I don't think Allen is displaying the expected dramedy alchemy here. Feels prosaic; especially in Bergman's shadow.

Funny, tragic, painful and thoughtful all at once. Rarely does anyone manage to so successfully combine humor and drama in a way that allows the movie to view both as separate entities while at the same time mixing them together in a way that brilliantly reflects the uncertainty of real-life emotions. This is Allen's most cynical, but also contains bursts of happiness and reflections of humanity that make the lows of the characters that much more poignant. Intelligent and moving.

simply the best of allen.

One of those films you appreciate so much more after watching it. It was clear to me the sections with Woody and Alda were great, but only after thinking about the film did I realize how awesome the Landau stuff was too. "A strange man defecated on my sister."

Highly influenced by his director idol, but still with his personal touch, Allen crafts a wonderful existential tale that reflects over people's everyday encounter with morality in their lives; two characters have their conscience stormed and have nowhere to turn to. A really wondeful film on the matters of religion, relationships and greed.

A heartbreaking tragedy juxtaposed with uproarious comedy with both working marvelously is not an eay endeavor, and credit Allen for pulling off the near impossible. [Full Review]

Half drama, half comedy, a little bit of murder and a great deal of thinking man's food for thought. Even still, a delight to watch.

A clever script that deals with several human afflictions, but always with the smoothness of Allen and his sentences hilarious almost sarcastic.

Using two different storylines and sometimes subtly intertwining them worked wonders. Landau is great as the guilt-ridden cynic and Woody is wonderful as, well, Woody. Great use of flashbacks and voice-overs, especially loved the narration of the philosophy professor.

My favorite Allen. Has a really involving plot, both Allen and Landau's best performances (plus great ones by Huston, Waterson, Orbach, and Alda), and one of the single funniest scenes I can think of in any movie.

Despite the fact that this film is made up of two stories, this movie still feels like a complete whole. An excellent and darkly funny meditation on morals. Plus, Woody Allen has the best reaction to a sick sex act.

strong Allen effort

Allen's study of life and consquences is moving. He shows the development of moral frameworks that we make for ourselves with religion, money and even entertainment... yet the irrationality of our choices, our emotional detachments from the reality of things seem to bring these crushing down within only moments. What lies beyond our own fabrications of reality is truth, whether it be heartbreak, guilt, laughter, betrayal or even love. There's always someone to laugh at our own tragedies.

I consider this one of the greatest movies Woody Allen has made. It's definitely in the top three favorite movies of his, with Annie Hall and Match Point. Both stories told in the movie hold interest throughout, but to me Landau's story is even more interesting than the Allen one. Martin Landau is a true legend and in this movie his acting is really superb. Woody is great, as are Mia Farrow and Alan Alda . This is an excellent movie.

Per usual, Woody takes all the pain and cruelty and ugliness of life and makes us laugh at it. Another keeper

Brutal, cynical, and funny all at once, this is a layered and complex movie with remarkably bleak conclusions about the nature of human morality. Martin Landau, Woody Allen, and Alan Alda are all superb, and I love the subtle ways the two stories intertwine both literally and thematically. This is one of Allen's best.

Woody Allen's best (except maybe for Manhattan).

A really mature and engaging effort from Allen that avoids the trademark cliches and really probes the depths of human desire, greed, desperation, and conscience.