Crimes And Misdemeanors (1990)

Woody Allen's work has been strangely inconsistent. Not, of course, in his main characterisations, which quite often involve him playing himself (or at least, the "Woody Allen" role), or someone else filling his shoes, complete with mannerisms. Instead, despite all the abundant similarities between his films in terms of themes covered, the simple fact is that Allen has made some very good films (Annie Hall, Manhattan) and some very bad ones (apparently the majority of his work since the early '90s). Crimes and Misdemeanours, for better or for worse, does not fall into either category. The story is slight. The themes are sometimes interesting . Nevertheless, there is the comforting presence of the Woody Allen character (his character is a documentary maker in this one), and the appropriately hilarious send-up of the self-obsessed television producer who wants a biographical series about himself, and rings in the film-maker to assist in this vanity piece. The one-liners are great, as usual, and the film does not shy away from exploring fascinating concepts (the way we deal with guilt, the value of a life, and the prevalence of selfish behaviour from human beings), which overall makes for a film that can at least be recommended, if not praised unreservedly.