Crimes and Misdemeanors

Crimes and Misdemeanors

1989
Comedy
Drama
1h 44m
The film's title indicates the themes of two separate stories: 1) a renowned opthalmologist is desperate to cut off an adulterous relationship...which ends up in murder; and 2) an ethically frustrated documentary filmmaker woos an attractive television producer while making a film about her insufferably self-centered boss. (MGM)
Your probable score
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Crimes and Misdemeanors

1989
Comedy
Drama
1h 44m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 71.82% from 2713 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(2713)
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Compact view
Rated 01 May 2007
5
91st
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.
Rated 20 Dec 2008
98
93rd
In this masterpiece, Woody Allen conveys two philosophies together, making it a very difficult, hard and fresh film to string together, but frame by frame, he pulls it off. It's a sublime multitudinous of many themes, including relationship, greed, selfishness and death. He crafts a film in the format of a Bergman picture, but also retaining elements of his previous works, by making a serious, engaging drama, while also blending in some lighthearted, funny moments of hilarity.
Rated 25 Mar 2010
99
98th
Woody Allen's darkest and richest exploration of evil and its place in the universe. A companion piece to "Matchpoint," and at least its equal in quality. Landau and Orbach are particularly fine.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
9
98th
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.
Rated 30 Oct 2008
5
93rd
Allen does a really great tragicomedy. Two parallel stories, each told with a very interesting paradox. Here he examines relationships, morality, desperation, and faith in a much more somber tone than I expected. It's the most cynical of his films I've seen so far, and even if it doesn't have all the little editing tricks and laugh-out-loud dialogue that's come to be associated with the director, it still carries that uniquely Woody Allen charm.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
85th
This is my favorite Allen so far. It examines relationships, morality and religion in a fashion not entirely unlike Bergman. Also, Sven Nykvist did the photography. Don't go thinking it's a Bergman ripoff or anything though, because the similarities, for the most part, end there. There's plenty of neurotic dialogue, upper class parties and all of that stuff Woody loves to hate. The dual storylines were pulled off very well, especially when they were tied together at the end.
Rated 23 Oct 2010
2
0th
This is not how human beings act. It's not an examination of the depths of man's inhumanity to man, it's puppets dancing on an empty stage.
Rated 02 Apr 2008
70
61st
I have such a mixed mind about this movie. I love the Landau half, and hate the Allen half. Although I love parts of the Allen half and hate parts of the Landau half. It's so close to really being great that I could scream.
Rated 30 Jun 2009
92
96th
Strikes a great balance between humor and drama, and between the two plot lines. Very effective and well-paced, it does not disappoint.
Rated 02 Jun 2009
96
97th
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.
Rated 20 Oct 2009
92
99th
The most impressive and seamless use of the flashback I've ever seen. Woody Allen proves that even so far into his career he can pull of a great neurotic. I simply can't believe how great of a director he is. This is really such a great collection of acting, writing, and with so many great names that I defy you not to like it. There are no two ways about it, this is a very cerebral movie, but if you're not into that you wouldn't be looking at Woody Allen anyway.
Rated 17 Oct 2010
63
31st
It seems as though Woody's trying to get at big things here, and structurally maybe he's close at points, but the writing (which is really the only thing happening, beside Nykvist's camera) suffocates the whole endeavor. Landau and Huston both do what they can with it, but they can't make up for the hollow script. For a film that's trying to work through juxtaposition, there's no flow. The inserted clips come off as tacky and lazy, and Woody Allen plays Woody Allen. Again.
Rated 14 Apr 2007
90
86th
Per usual, Woody takes all the pain and cruelty and ugliness of life and makes us laugh at it. Another keeper
Rated 26 Feb 2009
90
73rd
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.
Rated 16 Nov 2008
90
90th
One of Allen's best. You really feel the moral turmoil, anxiety, and desperation in this movie. It has the right amount of suspense. It also has some standard Woody humor in his hilarious rivalry with Alan Alda. But, ultimately, the film draws some very sobering and sad conclusions about humanity -- what we are capable of getting away with. If we do get away with murder, after having suffered its consequences through guilt and pain, should we be allowed to walk free?
Rated 07 Sep 2009
87
94th
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.
