When you think heartwarming Thanksgiving family drama the first person who comes to mind is not Woody Allen, but that's exactly what he pulled off in the comic tale of three sisters and their intertwining lives.
The movie opens On Thanksgiving Day. Hannah (Mia Farrow) as the entire family over for the annual feast. Eliot (Micheal Caine) is married to Hannah, but he is infatuated with her sister Lee (Barbara Hershey). Lee is partnered with Frederick (Max Von Sydow) a bitter, reclusive artist who is resentful of Eliot's interest in Lee. Holly (Dianne Wiest) is Hannah and lee's other sister, who is best friends with April ( Carrie Fisher). Lee and April are struggling actresses who form a catering business together. they also have shared interest in architect David (Sam Waterson). Mickey (Woody Allen) is a producer of a popular late night variety show and ex-husband to Hannah and father two her two boys.
All these peoples lives intertwine and connect over the course of a year. Through flashbacks we see how Mickey's relationships with Hannah unfolded and also how he tried to date Holly for awhile. By the following Thanksgiving lives have been changed and relationships altered. And then the film adds a coda that takes a look at Mickey's existential crisis during the year and on a third Thanksgiving gives the audience a sweet and very satisfying ending.
This film is one of Woody Allen's masterpieces. The characters are fully realized and completely accessible. Allen's performance is subdued and he relegates himself to a supporting role in the film. The delights here are Micheal Caine behaving like an infatuated school boy and Diane Wiest as lost soul trying to find her way in NYC.
The large cast is augmented by Lloyd Nolan, Maureen O'Sullivan, Julie Kavner, Joanna Gleason, Daniel Stern and Tony Roberts. The script is super smart, especially the interior monologues many of the characters have. Allen was fully in touch with his characters when he wrote this movie. Like Manhattan the film is also a valentine to the city of New York.
Hannah And Her Sisters is a delight from start to finish. Nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, it won for Best Screenplay and Caine and Wiest received Best Supporting Acting Oscars for their performances. It's one of Allen's best and a great film for Thanksgiving.
At the Movie House ****
1 comment:
A very nice review, Joe!
I think that I've seen this film only once, and don't remember it as Thanksgiving-theme. I do remember a great multi-room Manhattan apartment, though.
Will try to review this again.
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