his signature wit that encourages the viewer to pop his films into the DVD player. People ...

Pros: acting, writing, soundtrack, theme
Cons: pacing, some annoying characters

Hailing under the heading ‘Romantic Comedy,’ Hannah and Her Sisters follows the paths of three sisters, their parents, one husband, and one ex-husband, in typical Woody Allen style. The general format to the movie is non-linear, but it’s still pieced...

Pros: funny touching story.
Cons: .........................

Woody Allen's 14th film is a complete masterpiece. Searching through the lives of New Yorker's, their relationship's and search for life and happiness, it is a spot on, funny, entertaining film.

Allen's all star cast is fantastic as they tell...

Pros: great music scenes of New York
Cons: none

I guess one thing I like about Woody Allen movies is that he seems to be able to step into the minds of women. He is one of the few men who has understanding of how the female mind works. True, in real life he has devoted much time to accomplishing...

Pros: loads of laughs, classic Allen funny expressions
Cons: I can only think of Pros.

Man's search for meaning (OK, Woody's search for meaning!) , marital infidelity, sibling rivalry, fertility,...these are a few of the themes covered in Woody Allen's classic 'Hannah and Her Sisters.' Set in New York City in the 80's and focusing mainly...

Pros: cast, script, direction
Cons: lacks some of depth and focus of Allen's best 'relationship' films

Manhattan and Annie Hall are generally considered to be the best films from director/writer/actor Woody Allen. [Especially by those who haven't seen Bullets Over Broadway.] They're both better than Hannah and Her Sisters, a...

Pros: multi-layered look at three sisters
Cons: sorry, no gripes here

In his typical interviews, Woody Allen seems put off by the fact that
many people responded to the message of this film. It's as if having a
huge success is totally alien to Allen's well-being. But there are
lesser movies a man could take...

Pros: Stellar writing, strong cast
Cons: Not as good as Crimes and Misdemeanors

Hannah and Her Sisters is an intricate, well thought-out ensemble drama from Woody Allen, who began with this movie a string of adult dramas like Crimes and Misdemeanors, September and Another Woman. This one follows the loves and ambitions of one...

Pros: Great A/V quality; good subtitles and French dub
Cons: Poorly executed Spanish dub

If you've viewed any of MGM's other DVD editions of Allen films, you'll know what to expect from this one. The A/V quality is excellent: the beautiful 35mm visuals are well served by a fine transfer from a clear, sharp print. Scene selections are comprised of titled thumbnail images. The dubbed French dialogue track is just fine. The Spanish track is equally well-voiced, but muddy, a bit too loud and ultimately artificial. The English, Spanish and French subtitles are all as good as can be expected. The theatrical trailer is also included.

For those who have seen this film, I don't need to sing its praises. For those who haven't, there are few other films in Allen's oeuvre as terrific as this one. Like its thematic successor, "Husbands and Wives," this deft character study is perfectly performed by a famously accomplished cast, and brilliantly shot with a keen, nuanced attention afforded to the film's surroundings, characters and milieu in every scene. Some of Allen's films are trite routines, some are inspired entertainment and a handful are genuine artistic achievements - this is among the latter.

This review was first posted to Amazon on March 6, 2009: http://www.amazon.com/review/R35IGRFF1Q4EDD/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm/

Pros: Brilliant script that successfully veers between the intellectual and emotional complications of love and family.
Cons: If you didn't like him before, you won't now. The same neurotic, self-reflexive self.

Woody's ode to sibling rivalry. Hannah (Mia Farrow) and her two sisters (Barbara Hershey and Dianne West) go through career changes, family planning, breakups, existential questioning, and in one case, cheating on Hannah’s husband. Of course Woody is present as the hypochondriac agnostic who can’t stop babbling about his every insecurity and ailment. Woody Allen evokes a particular atmosphere like few other directors – the pop standards, the constant yammering and bickering, voiceover narration, tidbits of mundane inanity that somehow make sense even when they involve very flawed characters. Woody Allen’s career has been spent balancing his intellectual and his romantic sides, usually the latter of which gets squashed by the former. But this, along with Manhattan, is a successful kind of homage to siblings, loyalty, and constant ethical dilemma within the familial framework. And dear Hannah, who “gives and gives but never needs enough,” is a strong, pitiful, and empathetic protagonist.