Rating: 
Summary: Hilarious
Review: After 17 years since its release I've got to see and own this movie for the very first time.
I liked it a lot, and laughed a lot. If Elvis Presley was a king of R'N'R, Woody Allen has to be a king of American Comedy.
His humour is just hilarious and most of the times you really get confused asking yourself whether you're watching a true
life story or just an imagined one. Anyways this movie is about three sisters: Hannah,Holly,Lee.
An accountant by profession, Elliot, Hannah's husband in a Thanksgiving dinner makes the first moves towards Lee,
his wife's sister. He's in love with her and Hannah's sister happens to feel the same for Elliot as she's sick with her lover.And Holly...falls in love with Mickey (Woody Allen) a TV producer...who all in a sudden is not able to hear with one ear. The doctor suggests for more tests and he's sick worried after he get's to know that one of the possibilities may be "He has a brain tumor". Hilarious and a must see movie...
Rating: 
Summary: Get to know Woody
Review: My wife is the real Woody Allen fan, but about the 4th time I watched this movie I REALLY enjoyed it. What can I say, I am slow. :> A classic that has a lot of humor and a lot of Woody Allen.
Rating:
Summary: Good film but more Woody would have been better
Review: I remember first seeing this film in the theater and was only disappointed by the fact that most of the film doesn't involve Woody. He's in it and his few moments are utterly brilliant but I would like to have seen more of the storyline surrounding him. I still highly recommend this film.
Rating:
Summary: Great film with Wonderful performances
Review: Hannah is one of Woody Allen's best films. I am a big fan so it's hard to pick my favorite. This one is right up there. What really makes this film stand out to me are the performances by Michael Caine and Dianne Wiest. I understand they both won Oscars for these performances. Watch them closely and you will see why. Woody's attempt to find God in the Catholic Church is classic. The movie is funny and scores hits on many levels. But that's what a good Woody Allen movie is all about.
Rating:
Summary: Melancholy Delight!
Review: This is my favorite film for WAY too many reasons to express. I remember seeing it in 1986 when I was in 6th grade, when my mother decided it would do our family good to do something "together," much to our dismay of course. I probably had no idea who Woody Allen was at the time, but when the film was over, my parents and sister panned it rellentlessly. But I genuinely loved it. I think what I responded to was the genuine conflicts of human nature that were portrayed so believably and effortlessly, and with great comedy and sensitivity. Woody Allen has a keen sense of relationships, particularly those that are untimately flawed and in great crisis. His dialogue is so thrilling thoughout this movie, mostly because his characterizations are so dense and the actors are really given the time to flesh out their portrayals. I once heard that this is the Woody Allen film for those that are weary of Woody Allen films. Dianne Wiest is so excellent in this film portraying Holly, a lost soul who is often consumed by her feelings of inadequecy, leading her to cope with odd jobs, drug addictions, and failed relationships. My favorite scene in the movie is when she and April (Carrie Fisher) leave their catering gig with an architect (Sam Waterston), who takes a liking in both of them. After touring New York's architectural monuments, it becomes clear that he is more interested in April, leading to a brilliantly written voice-over scene by Weist on the ride home (which is equally sad and funny). Woody Allen turns in his best performance as Mickey, the obsessive-cumpulsive and insecure hypochondriac former husband to Hannah (Mia Farrow). He is a somewhat successful TV producer, desperately struggling with a myriad of existential issues simultaniously (and losing his grip on reality). The other standout here is Michael Caine, who plays Elliot, who is married to Hannah, but consumed with love for her sister Lee (Barbara Hershey). Caine is amazing as a fumbling fool in love, desperate to pursue Lee and confess his love for her, but also trying to maintain his marriage to Hannah, amidst their own conflicts and insecurities. One powerful scene (and the longest involving the three sisters) takes place when the three decide to meet up for lunch. Holly has just come from another unsuccessful audition, Hannah begins to sense her husband's unhappiness with their marriage, and Lee is just trying to order her lunch. The dialogue in this scene really fleshes out each characters flaws...Holly's deep insecurities that she will always be both overshadowed by Hannah, and yet reliant on her, Lee's unsaid feelings of guilt about her affair with Elliot, and Hannah's need to mother them both, and keep them in a state of admiration. It is really hard to watch moment, as their insecurities begin to lash out at one another before our eyes, as the camera pans around the table. Simply remarkable. But Allen's Mickey also has some great scenes, especially when his hypochondria takes center stage, and he suspects than all his medical tests are going to spell out his ultimate doom. Allen manages to effortlessly weave many stories in this film that honor his thematic mainstays: love, death, adultery, joy, sex, family and genuine comedy. It is mostly a film about second chances, and how despite the loads of grief and confusion that life can dish out from time to time, there is always a reason to feel joy. The ending is classic hollywood (but still believable), with all the characters reaching a satisfying sense of happiness. The irony here is that Holly and Mickey, who could be easily panned throughout the film as the most hopeless characters af all, are given the greatest tribute in the end. Rounding out the excellent cast are Max Von Sydow as Lee's painter boyfriend, Julie Kavner as Mickey's assistant, Maureen O'Sullivan as Hannah's "boozy old flirt" mother, plus a heap of future celebrities like Julia Louis-Dreyfus and John Turturro. I also really enjoy the jazz soundtrack, which really parallels the frenetic pace and mood of the film.
