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42nd Street Freak · 02-03-2008, 01:32 PM

"TCM" is a damn diamond. I cry at this lack of respect for such a fine work.
I cry.

"Bananas" -

Probably Woody Allen's broadest (and nudest) film is a real mess for the first 20 minutes or so as it hangs a few pretty funny moments on...well...nothing really other than porn mags and comedy gadget testing.

But when the main South American banana republic plot kicks some top moments of comical goodness are offered up for our delight, as broad comedy and political satire slam against each other.

This is perhaps the closest Allen got to the comedy of the absurd (see the likes of "Airplane" and some Mel Brooks) as utterly fantastical comic set-ups are delivered in a real world setting.
The courtroom trial sequence is a joy (Allen's hysterical cross-examination of himself is a highlight) and the live broadcast wedding night nuptials delivered like a boxing match (complete with audience and real life sports anchors) is one of the funniest broad comedy moments Allen has ever done.

As a full-on comedy film it may not be as damn funny as "Take the Money and Run" or "Broadway Danny Rose", and as a more mature relationship comedy it may not scale the majestic heights of "Annie Hall"...but "Bananas" is perhaps the best mix of both of these different aspects of Allens wonderful film comedy legacy.
It's far more successful than "Sleeper" or even "Love and Death" at delivering this mix anyway.

02-03-2008, 01:32 PM	#333 of 1773
42nd Street Freak *Dave* Member Location: Uk, England Join Date: Aug 2007 Local Time: 11:27 PM Local Date: 11-18-2008 Posts: 244	Re: Track the Films You Watch (2008) "TCM" is a damn diamond. I cry at this lack of respect for such a fine work. I cry. "Bananas" - Probably Woody Allen's broadest (and nudest) film is a real mess for the first 20 minutes or so as it hangs a few pretty funny moments on...well...nothing really other than porn mags and comedy gadget testing. But when the main South American banana republic plot kicks some top moments of comical goodness are offered up for our delight, as broad comedy and political satire slam against each other. This is perhaps the closest Allen got to the comedy of the absurd (see the likes of "Airplane" and some Mel Brooks) as utterly fantastical comic set-ups are delivered in a real world setting. The courtroom trial sequence is a joy (Allen's hysterical cross-examination of himself is a highlight) and the live broadcast wedding night nuptials delivered like a boxing match (complete with audience and real life sports anchors) is one of the funniest broad comedy moments Allen has ever done. As a full-on comedy film it may not be as damn funny as "Take the Money and Run" or "Broadway Danny Rose", and as a more mature relationship comedy it may not scale the majestic heights of "Annie Hall"...but "Bananas" is perhaps the best mix of both of these different aspects of Allens wonderful film comedy legacy. It's far more successful than "Sleeper" or even "Love and Death" at delivering this mix anyway. NEW REVIEWS: "Payroll"/"The Night Porter"/"A Day at the Races"