Rated 29 Sep 2023
75
79th
Very cozy stuff and some really fine acting by Woody, but i wasn't very attached to the characters or themes although you can count on Woody to make some very smart observations and points were along the way. Cool music, not by Woody. The other lead characters were also not Woody, they were Landau and Alan Alda
Rated 24 Feb 2011
85
93rd
On Kubrick's "2001", Woody Allen once said: "It was one of the few times in my life that I realized that the artist was so much ahead of me". Well, Mr. Allen, I think you have just proven yourself wrong. "Crimes and Misdemeanors" is one of the filmmaker's most intelligent, subtle and touching efforts and undoubtedly among his finest directorial works.
Rated 05 Aug 2022
9
96th
Hot take: good movie. Landau is probably better here than in Ed Wood. The murder scene and the aftermath might be the most striking moments in Allen's filmography. Love the clips of 20,000 Years in Sing Sing and Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Insane that the guy who played Prof. Levy lived until 2014.
Rated 09 Jul 2017
85
90th
herhangi bir allen filmiyle ilgili kolay kolay söylenmeyecek şey filmin sıkıcı veya saçma olduğu, bu anlamda adamın en problemli filmi bile önüme gelen herhangi bir filme tercih edilebilir durumdadır benim için. ama kendisini asıl woody allen yapan şey, seyir keyfi üzerine ekleyebildiği görece pop-felsefi durum ve sorgular oluyor. işte bu, ikinci katmanı da en iyi serdiği filmlerden birisi.
Rated 05 Apr 2009
53
47th
shoves its Important Message down your throat and then continues to beat you over the head with it until the very end if you didn't catch it the first time. The bits with Woody and Allan Alda are amusing, though.
Rated 16 Feb 2010
90
80th
One of those films you appreciate so much more after watching and pondering 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."
Rated 10 Jan 2013
85
80th
A surprisingly complex and nuanced film, so much so that on my first watch I can only scratch the surface of what I feel is there. The obvious comparison is Bergman - especially considering the film's ongoing and utterly compelling look at faith, God, relationships and morality - but the film is nonetheless completely Woody Allen's own as here he mixes humour and poignancy with a strange cocktail of warmth and cynicism. It helps that the performances are excellent and the film looks great.
Rated 19 May 2007
100
91st
Woody Allen's best (except maybe for Manhattan).
Rated 17 Aug 2010
65
68th
probably the most serious of allen's work, crimes and misdemeanors is quite a low key, grayscale kind of movie. While the movie's dual storylines and somber tone are unexpected, Allen still injects his quirky comedy and refined intellects into the script, making it an enjoyable and a thought provoking watch. Still, it has a depressing, downer overtone, a bit inaccessible for the casual viewer.
Rated 01 Apr 2011
84
81st
I don't really love Allen's comedy, but he's a great filmmaker and the drama in this movie is very well done.
Rated 12 Jan 2009
76
77th
An interesting film, particularly in the case of the Landau half of the film. But Allen is playing the same insecure, whiny schnook (with a fixation on younger women) that he does in every one of his films. The widely-praised philosophy here merely seeks to answer some very basic questions we all must ask ourselves if we wish to reconcile dogmatic moralities with the real world--and a lot of us have already done that.
Rated 21 Oct 2010
80
77th
Witty and well-played (especially Landau and Alda). It's a huge gallery of people (but never too many). At the same time this is one of Allen's more explicit deep films, where the thematic references between the parallel stories are vague, yet still profound and - towards the end - they draw closer. The jewish professor that only exists on celluloid in this film is an incredible story character: his presence is saddening, comical (it reflects Allen's solitude which is always fun) and thoughtful.
Rated 19 Jun 2015
4
52nd
stuck somewhere between the quasi-realism of HUSBANDS AND WIVES and the hyperactivity of ANNIE HALL is this competent but all-too-familiar woody allen thing, with a glossy, high-class aesthetic that feels just a bit too superficial for its heavy musings on morality.
Rated 27 Aug 2008
95
94th
I enjoy Allen's films, but I never think much of them. This is a clear exception, and it is his best work to date. Very engaging and very thought-provoking, Allen shows that he can make a well-crafted drama--and still have a bit of his humor in it.
