Rating: 
Summary: first Woody Allen film I saw and it didn't disappoint me!
Review: 'Manhattan Murder Mystery' was the first Woody Allen film I saw, and quite admittedly, I was about to refuse to view more Woody Allen films after that because the lighting and the irregular effects was enough to bore me. But, as the movie deepened, I found myself being wrapped up into the plot. Now, I am proud to say that I am a fan of Woody Allen's works. 'Annie Hall', 'Manhattan', and 'Sleeper' to name a few. Plus, the other reason why I got through this movie was because I am a huge Diane Keaton fan, so I'm trying to watch all of her movies. This movie is basically about a bored, restless Manhattan housewife (Diane Keaton) who suspects her next-door neighbor just committed a murder and is sniffing around. Meanwhile, her neurotic husband (Woody Allen) is going crazy with his wife's strange and new change. Two of their friends (Alan Alda and Anjelica Huston) become interested too, and they become wrapped up into the event. This movie is fascinating and absorbing without having to show the usual murder-movie effects:blood, gore, creepy shadows, and all that dreck. The dialogue is fantastic. I especially love these Woody Allen lines: "Funeral ashes? Did you wash your hands?", "They're ashes. What, did they resemble Mrs. House?", "This is serious. This could be with the Warren Comission or something." and "Oh, jesus. Claustrophobia and a dead body. This is a neurotic's jackpot." I wish the ending could have been a little more surpirsing and satisfying. But, most of the movie have been really good. Seeing Diane Keaton and Woody Allen together for the first time was enough to make me run out and rent all the movies with these two together in. They make a wonderful acting pair. Now, thanks to 'Manhattan Murder Mystery', I've been opened up to the dimension of Woody Allen films with Diane Keaton starring in it. Who knows, you might get the same results-if you do, you won't regret it. Because of 'Manhattan Murder Mystery', 'Annie Hall','Manhattan', and 'Sleeper' has instantly become a few of my favorite movies. If it's not too late, run out and grab this movie! And while you're at it, pick up some more Woody Allen and Diane Keaton films, too. You won't regret it.
Rating: 
Summary: An Entertaining Murder
Review: A throroughly entertaining, diolouge driven film that does for neurotics what Pulp Fiction did for heroin addicts. Having not seen any of Allen's other films I'm hardly capable of rating it among his best but after seeing this I'm sure excited to do some catching up. Allen and wife Keaton play New Yorkers basking in the glow of culture, though they precieve their lives to be relatively dull and by NYC standards they probably are, but when their neighbor kicks Keaton begins to suspect foul play. Allen is of course resistant at first, trying not to make any waves with their windower neighbor but even he can't deny the strange, almost joyful behavior on his part. Suspense mounts brick upon brick and Woody's refusal to use shortcuts keeps it at a constantly high level. Long scenes play themselves out without any cuts, keeping us in the action and making us feel like we're part of the story. As things move on, briskly paced, Keaton hooks up with a divorced friend (Alda) whom Allen begins to suspect she's having an affair with. So in an attempt to reconnect, he indulges her by going on these expeditions following their neighbor and find him to be entangled in some shady dealings. It's a fasinating mystery that unfolds like a contemporary film noir worthy of comparision to Chinatown, on a lesser scale of course. The second half's a bit of a letdown but there's never a dull moment. I only wish the resolution could've been more satisfying.
Rating:
Summary: So long, Mia. Hello, Keaton.
Review: After the abrasive brilliance of "Husbands and Wives", Woody wisely lightened up and reteamed with two of his old partners-in-crime, Diane Keaton and writing partner Marshall Brickman. What's amazing is that though the movie seems rather lightweight on the surface, it really juggles a lot of different ideas at once. It is a comedy crime caper, but it toys with the idea that Keaton is imagining the whole thing in an effort to spice up a humdrum marriage. Does Alan Alda's character find the possibility of a murder tantalizing, or does he simply see it as a great way to get closer to Keaton? Does Anjelica Huston's character find the possibility of a murder tantalizing, or does she simply see it as a great way to get closer to Woody? Or both? The only sure thing is Woody, who reminds us that, aside from everything else, he's an absolutely peerless comic actor. He goes from being skeptical and annoyed at Keaton's obsession, to gradually escalating levels of fear, fear of both the murder and of losing his wife. It's great to see these two working together again so effortlessly, as though "Annie Hall" had just wrapped the week before.
