Deconstructing Harry (1997)

This is easily Woody Allen's best movie. It is funny, daring, provoking, very well played and very critical of religion, especially of the idea of "chosen people", which is so important for most Jews, but is present also in the minds of Christians, who think they are something special because they believe in an invisible being of an ancient book."Tradition is the illusion of permanence." - Woody Allen (Deconstructing Harry)A must see!

Woody Allen has had his way with so many women here it's hard to keep track (of them.) Judy Davis, Elizabeth Shue and Kirstie Alley are just a few of them. What's even more bizarre is keeping up with actors who enacting scenes from his books who represent him and his exes. The actors themselves are as usual very good in his films, especially Judy Davis. I won't begin to discuss the comparison to his personal life as other reviewers have, but I won't try to hide the fact I just didn't get the real point of this. I was disappointed in its obvious use of expletives of not only the f word but the c word women don't like. It's very hard to take, especially the anger of the women yelling at him (psychiatrist Kirstie during a session with a patient on the couch having to endure such hostility) and Woody cussing a blue streak, calling his exes those words. This is a very angry movie, and I was surprised to see it was nominated for original screenplay. The craftsmanship or outline of plot and characters and some "Citizen Kane"-like attributes may make this a little more interesting to some, but if you are used to "Hannah' and the like, you may find this to be too offensive. I admit lead characters are not always likable in movies, but it detracts from the enjoyment factor even if the film has other merits. This was definitely from his low point in the 1990s, and one, that honestly, despite the fact I thought I remembered liking this, has gotten not worth my time to watch, with better Woody Allen films to see.

Harry Block (Woody Allen) is a neurotic, jittery, pill-popping author, condemned by those who known him well, and hailed by those who don't know him at all. Block has written lengthy, verbose novels that are thinly-disguised to hide the real relationships in his life, and for that reason, he has successfully alienated himself from all of his formers friends and family members. He often spends his days lonely, drinking, and hanging out with prostitutes, who he pays ample amounts of money to in order to get a quick-fix.The current silver-lining in Block's sad, dreary existence is that he will soon be recognized in a forthcoming ceremony by the university that kicked him out. He desperately wants company when he embarks on this trip, but because his novels have made it impossible for people to sympathize or like him on any level, he is left with quite a challenge. Even his ex-wife forbids him to spend the day with his young son so he can see his father may not be such a loser after all.Woody Allen's Deconstructing Harry is many things, but one of the most notable is it exists as an ode to the films of acclaimed Swedish director Ingmar Bergman. The film's plot alone mirrors that of Wild Strawberries, one of the man's most loved, which centered on a man and his pregnant daughter-in-law driving through the country so he could be granted with an award. The film made the tricky but probable analysis that a man can be loved by those who don't know him and simultaneously be hated by those who know him all too well. It was a tremendous achievement in foreign cinema and, in my opinion based on what I've seen thus far, Bergman's best film.Furthermore, this is one of Allen's darkest efforts to date. Not only is the film's protagonist almost remorseless in his treatment of others, but the way certain scenes are written and executed truly question how we're exactly supposed to respond. Take for example the scene when Block's panic attacks get the best of him and he needs to be consoled by a hooker he invited over the night before. While the relationship is nice - and without a doubt deeper than most prostitute/client relationships - it definitely shows just how depressing and almost broken Block's life is to the point where he needs to be reassured and comforted by a prostitute.The nihilism and cynicism of Allen's work shockingly doesn't become the detraction in the film, whereas the choppy narrative does and questionable ending does. The narrative, which continues to bounce between the current events in Block's life and the past events/relationships he held, is a bit too erratic and jumbled, quickly switching back and forth between the past and present with only a moderate amount of continuity. Not to mention the ending feels a bit put-on and unbelievable considering all that Block has put up with during the course of the film.Returning to the thought that the film is one giant homage to the works of Bergman, consider Allen's comically potent portrayal of the Devil here. Bergman made the Devil a living, breathing character in his film The Seventh Seal and made the film very existential and thought-provoking. Allen pays close attention-to-detail in terms of character relations and how one person after another is presented here. He animates the Devil character (played by Billy Crystal) terrifically here, using the right amount of black humor and comic-timing.Deconstructing Harry is a cynical delight of a film making exceptional use of Allen's writing/directing talents, but also the immensity and diversity of the cast at hand. Each star, whether it be Kirstie Alley, Julia Louise-Dreyfus, Tobey Maguire, Stanley Tucci, Billy Crystal, or Robin Williams, gets their own time to shine in the picture and all of them feel welcome and completely in-place in Allen's darkly funny world. It's once again apparent that Allen can make deeply personal, intriguing pictures, yet still be so foreign to his audience as a whole.Starring: Woody Allen, Caroline Aaron, Kirstie Alley, Bob Balaban, Richard Benjamin, Eric Bogosian, Billy Crystal, Judy Davis, Hazelle Goodman, Mariel Hemingway, Amy Irving, Julie Kavner, Eric Lloyd, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tobey Maguire, Demi Moore, Elisabeth Shue, Stanley Tucci, and Robin Williams. Directed by: Woody Allen.

If Mighty Aphrodite is a nice Woody Allen, then Deconstructing Harry is certainly the pinnacle of his nasty side. Indeed, for non-Woody Allen fans, it would seem difficult to understand how two vastly different films could come from the same mind. Yet, the genius of Allen lays primarily in his writing, able to create and expound upon a brilliant idea of the story of a man who is unable to cope the negative and horrible lifestyle he abides with the successful and insightful writing and art he creates fictionally.This is a difficult film to review as it unfolds itself in a very bipolar manner: cinematically it works on the highest scale with terrific acting, direction, editing and one of Woody's best scripts. Yet, on the other hand, it is quite possibly his meanest and most cynical portrait of humanity. The character of Harry Block (whom no one was willing to play until Allen finally took it himself) is incredibly neurotic, egotistical, nihilistic and narcissistic and Allen takes him to the very end of his rope, almost encouraging us to not feel any sympathy towards him at all. Certainly no one else does; his entire family hates him for the way he vaguely portrays them in his books as cheap stereotypes of their personalities and beliefs. Still, there may be the slightest bit of humanity within this ball of neuroses if only because Woody Allen gives one of his very best performances here.Again, I must praise the large and star-studded cast for carrying much of the heavy material, especially in scenes that would feel out of place in other hands. In particular, Judy Davis, Elisabeth Shue and Bob Balaban are very good. I must also give praise to Billy Crystal who personifies the devil himself in Harry's mind and is evilly funny.I guess this should be recommended but only for serious Woody Allen fans. It convincingly gives an argument for why and how Allen is able to rationalize all the crazy events he has gone through in his life. Personally, I cannot say that I always agree with his worldview. But, he always does have something interesting to say and if he can continue to say it through films like this, then I feel I will be able to sit through them. However, be warned: this is a side of Woody Allen never seen prior and hardly seen since.