Rating:
Summary: Hannah et al.
Review: My guy friends tend to give me grief that I include "Hannah and Her Sisters" in my top three "all-time best films ever" list-- and I'm not sure exactly what it is about this movie that keeps me watching it over and over.
Maybe its the wholesome sexiness of Lee (Barbara Hershey) and her dark-eyed brooding. Or it could be the Oscar-winning performance of one of my favorite actors: Michael Caine, who pulls off his career performance by delivering the travesty of adultery as a warm sweater that I slip into on a cold New York afternoon. As a general worshiper of women of all descriptions, I also can't deny that indulging in the intimate relationships of Hannah and her uniquely beautiful sisters is a pure pleasure.
The musical score serves as the most introspective character of this piece, Woody's typically perfect collection of classic melancholia-- Hannah's father plays a piano version of "You Are Too Beautiful" that makes me catch my breath.
I could go on and on. All of these elements are but a glimpse of a gestalt of sublime screenwriting, acting, and direction that brings me back to this film on a regular basis in order to fuel my emotional well-being.
For those building a library, this is the first film you should own by Woody Allen, as it will introduce his genius to you on a rich and familiar level that will only leave you wanting to see, hear, and feel more (Manhattan).
Rating:
Summary: Home For The Holidays
Review: Woody Allen's "Hannah and Her Sisters" is one of my personal favorite films. Than again, many people see it as one of Allen's best films.
I think that along with "Crimes & Misdemeanors" this is one of Allen's best comedy\drama's and one of his best ensemble cast.
When I first saw this film, I didn't like it. All the characters story-lines tied up together, it just didn't seem interesting. Then one day I decided to watch the WHOLE film this time. As I watched it, I thought it was great. The acting was wonderful, infact to this day I can't understand why Barbara Hershey didn't win the Oscar over Diane Wiest instead. I think Hershey had the better role.
"Hannah and Her Sisters" tells the story of one very large family as marriages break up,people find new loves, and others carry around secret crushes. Without spoiling anything here's a somewhat brief out-line. Elliot (Michael Cane) is married to Hannah (Mia Farrow) but, Elliot has a crush on Lee (Barbara Hershey). Now, Lee on the other hand is living with a much older man, whom is more like a mentor now than a lover, the reclusive Frederick (Max von Sydow). There is also another sister, Holly (Diane Wiest). Holly is seen as the "wild" one and is the youngest of the three. A fraction of the story is about the bond these sisters have with each other.
Now, Hannah was married once before to Mickey (Allen) a once famous and respected tv producer now caught with a flop on his hands.
Meanwhile, Hannah, who is seen as the "center" of the family must keep her parents from driving each other crazy. They are played by Farrow's real life mother Maureen O' Sullivan and Lloyd Nolan.
"Hannah and Her Sisters" has such a bittersweet tone to it. Allen really displays a wonderful talent of being able to pull off these ensemble pieces. He is able to make each character seem exciting, and devotes enough time to each character where we get a sense of knowing them. Not to mention the way Allen throws in his style of humor when dealing with sometimes serious subjects. One character through-out the film is trying to find out the meaning of life (I'll leave it up to you to figure out who it is).
Some of my personal favorite moments in the film include a scene where Allen goes out on a date with Holly (Diane Wiest). She is the complete opposite of him. After a while Allen takes her to the Cafe Caryle to hear Bobby Short. Another favorite scene has to do with Elliot (Caine) and Lee (Hershey) going to a bookstore and finally Allen watching "Duck Soup" near the end of the film.