Rating:
Summary: So long, Mia. Hello, Keaton.
Review: After the abrasive brilliance of "Husbands and Wives", Woody wisely lightened up and reteamed with two of his old partners-in-crime, Diane Keaton and writing partner Marshall Brickman. What's amazing is that though the movie seems rather lightweight on the surface, it really juggles a lot of different ideas at once. It is a comedy crime caper, but it toys with the idea that Keaton is imagining the whole thing in an effort to spice up a humdrum marriage. Does Alan Alda's character find the possibility of a murder tantalizing, or does he simply see it as a great way to get closer to Keaton? Does Anjelica Huston's character find the possibility of a murder tantalizing, or does she simply see it as a great way to get closer to Woody? Or both? The only sure thing is Woody, who reminds us that, aside from everything else, he's an absolutely peerless comic actor. He goes from being skeptical and annoyed at Keaton's obsession, to gradually escalating levels of fear, fear of both the murder and of losing his wife. It's great to see these two working together again so effortlessly, as though "Annie Hall" had just wrapped the week before.
Rating:
Summary: A PLEASANT DIVERSION
Review: Allen's a nebbish old man who wants to mind his (quickly deteriorating love-) life with an unagreeable wife. Sensing this stale mate, the wife played by Diane Keaton, is out for some excitement. Which she gets, in a big way, when a neighbor dies. Just the evening after the two couples had a casual evening coffee. Suspicions ensue. Old flames pop up. Relationships intertwine and flare. Clues unravel. Marital discord and sensitive chords are struck. All with vintage Allen humor, part neurotic, part drunk on its wit. The cinematography is handsome, literally here, as candid steady cams are employed, giving the film its constantly roving hand-held look. I personally find this cloying after a while. The murder itself is mildly suspenseful, but that's barely the point with a W-Allen movie. The twists are intelligent enough and managed to hold my attention for the duration of the movie. All in all, despite the slightly cop-out denouement, it is generally quite an amusing experience. Recommended rental.
Rating:
Summary: A "minor" Woody Allen movie, but a delightful one.
Review: Although it lacks the patina of greatness that surrounds "Hannah and Her Sisters" or "Crimes and Misdemeanors," Manhattan Murder Mystery is one of my favorite Woody Allen movies. From the opening credits, with swooping night aerial shots of Manhattan as Bobby Short sings, "I Happen to Like New York," Allen clues us in that this movie will be his biggest, happiest, most loving valentine ever to his home town. The murder mystery of the title is good enough--it even contains "un hommage a' Orson Welles" at the end, borrowing from "The Lady from Shanghai"--but what's really important to Allen are the city itself and the people who live there. The film is filled with loving, mature relationships; it's really sad to think that Allen finished writing the screenplay (with Marshall Brickman) just before the big blowup with Mia, which dragged his name through the mud and led to the unwatchable orgies of self-justification ("Celebrity," "Mighty Aphrodite") which have comprised most of his later work. But one good thing arose from the split with Mia: Woody got to work again with Diane Keaton in Manhattan Murder Mystery, thus reuniting a screen romantic team that ranks with Tracy and Hepburn, Powell and Loy, or Wayne and O'Hara. To see their hand-in-glove screen chemistry once again is alone worth the price of this video, while Alan Alda and Anjelica Huston are almost equally charming as the second leads. Manhattan Murder Mystery, in my opinion, holds roughly the same place in Allen's oeuvre as "Donovan's Reef" does in John Ford's; it's not one of the "major" works, but it's eternally refreshing and delightful, and all the director's major themes are there.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful mix of Murder, Mistery and Comedy
Review: Diane Keaton and Woody Allen make quick friends with an older couple. After the woman dies of a heart attack, Diane Keaton starts investigating on her own thinking that it was not a heart attack afterall. Woody on the other end does not believe in this murder idea and thinks his wife is getting too excited for no reason. The movie mixes great suspense and comedy. The skepticism of woody allen and the wild (but maybe not so wild) imagination of diane keaton make for highly entertaining dialogues. The new york atmosphere of the movie is quite lovely too. The story moves fast and as Diane Keaton discovers more and more clues you find yourself seating on the edge of your seat wondering what next is going to happen. This movie is wonderfull all the way to the end that parodies the ending of an old movie classic.