Rated 29 Mar 2012
97
98th
I still haven't decided if I was crushed or uplifted by the ending, but I do know that I was thoroughly impressed with the script. This is some of the most thought-provoking material Woody has ever penned and there are moments that transcend several genres (comedy, drama, thriller) without the slightest bump in thematic presentation. The seemingly unrelated stories come together in the final moments and leave us with tragic truths about humanity and our intensely flawed sense of reason/morality.
Rated 14 Jan 2010
7
78th
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.
Rated 02 Sep 2011
86
79th
There isn't a likable character in the bunch, but it is a deeply thoughtful film. My favorite Woody Allen.
Rated 17 Jun 2007
84
97th
Simply Brilliant. I don't want to spoil it with my words.
Rated 20 Oct 2010
85
92nd
"It's probably just as well. I plagiarized most of it from James Joyce. You probably wondered why all the references to Dublin." Brilliant..
Rated 13 Jun 2010
92
93rd
Probably my second favorite Allen film, C&M has a great deal in common with his more recent effort Match Point. But whereas the later film is more stark in its oppositions, C&M is filled with nuance and complexity in its moral questioning. This extra layer of complexity is likely due to the explicit presence of religion in C&M, but the film also succeeds due to wonderful dramatic performances from Landau and Waterston, as well as a fine comic turn from Allen himself.
Rated 09 Dec 2006
84
90th
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.
Rated 25 Jun 2014
73
27th
Immediately forgotten. Sounds like a 73 to me.
Rated 18 Mar 2010
67
31st
I don't think Allen is displaying the expected dramedy alchemy here. Feels prosaic; especially in Bergman's shadow.
Rated 09 Dec 2008
60
17th
Certainly entertaining and certainly enlightening for some people. It just didn't really connect with me. I think Match Point said what this was trying to say, except Match Point did a better job. Landau, Alda, Farrow, and Waterston all do terrific jobs, though.
Rated 29 Jul 2020
3
28th
fuck woody allen, yo
Rated 28 Aug 2014
70
67th
There's some good stuff in this movie, but it didn't all quite come together for me. I liked the themes of love and death and faith that it explored and the general melancholy feel that it had. I just didn't totally connect with the characters or the story, but that doesn't mean that Woody Allen's direction and writing wasn't good, or that the performances weren't good either, because they were. It's not one of my favourite Allen films, but it's still one of his best.
Rated 02 Aug 2015
84
77th
Excellent and thought provoking that asks many questions without attempting to provide any neat answers. Allen himself is excellent and the movie manages the exceptional trick of subtly playing with your conception of the main characters in a way that mirrors life itself much more accurately than the usual 90 minutes of character exposition and plot.
Rated 19 Jun 2011
86
96th
Allen's best by a country mile. A heavy Bergman influence that, in turn, became a heavy influence on the Coen Bros.
Rated 20 Jan 2013
75
78th
Woody Allen is a cool guy. Also jewish.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
85
94th
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.
Rated 03 Mar 2019
40
10th
Slow, pedestrian, meandering film that tries for deep philosophical reasoning.
Rated 29 Jan 2012
98
98th
Though unlike any other Allen film, this is a masterpiece!
Rated 21 Nov 2020
9
90th
Contains a great deal of unspoken truths about love, reason and morality which - through Allen's thought-provoking and heartbreaking script - are articulated in a mature, nuanced and surprisingly profound way. It's a film that leaves you both feeling blue and grateful for arriving at a deeper understanding of ourselves and what defines us as human beings. One of Woody's best.
Rated 03 Sep 2013
89
90th
Takes two rather different storylines and uses them to bounce around ideas of morality (concerning love and murder). Both storylines are very well made (Landau and Allen give two excellent performances), both have their fair share of dramatic and comedic moments, and they manage to come together (somewhat) in a life-as-film celebration. For a film about trying to find banality in murder, it's quite uplifting.
Rated 24 Aug 2012
87
74th
http://www.philfilms.utm.edu/1/crimes.html
Rated 17 Apr 2019
90
71st
It was hard to find a connection
Rated 18 Dec 2010
94
70th
Probably Allen's best and most mature movie. Here he could display his comedic and his philosohical sides in equal manner, accomplishing some of the most poignant insights on human nature in all his work, be it funny, tragic or dark. Great acting all over, this is the pinnacle of allen's talent and even if he's made some good movies afterwards, this remains a high point in his ouvre. Great serious comedy.
