Manhattan Murder Mystery

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Woody Allen was going through his off-screen scandal with Mia Farrow when Manhattan Murder Mystery was produced, so Diane Keaton was brought in to fill the role intended for Farrow. The reunion of Keaton and Allen only improves this already enjoyable Allen comedy, since they're so comfortable with each other's neuroses that they're delightfully convincing as a married couple who suspect their neighbor of murdering his wife. Actually, it's Keaton who obsesses about the possible foul play; Woody just wants them to mind their own business. But pretty soon they've recruited their friends (Alan Alda, Anjelica Huston) as amateur sleuths, and the movie turns into a Nancy Drew mystery for sophisticated Manhattanites. With a typical abundance of Woody Allen witticism and some memorable comic suspense, this engaging throwback to vintage Hollywood mysteries is guaranteed to please even the most noncommittal Woody Allen fans, and the Allen-Keaton chemistry is, as always, a genuine pleasure. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

"Goodbye, Mrs. House".......2007-09-05

Okay, okay, so I know that MANHATTAN MURDER MYSTERY has always been regarded -- by prevailing opinion, at any rate -- as a lesser Woody Allen film, unfit to be considered among the heyday gems such as ANNIE HALL, MANHATTAN, HANNAH AND HER SISTERS, and CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS, but who cares about prevailing opinion anyway? This film is very funny and certainly one of my favorites. (Is that blasphemy?) Although it certainly doesn't have much of a deep message camouflaged behind the one-liners, it is a lot of fun; it even seems like the actors had a lot of fun making it -- which seems somewhat incredible in light of the fact that it was filmed in the deep, dark shadow of the Mia Farrow-Soon Yi Previn scandal. (A recent biography, obviously slanted in Allen's favor, reported that, even after the scandal, Mia Farrow still intended to play the Diane Keaton character in this film and was surprised that she was replaced. In the Farrow version of the film, the couple's characteristics were reversed: Allen was the snoop, and Farrow was the skeptic.)

I've seen all of Allen's films, from the great (HUSBAND AND WIVES, for example) to the barely endurable (CURSE OF THE JADE SCORPION comes to mind), and I've seen most of them several times, but MMM is the one I always keep coming back to... the cinematic equivalent of comfort food. The storyline? It's really beside the point, I guess, since it's just a backdrop for Allen and Keaton's very funny interactions as a bored, aging, and -- need it be mentioned? -- neurotic New York City couple. One night, returning from a evening out, they meet their neighbors, the Houses, in the elevator and then join them for coffee. Soon after, Mrs. House drops dead -- or so it seems. But Keaton's character suspects foul play and embarks as an amateur sleuth, much to her husband's dismay. She's convinced that Mr. House is a little "too perky," as she puts it, after his longtime wife's sudden demise, and she stops at nothing to prove her instincts are right.

I have a bad habit -- an affliction, really. I quote movie lines. Yes, I'm one of "those" people. Along with HALLOWEEN (don't ask), I think I quote from MMM more than any other film. There are lots of great lines here, especially when Allen's character become flustered at his wife's often extreme (and illegal, by the way) tactics in solving the mystery -- if it is in fact a mystery at all. He reminds her at one point of her previous stint in psychotherapy, and how, just like a car, maybe it's time for tune-up. This captures Allen's perplexity nicely at Keaton's increasingly aggressive detective work, including a stake-out with a torch-carrying friend played by Alan Alda.

The thing that makes MMM a great movie, without question, is the chemistry between Diane Keaton and Woody Allen. There is such a naturalness in their exchanges that it is difficult to believe that they have not been long-married, and their timing, tics, and mannerisms perfectly evoke a marriage in its doldrums needing a "shot of adrenaline" to enliven it again. (I've made my point. I love this movie. I'll shut up now.)

REAR WINDOW, PLEASE! .......2007-07-29

Woody Allen has spent his career paying homage to various genres that have influenced him since childhood. Or that he just plain liked. Here he tips his hat to the amateur sleuth murder mystery. The plot centers on the mysteriously doings of his apartment building neighbors. Spurred on by his wife (played by Diane Keaton) and pal (played by Alan Alda) he gets caught up in the mystery more to save his marriage than anything else. This movie reminds me mostly of Alfred Hitchcock's famous Rear Window from the 1950's in its plot line but with a 1990's sensibility. But as always not to worry there is plenty of social commentary/ humor of the well -know Allen type. Do you absolutely need to see this movie? No, you absolutely need to see Annie Hall or Manhattan, films made in Allen's prime. But this one is okay if you need a little funny sardonic entertainment.

The Unfunny Woody Allen.......2007-01-09

This is a truly pathetic excuse for a movie. The dialogue is rambling and often incoherent (Keaton looks high much of the time and moves a hand constantly toward her nose), the story is confusing and unconvincing (and has to be explained, twice), the camera work is labored, and the artisie illusions and music are oh, so obviously "in". Worst of all, the film isn't funny. It should be no surprise that Woody Allen soon moved into a much darker genre of film making to occupy his later years.

Enjoyable movie.......2007-01-06

MANHATTAN MURDER MYSTERY is a pleasant film that can be enjoyed even by people who are luke warm about Allen and his films. The pace is a bit slow and the "mystery" is not all that exciting but Allen's gags and take on relationships are as usual entertaining and Keaton and Allen make a convincing married couple. The other parts are also well acted. Not a must see but an OK way to spend a snowy evening.

