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Created Mar 22, 2011 07:15AM PST • Edited Mar 22, 2011 07:15AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Good 3.0

   The beauty of New York City is captured in this comedy/drama from Woody Allen about a middle-aged writer who is rebounding from a bad marriage by dating a 17 year old, while also dating his friend’s mistress. Accented by the use of black and white filming, the movie exposes the duality of our desires. With music by George Gershwin, it is a wonderful portrait of NYC, with an intriguing story of choices in life.

   Allen plays Isaac, a 42-year-old writer who has an ex-wife (Meryl Streep) writing a “tell-all” book about their marriage that is not flattering to Isaac. Issac is romantically involved with 17 year old Tracey (Mariel Hemingway, in an Oscar winning role), but also begins dating Mary (Diane Keaton) the older, but more neurotic mistress of his friend.

   The great philosopher Aristotle claimed that true happiness is found in moderation, between excesses. This film really echoes that mentality, for while Issac should be dating Mary, the more age-appropriate woman; it’s ironically the teenager who is the most stable of the characters. Isaac’s friend Yale (Michael Murphy), enjoys the excesses in life with a beautiful wife and mistress, and at one point contemplates buying a Porshe, a useless yet expensive vanity gift when living on the island of Manhattan.

   Of course, Allen is known for his self-depreciating commentary and dialogue, and this movie has plenty of that wit. Unlike W.C. Fields, whose commentary was more often negative attacks on others, Allen directs this comedic energy on himself, with wry observations delivered so quickly, that you want to rewind often to catch some of his gems.

   A witty movie for those who like films that are more cerebral. I recognize that Woody isn’t for everyone, but in the end, I felt this was a clever picture.

4. Acting

   Good 3.0

5. Male Stars Good 3.0

   Woody Allen is wonderful at playing characters that are really extenisons of himself. He was good int hat role for this picture.

6. Female Stars Very Good 3.5

   Hemingway effectly captures the innocent devotion of Isaac’s teenage lover, showing a nice range of vulnerability.

7. Female Costars Good 3.0

   I would have liked to have seen more of Meryl Streep, as the lesbian ex-wife writing the tell-all book. She was very good.

8. Male Costars Good 3.0

10. Film

    Good 3.0

11. Direction Good 3.0

    Allen does a nice job of keeping a dialogue heavy film moving along. He draws out a great performance from Hemingway.

12. Play OK 2.5

13. Music Great 4.0

    The use of George Gershwin scores are wonderful against the balck and white shots of New York.

14. Visuals Very Good 3.5

    The choice to film in black and white is brilliant, as it brings a 1940’s type of romantic feeling to the story.

15. Content

16. Edge

    Tame 1.4

17. Sex Titillating 1.7

    No nudity, but it is disturbing to have a 40-ish man dating a teen.

18. Violence Gentle 1.0

    None

19. Rudeness Salty 1.6

    Some swear words.

21. Reality

    Glib 1.1

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.3

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0