Rated 22 Aug 2023
60
44th
It has its strong moments but is a tad underwhelming on the whole. The cast is good, some of the jokes land well, and the philosophical and religious musings carry a certain de facto weight even if it's all familiar territory for Allen by this point. However, the film cuts abruptly from one storyline to the other, and the fact that the two never truly come together in a meaningful way is a cop-out; similarly, the alternation between comedy and tragedy is a bit confusing and not really balanced.
Rated 01 Mar 2008
89
82nd
# 226
Rated 08 Apr 2007
90
97th
Most definitely NOT minor Woody!
Rated 09 Feb 2017
70
56th
Here, we have 2 opthalmologists, the real and W.A. the documentary maker. Ther former tries to see a hope for justice and clean conscience as he tries to get away from this murdered woman's memory whereas the latter tries to construct a forbidden love affair and seek justice as an artist resenting to a world where idiot Lester wins all the credit. A very Jewish film about love, first sin, memory and hope. Btw the Jewish professor resembles Emmanuel Levinas a lot, probably a tribute to him.
Rated 03 Aug 2011
85
86th
Allen definitely scores with this very straight forward, by the book drama. While this conservative approach makes the film likable by just about everybody, it didn't inspire me as much as Annie Hall or even Manhattan. Still, a home run to say the least.
Rated 02 Mar 2015
85
91st
There's a really great movie and a good movie stapled together here. I didn't get the same sense of complementary stories as others felt.
Rated 20 Apr 2014
75
81st
A great film, though I'm not entirely convinced of the dual storylines, especially as the elements of comedy and drama are essentially split down the middle. Somewhat unbalanced as well; I found the Allen storyline almost shoe-horned in, though that might just be due to how good Martin Landau's performance is. I've probably seen enough Allen at this point to feel as though vanity is a bit of a vice for him, and some of that feels more than applicable here.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
99
96th
Allens' great triumph. He tempers dread with humor in his masterpiece on morality. If you haven't seen it, watch it. But strap yourself in for a long slow one. The pacing is glacial, but in the final scene, it rewards.
Rated 12 Mar 2011
100
0th
Philosophically brilliant
Rated 20 Feb 2015
95
91st
Possibly Woody's most conceptually striking film, and the one which most seamlessly blends drama and comedy. Probably my personal favorite too. Just enjoyable on so many levels.
Rated 10 Feb 2007
80
68th
I can't see this film as great. It's good. In my mind it lives comfortably alongside another 3 or 4 good dramas made by Allen during the 80s. So comfortably, in fact, that I oftentimes get them all mixed together in my mind. They're all so BROWN.
Rated 18 Nov 2019
80
80th
Professor Levy: "We are all faced throughout our lives with agonizing decisions. Moral choices. Some are on a grand scale. Most of these choices are on lesser points. But! We define ourselves by the choices we have made. We are in fact the sum total of our choices. Events unfold so unpredictably, so unfairly, human happiness does not seem to have been included, in the design of creation. It is only we, with our capacity to love, that give meaning to the indifferent universe."
Rated 07 Nov 2015
90
92nd
A deep dive is what this film is, covering the many sides of betrayal and how we digest it. A film that seems to be written as a symptom of (and resonates best when watched with some) age and experience.
Rated 22 Apr 2017
85
58th
B+
Rated 09 Jan 2012
89
79th
This film was waaaayyy heavier than I thought it would be, so much so that I couldn't really handle it when I saw it.
Rated 28 Jul 2012
93
91st
Woody's darkest. Martin Landau is excellent.
Rated 30 Aug 2008
93
97th
simply the best of allen.
Rated 19 Dec 2008
86
72nd
272
Rated 09 Jul 2009
5
98th
Funny in a very tragic way. C'est la vie et c'est a great movie.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
97th
One of Allen's very best.
Rated 30 Jan 2010
99
98th
Ultimately, it's about religious morality vs. secular morality. It's interesting that Allen doesn't put his finger on the scale, nor does he allow either side to "win" at the end of the day. This is about as thoughtful and kind a comment on religion as you're going to get from a self-described Atheist. Every character was great, especially Sam Waterston's rabbi, who made me nearly applaud anytime I realized he'd get to be in a scene.