Diane Keaton & Woody Reunite!.......2006-12-31

With public popularity swaying away from Woody Allen, only Diane Keaton could put the wheels back on Woody's reputation. Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993) is a return to the entertaining, laugh-out-loud, slapstic comedic romps we all loved in Woody Allen's Funny Films like 'Take the Money & Run', 'Bananas', 'Play It Again, Sam', 'Sleeper', 'Love & Death' and 'Annie Hall'. The coup de grace in making this film most memorable was the brilliant casting-against-type of Jerry Adler (Mr. Wicker on 'Mad About You') who would later dazzle us as Herman 'Hesh' Rabkin in 'The Sopranos'. Truly one of his greatest triumphs in Funny rather than Intellectual comedy!

Leonard, Toronto, Canada

Average customer rating:

adrienne shelly made me smile!
Great movie, awful DVD transfer
Crackerjack goofiness
pleasantly quirky
Hysterical

Sudden Manhattan
Starring: Shirl Bernheim , Bill Boggs , Bobby Caravella , Paul Cassell , and Garry Goodrow
Manufacturer: Vanguard Cinema
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ASIN: B00005TRZB
Release Date: 2002-02-19

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Adrienne Shelly, the red-headed pixie star of Hal Hartley's The Unbelievable Truth and Trust, wanders through familiar Hartley-esque territory (urban angst, fear of commitment) in her directorial debut. Sweetly neurotic goofball Donna (Shelly) is a glum young Greenwich Village single with a lovesick landlord (Roger Rees) and an impotent new boyfriend (Tim Guinee) who would rather read Russian literature aloud in bed than make love. Meanwhile, she stumbles onto a series of murders that may or may not be taking place in the streets of her neighborhood. Shelly's whimsical script, a surreal tour of Greenwich Village weirdness, is scattered but quite funny. If it lacks the focus and direction of Hartley's films (or her own follow-up film, I'll Take You There), it's nonetheless an amusing, offbeat little lark with a crack ensemble (including Louise Lasser as a morbid fortune teller) and a quirky comic bounce all its own. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

adrienne shelly made me smile!.......2007-07-09

funny,funny, funny..... in a funny sort of way! if you like your films odd,as i do. this is for you! i was sad at the loss of adrienne shelly, she was truely something wonderfull!as sad as i was this film made me smile!

Great movie, awful DVD transfer.......2007-01-10

Cool stuff, close to Hartley's early off-beat two movies with Adrienne. She is great as always and I'll really miss her.

Rest in peace, Mrs. Shelly...

I just want to warn everyone who is considering buying this DVD that picture quality is awful. It's almost like watching pirated VCD from China or badly ripped divx...

Crackerjack goofiness.......2002-09-05

Adrienne Shelly's one-woman show--she's writer, director, and lead actress--is a sharp, nutso take on Greenwich Village life (that's New York City's "Village" for those unfamiliar with the reference). In it she's unemployed but still has enough money, somehow, to shell out $75 to an overly negative fortune teller (Louise Lasser) whose deadpan delivery of constant doom and gloom lends additional fun-filled quirkiness to this unique offbeat charmer of a flick.

Shelly here seems to be making a lot of fun of art house films and does so with real aplomb. Her landlord, Roger Rees, is a college professor who lets her rent her place free (very likely explaining her ability to pay the fortune teller), but has painted a door-size face of her on his apartment entrance and constantly professes his undying love for her. She'll have none of it. Instead she prefers the ministrations of a younger man, about her own age, played nicely by Tim Guinee, who winds up being unable to satisfy her physically because of his peculiar psychology that turns to Russian literature just at the wrong moments. Her girlfriend "falls in love" with two gay men, partners, who chatter endlessly about artsy stuff that means not a whole lot at all.

And, on a quiet Village street, she witnesses a murder, or two, or three, committed by a tall bearded man who has a few more personalities than the average bear. A banana-eating cop doesn't believe her when she tells him what she saw.

Though this all sounds completely disjointed, it's just this fragmented gathering of wacky shenanigans that makes this so much fun. Shelly is really smart and doesn't hesitate to show it; she could be guilty of a bit of puffery--look how smart I really am--but the sharp wit and humor here is so abundant, it more than makes up for any possible self-conscious preening.

This is a short (80 minutes) film, but really groovy. Highly recommended.

pleasantly quirky.......2002-04-10

is the best way to describe this film.Adrienne Shelly directs herself and a cast of not well known actors in a story or a temporary insanity with homocidal twists.The plot revolves around Donna,an unemployed manhattanite who may or may not have witnessed a murder.On top of it,she is surrounded by a bunch of loons,including a new boyfriend with a potency problem and honesty issues,an obsessive landlord,love troubled best friend and a disturbingly pessimistic psychic.
To sum up,it a short,cute,off-beat flick.Enjoy.

Hysterical.......2002-04-09

This movie cracked me up. I really thought it was fantastic, the way the movie was put together, and how even though everything that was happening to the main character seemed unreal, her problems were actually very real and something we all could relate to. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a good laugh!

Average customer rating:

"Goodbye, Mrs. House"
REAR WINDOW, PLEASE!
The Unfunny Woody Allen
Enjoyable movie
Diane Keaton & Woody Reunite!

Manhattan Murder Mystery [Region 2]

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00008AWRL

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Customer Reviews:

"Goodbye, Mrs. House".......2007-09-05

REAR WINDOW, PLEASE! .......2007-07-29

The Unfunny Woody Allen.......2007-01-09

Enjoyable movie.......2007-01-06

Diane Keaton & Woody Reunite!.......2006-12-31

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