Genres

Visitors Review

Shawn McKenna 2012-05-20 04:07:49

There are better Woody Allen flicks.

There are recurring themes in a Woody Allen film: adultery (the act andredemption), pseudo-intellectual questions (Is there a God as opposed toBullets over Broadway's question -- Is the art more important than theartist?), and a small nervous and neurotic man. These themes proveespecially monotonous when the underlying script is flaccid and limp. Forexample, Irmy (Mia Farrow) is running away from the circus and her boyfriend(John Malkovich) because of an affair. In a Woody Allen movie, she is goingto have an affair herself and, of course, go back to her boyfriend. The mainplot involves a fidgeting little man named Kleinman (Woody Allen) who istrying to help vigilantes find a killer. The funniest scenes involve Allentrying to figure out his part of the plan.There are other problems too. There are too many cameo appearances bymid-level stars that come out of nowhere and then disappear into the fog.Many small errors are annoying too. A doctor is running away from the killerand does not even yell help while trying to escape. He also backs himselfinto a dead-end alley in his own town! At least Woody likes to take chances.A black-and-white film is a big gamble and one would expect the film wouldhave to be great (like Schindler's List) or at least good to be released.The scenery and the use of shadows and fog are done quite well. It justseems that Woody forgot about the human element.My biggest complaint about the movie is the end or lack of one. If leaves somuch hanging and it forgets about many of its characters. It seems thatWoody knew about the other shortcomings of his movie and just wanted it toend. Visually it is a decent movie. Intellectually it stinks. Oh well, thereare many other Woody Allen movies to rent. I suggest something typical ofhis early works but atypical of his newer ones -- Sleeper.

brocksilvey 2012-05-19 13:09:36

One of Allen's Worst

"Shadows and Fog" is surely one of Woody Allen's weakest films, rightup there with "September" and "Hollywood Ending" (though nothing Allenhas done equals the awfulness of "Anything Else")."Shadows and Fog" is Allen's homage to the German Expressionist styleof film-making, all stark and stylized light and shadow and...youguessed it.....lots of fog. But you can tell Allen got caught up in thetechnique and the parody and forgot to make a movie that anyone wouldcare about.Luckily, he made "Husbands and Wives" the same year, so things weren'ta total wash for him.Grade: D

Michael Neumann 2012-05-10 10:19:03

Woody Allen, running on fumes

This so-called comedy is a rethinking of Woody Allen's own short play'Death' (published in his 1976 collection 'Without Feathers'),transplanted to a weird, Kafka-like Middle European setting andmercilessly padded (at the expense of the humor) to allow room forseveral high profile guest stars, most of them in roles too small to benoticed. The effect is not unlike a student film parody of a WoodyAllen comedy, following a hapless nebbish (who could only have beenplayed by Allen himself) pressed into service by urban vigilanteshunting a shadowy killer. The familiar one-liners and stale meditationson God, sex, and death are all camouflaged behind some beautiful (ifhokey) black and white photography, with transparent references to morethan one film school idol: Bergman, Murnau, Fellini, and so forth.What's left is the novelty of seeing Kathy Bates playing a prostitutealongside Lilly Tomlin and Jodie Foster, and John Malkovich cast as acircus clown opposite Madonna. It wasn't meant this way, but thecasting is the funniest thing about the movie.

11yroldghosthost 2012-05-09 22:52:23

Visualy Entertaing and very interesting.

Shadows and Fogstarring: Woody Allen, Michale Kirby, Mia Farrow, and JohnMalkovichIn a small european like town, lives a very nervous clerk, who out ofnowhere is awaken by a group of Vigilantes who are after a serial killerinthe town who strikes in the fog at night. Klienman on the way meets a darkadventure with twists, turns, suspenseful encounters with the killerhimself, a few lusty whores, a female sword swallower wanting a family, aGifted investagator using primitive techniques, and a drunk but effectivemagician.Coments: I feel that this film is very UNDERrated. It is a very good filminmy opinoin. Here Woody Allen creates a totally new type of meaning to thewords: Adventure and Nostalgia. With a whole ensemble of celebrites, and adark mood and setting, this is one of Allens greatest films.****