Rated 30 Mar 2009
96
96th
One of, if not my favorite Allen film......really terrific....
Rated 10 Mar 2012
85
91st
Some very funny parts, but this film worked better as a drama. For my introduction to Woody Allen, I was pretty impressed. I liked how there were the 2 storylines which eventually converged. Martin Landau was very good, and Allen and Farrow were good. Overall, a great movie with good performances and some great scenes.
Rated 22 Jan 2012
90
89th
Excellent performances from Landau and Huston, among a top-tier ensemble cast, really make Crimes and Misdemeanors shine.
Rated 22 Oct 2013
86
87th
85.500
Rated 17 Jul 2014
95
97th
One of Woody's best. One of the most interesting movie philosophically thinking that I have seen. It's funny, dark, cynical, and the ending is perfect. Would probably be one of the movies I would recommend people if they hadn't seen an Allen movie before.
Rated 13 Feb 2022
80
89th
A very intellectual comedy. Rare and high-quality.
Rated 10 Feb 2013
75
67th
esini aldatan adam, aldatmak, santaj, santaji yapani öldürmek, cinayet, vicdan azabi, belgesel yönetmeni, istemedigi filmi çekmek zorunda kalan yönetmen, iyi yürümeyen evlilik, evli adamin baska kadindan hoslanmasi, din ve dinsizlik mukayesesi (yemek masasinda), Musevi (iki farkli hikaye birbirinden bagimsiz ilerler, finalde dügünde bir araya gelen iki kahraman konusurlar.)
Rated 18 Aug 2011
90
94th
Landau, Alda, Nykvist and Allen equals quite a powerhouse quartet, and this darker, dualistic almost Bergman-esque take on the essential deeper themes of life suits Allen way better than expected.
Rated 28 Dec 2009
90
95th
An intricate and well-plotted rumination on the morality of murder. One of Allen's best movies.
Rated 20 Sep 2009
70
75th
Maybe not as witty as his other films but nevertheless became one of my favourites. Why? Because his role was very small and his acting was low key, which in general is vice versa and makes me mad. So i liked it very much.
Rated 18 Aug 2015
100
96th
watched: 2015, 2021
Rated 09 Jun 2020
90
91st
Under Quarantine Film Reviews #123: Woody masterfully weaves two different plots together while also blending comedy, drama, morality, and religion. One of his best.
Rated 19 Jan 2011
82
77th
i love the last scene.that woody know's what he's doing
Rated 28 Jun 2010
100
98th
Woody Allen's best film, and that's really saying something. A really thought-provoking look into morality and what it means in a world where God might not exist.
Rated 22 Oct 2009
90
88th
Allen's zenith
Rated 30 Jun 2009
75
72nd
Overall Enjoyment: 25/40, Plot/Themes: 15/20, Cinematography/Direction: 20/20, Acting/Writing: 15/20
Rated 10 Nov 2015
100
0th
"I don't think it's a character I'd aspire to connect to!" http://illusionpodcast.blogspot.com/2015/11/episode-78-serious-films-of-woody-allen.html
Rated 06 Oct 2023
39
18th
I guess it's only for Allen fans, which I am not. Lester's story is funny and engaging at times but rest drags and even smart and funny moments are presented in a dull fashion.
Rated 18 Aug 2012
64
38th
Stories and acting are good, but it was hard for me to find something more that would keep my eyes focused through entire film.
Rated 26 Feb 2007
60
62nd
Not bad.
Rated 10 Jul 2023
62
54th
an unremarkable film, though the witty dialogue and good pacing keep it somewhat interesting all the way to the end.
Rated 22 Jan 2011
95
98th
A fantastic film that oozes with thoughtfulness, introspection, philosophy, and life. It profoundly captures the real way we deal with our problems, and the realisation that life is not always a place of justice. The direction was smooth and flowing, with shots only cutting away when they absolutely needed to. Allen and Landau give great performances too. A joy to watch.
Rated 02 Feb 2008
5
96th
This was really impressive and it dealt with some heady themes. One of Allen's better films.
Rated 11 Apr 2009
77
88th
Good Movie
Rated 13 Apr 2018
65
6th
The actors were fine when they didn't sound like an extension of Allen's own voice.
Rated 13 Jan 2010
88
76th
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