"Hannah and Her Sisters" won three Oscars; "Best Supporting Actor" (Caine), "Best Supporting Actress (Wiest) and "Best Original Screenplay" (Allen)
Keep your eyes open for Tony Roberts and Sam Waterson both appear unbilled. Carrie Fisher, J.T. Walsh,Julie Kaver, Daniel Stern, & Julia Louis-Dreyfus have minor roles.
Bottom-line: One of Woody Allen's best films. A modern classic. A movie that shows Allen's ability to combine comedy and drama so well. Sets a great pace and has a wonderful "feel" to it.
Rating:
Summary: Just your average family....
Review: How could a film with New York City in the fall, Cole Porter tunes, and a perfect cast and script not be great? This has always been one of my favorite films. I'm not necessarily a die-hard Woody Allen fan, but I do recognize something as a small and perfect creation when I see it. In a business where insipid films are churned out like an assembly line product, this movie still distinguishes itself as a wonderful adult, thinking persons film... witty, sophisticated, but never pretentious. All of the actors are great, and blossom under Allens directing style. Diane Wiest is especially funny as the runt of this kooky litter. Her pathetic attempts to "find herself", experimenting with different looks, careers, etc... while hysterical, will bring a note of familiarity to most of us, human beings ARE ridiculous creatures. She is the eternal "loser". Also superb is Mia Farrow as "Hannah" who, though the un-knowing sister whose seeming perfection is the catalyst for everyones insecurities, remains the reliable glue that holds everything and everyone together. And, no one can look so convincingly forlorn as Woody Allen. This entertainingly dysfunctional family , while displaying sibling rivalry, deceit, infidelity, and other not necessarily admirable qualities, is ultimatley life affirming in their true love of each other, and the power of "the ties that bind." Each successive scene is a gift, there are no wasted moments. The upbeat ending in no way takes away from the film, it seems a natural and pleasing end to the progressive entanglements, mistakes, and growth of all these dear, flaky people. I was lucky enough to find this video when it came out, as it seems difficult to obtain now. But, try and get a copy of this perfect film. Along with "Annie Hall", this is my favorite of Woody Allens films. If life has you down, watch this movie, it'll bring a sweet smile to your face.
Rating:
Summary: "Masterfully deep, true, and involving."
Review: Woody Allen forever remains one of the great filmmakers of our time. In the beginning he was a carefree, sex-obsessed, neurotic comic filmmaker. Slowly he evolved from the more slapstic days of BANANAS to more sophisticated and wittier satires like LOVE AND DEATH, which remains Woody's best film of his early career. Then he matured with his definitive sex comedy and relationship study ANNIE HALL. Next, this vision was fully realized in what I consider his seminal masterpiece MANHATTAN. But then his work took a few ups-and-downs, getting into "by-the-numbers-Woody" territory, with ansemble pieces exploring intertwining relationships. This vision of was fully realized in the masterfully deep, true, and involving comedy/drama HANNAH AND HER SISTERS. The film involves all the usual Woody elements, yet it's different from his other films. It's less like the highly comic ANNIE HALL and more like the thoroughly engaging MANHATTAN, but actually features a happy ending--this is what I think moves people to single it out as is best. Every performance is excellent and the characters well-developed, the script is very witty, and the juxtaposition of seperate stories is seamless. While not quite reaching the emotional standard of truth and complexity of MANHATTAN, the film rises above the level of ANNIE HALL. Woody seems to have written the textbook on troubled relationships--he seems to know them inside out--and goes beyond the territory other filmmakers would explore. HANNAH AND HER SISTERS remains one of the great American films, and a sterling example of what a filmmaker can do with material if given the freedom to explore it before actually achieving perfection.
Rating:
Summary: "God, she's beautiful..."
Review: Hannah and Her Sisters is my absolute favorite film of all time. It is a brilliant character study. It has a biting sense of humour, but it allows the viewer to feel for the characters. It is beautifully photographed. This film has an almost improvised feel that, when watching, makes you feel like you are amongst old friends and relatives. The transfers are great and the sound is very crisp. I was a little let down in the features department. As usual, this film gets the Woody Allen bare-bones treatment. The quality of the film more than makes up for that, though.
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