wryroy 2012-05-08 09:21:52

Woody Allen blends comedy & Kafka with an all-star cast

This film is obviously not for everyone, not even for everyone wholikes Woody Allen. I like it a lot, partly for the awesome all-star cast,partly for the blending of comedy (i.e., Woody's usual schlemiel self) withdrama (a deranged killer loose on the streets of a fog-shrouded town atnight). I'm not going to go into a lot of details on the film, anyone canpick them up between the other user comments, external and newsgroupreviews. The main reason I'm adding my two cents worth is no one seems tohave noticed, or commented on one of the film's underlying themes: that ofanti-semitism in Europe apparently between world wars. For instance, the"Mintz" family is picked up by the police as a convenient scapegoat for therecent murders despite Kleinman's (Woody Allen) assertion that they are"lovely people." Shortly afterwards, Kleinman goes to the local church tomake a donation on behalf of Irmy (Mia Farrow) and finds the priest and apoliceman making up a list of people that also includes himself. I can'tquite put my finger on it, but he seems to be referring to the start ofHitler's persecution of Jews in Germany prior to WW II. Of course this themeis woven in with several others regarding marital fidelity, prostitution,insanity and the nature of mob- mentality; but it does seem interesting thateveryone motivated enough to write something about this film pro or conseems to have overlooked, or intentionally ignored.

2012-05-08 02:18:46

Creepy Lighting, Funny Script

Woody Allen's tribute to German expressionism is better than most critics would have you believe. Sure there is very little plot to speak of, it's more a series of vignettes and gags than a cohesive narrative. Sure, it ends rather abruptly, never solving the mystery, but none of this stopped my thorough enjoyment of this film.As the title suggests the entire movie is designed in shadows and fog. Shot with beautiful black and white photography, Allen and cinemetographer Carlo Di Palma create the look and feel of an unnamed East European city as seen in such films as M and Nosferatu. The lighting is set up so that in nearly every shot underlying shadows engulf the scene. In the exteriors a vicious fog rolls across the night sky obscuring most details. Through the fog bumbles Kleinman (Allen is his typical neurotic schmuck role) trying to find his role in a vigilante mob's plan to stop a serial killer roaming the streets. From dark night until dawn, Kleinman wanders from place to place meeting a wide variety of curious characters (played by an even more curious group of celebrities), the most endearing of which is a desperate sword swallower (Mia Farrow)who is has wandered into a brothel after fleeing her cheating boyfriend/clown (John Malcovich).It is a little unsettling to watch Allen do his normal schtick while the characters around him are murdered, subjected to racial prejudice, beaten by the police and discuss such subjects as love, sex, and meaning. There is a subtext involving the plight of the Jews between the World Wars, foreshadowing the Nazis. Yet the gags remain as solid as any Woody Allen film. Amongst the seriousness of his subtext and the films he is paying homage to, Allen finds away to bring full bellied laughter. Though his quirky neurosis isn't as resolutely hilarious as it is in such films as Annie Hall, it is still enough to fill the film with mirth.The film ends rather abruptly with Kleinman having never learned his role in the plan, nor the killer having been caught. Yet as the credits role we realize the mystery was not so much the reason behind the story as method in creating it.

soutexmex 2012-05-04 20:44:40

not Woody's best effort

Shadows and Fog is nothing more than a mash up of Fellini's familiarcircus environs and 1920s German Expressionism with a bit of Kafka'snightmarish circular world in which nothing is ever evident other thanthe insane rules that must be obeyed, enforced by mob strength. I sawthis Woody Allen movie when it first came out years ago and I don'tremember my reaction. But I know more about movies now than I did then.The dark shadows masks the film set being made on indoor soundstages,not that it matters, but I could have seen this being made in Prague orBudapest. The fog does not allow a deep focus in the frame and theperfect lighting gives away the idea that this is a real world. Thatnebbish character that Woody always plays is in full effect with thewitty comebacks and bon mot insights. That was about the onlyentertainment. This was not by far his best effort, even when he'schanneling Robert Altman's overlapping dialogue.

tyler-and-jack 2012-05-04 08:54:03

One man getting lost amidst the smoke and mirrors.

Shadows And Fog is one of my favourite Woody Allen movies (which putsit beside quite a few others because when he's good . . . . . . he'svery good) and yet it can also be viewed as nothing more than a slight,mood piece.Allen, who wrote and directed the thing as usual, stars as a man whokeeps getting drawn into the plans of a local lynch mob as they wanderthe streets, hunting for a strangler. Meanwhile, Mia Farrow plays awoman who runs out on her husband (John Malkovich), after a major row,and ends up at a whorehouse whereupon she is admired by John Cusack'scharacter. Will Allen ever escape the lynch mob? Will Farrow leave thesafety of the whorehouse to risk fleeing further into the fog while thestrangler remains at large? Mixing the Kafka-esque elements of an innocent man drawn into abizarre, sticky web of events with the style of German Expressionism (Iwas certainly reminded of the classic movie, "M", on more than oneoccasion), Shadows And Fog is a real treat for film lovers.The acting is all solid. Allen is as he usually is and Farrow plays acharacter similar to many others she has played for him but John Cusackis a delight to watch and you have credits for Jodie Foster, LilyTomlin, Kathy Bates, Kurtwood Smith, Donald Pleasence, Daniel VonBargen, William H. Macy, Fred Gwynne, John C. Reilly, Wallace Shawn andeven Madonna. Some of these people have blink-and-you'll-miss-'emmoments but the selection of names still makes for a very impressivecast list.The style though, it's all about the style and the mood and Woody thedirector nails this perfectly. Everything feels slightly off-kilter andyou can almost feel the damp fog clinging to your skin whenever thecharacters are wandering around the streets and worrying about everyonethey pass by.One of Allen's top tier movies.