Rating:
Summary: Manhattan Shines for Manhattan Murder Mystery!
Review: First and foremost, this is a Woody Allen film. So, you say -- "SO WHAT? Of course I know that!" There are many people I know that detest Woody Allen films (for what reason I have never discovered), and go out and try to see a "NON Woody Allen" Woody Allen film. Then always cry and whine that it didn't like it. This film is a little different, in that I have watched this with anti-Woody Allen types -- and YES, they DO like it! So onto the review. As you may already know, Manhattan is often just as much a character in Woody Allen films as the human characters. This is certainly no exception. The opening aerial scenes showing the Brooklyn Bridge, and the impressive night view of Madison Square Garden are a great setting to start the film. As the film progresses, we see Larry (Woody Allen) and wife Carol go to the famous "21 Club," Larry and sexy Marcia (portrayed brilliantly by Anjelica Huston) dine and play cards at the Cafe Des Artistes. It is very hard not to simply sidetrack the story for the great scenery. Let's talk about chemistry! The chemistry between Allen and Keaton, is truly top-notch in this film (as well as Annie Hall, another favorite), holding the story together nicely. Supporting cast members, namely Alan Alda and Anjelica Huston add a great twist to the story. The homage to vintage mystery is evident in this film, and adds to its appeal. Witty dialogue, excellent character development, bustling backdrop of Manhattan, and the "murder mystery" make this an intelligent, fun and stylish mystery-comedy. It is fun to watch the first time, the second time, and many subsequent viewings.
Rating:
Summary: Manhattan Shines for Manhattan Murder Mystery!
Review: First and foremost, this is a Woody Allen film. So, you say -- "SO WHAT? Of course I know that!" There are many people I know that detest Woody Allen films (for what reason I have never discovered), and go out and try to see a "NON Woody Allen" Woody Allen film. Then always cry and whine that it didn't like it. This film is a little different, in that I have watched this with anti-Woody Allen types -- and YES, they DO like it! So onto the review. As you may already know, Manhattan is often just as much a character in Woody Allen films as the human characters. This is certainly no exception. The opening aerial scenes showing the Brooklyn Bridge, and the impressive night view of Madison Square Garden are a great setting to start the film. As the film progresses, we see Larry (Woody Allen) and wife Carol go to the famous "21 Club," Larry and sexy Marcia (portrayed brilliantly by Anjelica Huston) dine and play cards at the Cafe Des Artistes. It is very hard not to simply sidetrack the story for the great scenery. Let's talk about chemistry! The chemistry between Allen and Keaton, is truly top-notch in this film (as well as Annie Hall, another favorite), holding the story together nicely. Supporting cast members, namely Alan Alda and Anjelica Huston add a great twist to the story. The homage to vintage mystery is evident in this film, and adds to its appeal. Witty dialogue, excellent character development, bustling backdrop of Manhattan, and the "murder mystery" make this an intelligent, fun and stylish mystery-comedy. It is fun to watch the first time, the second time, and many subsequent viewings.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect Entertainment
Review: Funny, creative, and very entertaining, with a great cast, and a particularly good acting chemistry bewteen Allen and Keaton. The amusing semi-mystery plot is very captivating. Highly recommended.
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