Zelig (1983)

First, I am sorry for my english. I think it's a very funny and very very original film. But I think it's too longe. It would be better with 45 minutes menos

Zelig is an adjective of Germanic (not especially Yiddish) origin, with multiple meanings, ranging from blessed or blissful (soulful), to silly. In its Anglo-Saxon incarnation (saelig) it has often had a tendency to be applied to sheep: simple, hapless, foolish animals, conforming aimlessly to the herd, sometimes referred to as sheeple, incapable of independent thought. This seems to be Woody Allen's impersonation here, ineffectual and unidentifiable. Merge with the herd; go with the flow.Reviewers have had a little difficulty in assigning a satisfactory genre to this film, most settling for describing it as a mockumentary of a non-existent person. Perhaps slightly pretentious.I think of it more as a philosophical excursion into the meaning of life, and an examination of our purpose, if any, on earth. Acceptance, compliance, or defiance ? A very great deal of archive research and other work was clearly put into this production, and it was undeniably highly ingenious. Although a little annoying at times, on balance I found it fascinating and engaging, and while I hovered for a time on a low rating, I finally settled for quite a high appreciation of its paradoxical creativity.

This could well be a review of 90% of Woody Allen's oeuvre. The film is a smorgasbord of fabulousness - exquisite concepts, very clever lines and very funny ones. No film maker has ever had such a grasp of irony, sarcasm and the ridiculous, and still imbue it with wit and (occasionally) subtlety. But it is the relentless self-deprecation and extant feelings of worthlessness that eventually become wearing after you have watched as many Allen films as I have. This is the film that most impresses you with his confusion over identity however. I could go on about self-analysis for pages but it's unnecessary...just watch any given Woody Allen film. He mellows it out with a rather forlorn sense of romance that becomes endearing rather than pathetic...a skill that is essential to engage with his films. This is a fine film. Oh yeah...and very funny...if you get the references.

...as well as among the better half of his filmography. It does drag a bit and the earlier parts occasionally ramble too much, but Zelig is still a truly great film. Technically Zelig looks fabulous, one of his better-looking and most interesting early films along with Manhattan and The Purple Rose of Cairo. And it's actually more interesting in this regard than either of those films, because among Allen's films it's his most unique and ground-breaking. As far as I can recall, none of Allen's other films use the technique of inserting a character(in this case Leonard Zelig) into existing footage like newsreels and archive photos, and so cleverly. Well, What's Up Tiger Lily? had a dubbed over commentary over an existing mystery film but with mixed results and that's not really the same thing. The music suits the period brilliantly and gives the sense that you are there, it's great-sounding and memorable too. The screenplay is among Allen's cleverest, it's laugh-out-loud funny but also very poignant with the romantic parts really sweetly done. It's also very intelligent and has a lot to say on the issues that it deals with. The characters are not as neurotic as in some of Allen's other films, though they are unmistakably Woody Allen. They feel real, and I did find myself relating to Zelig in his struggles and desire to fit in(that was exactly the case with me in school), the characters' relationships and chemistry were more than believable. The story is heartfelt, funny and makes great use of his mockumentary style, there are some rambling moments but not to an interminable degree. Allen directs thoughtfully as ever, and he gives a great performance that is among his most physical, energetic and relatable. Mia Farrow also gives one of her most sympathetic performances, and is touching in doing so. In conclusion, a great film that deserves more attention, despite the high rating and reviews holding it in great esteem elsewhere people talk about Annie Hall, Crimes and Misdemeanours and Manhattan as well as more recent stuff like Midnight in Paris and Match Point but Zelig is rarely talked about and that's a shame because people are missing out on Woody Allen at his most unique. 9/10 Bethany Cox