Bobs-9 2012-05-04 17:18:13

It would kill you to be confused by a film?

I just saw `Shadows and Fog' for the first time this weekend, and while Ican't say that it immediately became my favorite Woody Allen film, I didfind it a very thoughtful and interesting film (not really a comedy), and anexceptionally beautiful film to look at.I know this is frowned upon at the IMDb, but a lengthy and very negativereview on this page of `Shadows and Fog,' along with a critique of WoodyAllen in general, has gotten my dander up, and I felt like putting in my twocents. Why on earth should I, or any film lover, care about how successfula film is financially? Why should I care if a majority of movie patronslike a director's films or not? From my perspective, some of the stupidesttrash makes the most money and sells the most tickets. Sure, I likedJurassic Park -- saw it several times at the cinema, bought the video -- butnot because of how much money it made, or how many other people were goingto see it. It was because it was fun, and I liked it. Does that mean Ishould damn more esoteric directors (like Woody Allen) to oblivion? Thereare directors whose work I don't always understand, but God bless them, ifthey have the opportunity and the drive to get their cinematic visionrealized, more power to them. I don't necessarily have to like their work,or go to see it. But on the whole, I'd rather be talked-up-to thentalked-down-to, and being a little confused by a film has never permanentlydamaged anyone, so far as I know.So calm down out there, you art-house-haters! It's just entertainment. Read your 20th century history. Limiting entertainment to its lowest commondenominator has been tried and tried. No good has ever come of it, to myknowledge.And incidentally, if you have a predilection for Woody Allen films, and likethe look of old black and white expressionist cinema, give `Shadows and Fog'a look. It would maybe kill you?

drosse67 2012-05-04 07:12:14

Woody's curio

Probably one of the strangest movies on Woody Allen's resume, this isanother one of his "fantastic" (as in fantasy, not excellent) films. Like Stardust Memories and A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy, this film is morefor his diehard fans than general audiences, who will find it to be asnoozefest (although a stylishly photographed snoozefest). Even diehardfans (myself included) will find themselves squirming in their seats, whichis probably what Allen intended--the film mimics German classics like "M,"in regards to photography and suspense. And this film has suspense, but notthe type of suspense found in Crimes and Misdemeanors or even ManhattanMurder Mystery. Actually, the most successful thing about the film is theway Woody conjures suspense from the atmosphere alone. Nothing reallyexciting or traditionally thrilling happens here. And the end of the filmasks audiences to surrender to the mysticism in the movie (another elementof his 1990 film Alice). Shadows and Fog is certainly a different type ofWoody Allen film (and another one of his '90s releases to employ a large,all-star cast in cameo appearances). However relative to his other classics(of the '70s, '80s and later in the '90s), it is a minorentry.

justincward 2012-05-03 02:28:47

Everything that's wrong, and everything that's right about Woody Allen

What's right? The cinematography, the music, the casting that allowsscreen familiars to play against type, the sheer value for money thatWoody Allen usually delivers, and the recreation of style that works inits own right. There are plenty of good, if not great, lines.What's wrong? Mainly Woody Allen's one-note performance, and the waythat all the actors in (presumably semi-improvised) scenes with himstart to mimic that unconvincing stuttering whine - especially MiaFarrow. The way that when you lose engagement with the main characterafter ten minutes you just feel you're watching a meticulous pasticherather than a film that stands by itself.The problem is Woody Allen playing Kleinmann. He overacts like he'snever overacted before, among seasoned thespians doing it right (exceptMadge, of course, when she was the queen of stunt castings. God, thewoman makes Liz Hurley look like Bette Davis). Kleinmann ('little man'- we get it, already; the whole film's a metaphor for life) is neitherlikable nor unlikeable, and we don't share his mystification, we justthink "no wonder nobody told him what's going on - he's an annoyingidiot". It's as though a bit player got hold of the script and alteredit to give himself the starring role. The more I remember, the moreannoyed I get with Allen for hijacking his own movie with such aself-indulgent performance. Never forget this man named a childSatchel. Mind you, I suppose the Soon Yi was just about to hit the fan.Parts of it work beautifully, and they're mostly the parts withoutKleinmann.

2012-05-02 07:32:55

Woody Allen's "Shadows and Fog" lifts the spirits.

Woody Allen's mystery-comedy, "Shadows and Fog" takes us on a journey through a fictional European town plagued with mystery and highlighted by a traveling circus. A few Allen regulars (Mia Farrow, Julie Kavner, John Cusack) join a stellar cast (Allen, Jodie Foster, Lily Tomlin, Kathy Bates, Kate Nelligan, John Malkovich, and Madonna) in the off-beat, hilariously funny and surprisingly touching comedy written as only Woody Allen can. Though his flawless screenplay, Carlo DiPalma's extraordinary photography enhancing the maze-like danger of a foggy European night, a haunting musical score, and impeccable performances, "Shadows and Fog" rates high as one of Woody Allen's finest, yet unfortunately less popular films.

Lee Eisenberg 2012-05-01 09:54:31

possibly Allen's most interesting movie ever

It seems that often, "Shadows and Fog" has been regarded as one ofWoody Allen's lesser movies. I can't understand why, as I found it veryinteresting; surely anyone would have to agree that a murder mystery isinfinitely more watchable than a story about neurotic rich New Yorkers.The movie blends Allen's personal neurosis with the look of a FranzKafka novel (possibly taking place in 1920s Germany or Prague). Itportrays nebbish Kleinman (Allen) getting woken up one night by hisneighbors to help them find a strangler. But then they disappear andKleinman has to fend for himself. Meanwhile, circus performer Irmy (MiaFarrow) has a spat with a clown (John Malkovich) and runs away...but isthe strangler stalking her? The movie creates a dreamlike setting thesame way that "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" does, and shows that WoodyAllen can make interesting movies when he tries. That whole endsequence was especially cool. I seriously wish to assert that "Shadowsand Fog" may have been his most interesting movie ever. Probably theonly unrealistic scene is when a baby apparently wants to be with afather figure more than a mother figure. But other than that, this is amovie that you can't afford to miss. It might just save your life oneday.As for the cast, now that's something else. Aside from theaforementioned people, there's also Madonna, David Ogden Stiers, JamesRebhorn, Daniel von Bargen (Commandant Spengler on "Malcolm in theMiddle"), Donald Pleasance, Jodie Foster, Lily Tomlin, Kathy Bates,John Cusack, Julie Kavner (the voice of Marge Simpson), Kate Nelligan,Fred Gwynne, Wallace Shawn, William H. Macy, Kurtwood Smith (RedForeman on "That '70s Show) and Kenneth Mars (Otto on "Malcolm in theMiddle"). This is probably the only Woody Allen movie that stars twopeople from "Malcolm in the Middle".

MatBrewster 2012-05-01 05:03:09

Style Over Substance

Woody Allen's tribute to German expressionism is better than mostcritics would have you believe. Sure there is very little plot to speakof, it's more a series of vignettes and gags than a cohesive narrative.Sure, it ends rather abruptly, never solving the mystery, but none ofthis stopped my thorough enjoyment of this film.As the title suggests the entire movie is designed in shadows and fog.Shot with beautiful black and white photography, Allen andcinematographer Carlo Di Palma create the look and feel of an unnamedEast European city as seen in such films as M and Nosferatu. Thelighting is set up so that in nearly every shot underlying shadowsengulf the scene. In the exteriors a vicious fog rolls across the nightsky obscuring most details. Through the fog bumbles Kleinman (Allen ishis typical neurotic schmuck role) trying to find his role in avigilante mob's plan to stop a serial killer roaming the streets. Fromdark night until dawn, Kleinman wanders from place to place meeting awide variety of curious characters (played by an even more curiousgroup of celebrities), the most endearing of which is a desperate swordswallower (Mia Farrow)who is has wandered into a brothel after fleeingher cheating boyfriend/clown (John Malcovich).It is a little unsettling to watch Allen do his normal schtick whilethe characters around him are murdered, subjected to racial prejudice,beaten by the police and discuss such subjects as love, sex, andmeaning. There is a subtext involving the plight of the Jews betweenthe World Wars, foreshadowing the Nazis. Yet the gags remain as solidas any Woody Allen film. Amongst the seriousness of his subtext and thefilms he is paying homage to, Allen finds away to bring full belliedlaughter. Though his quirky neurosis isn't as resolutely hilarious asit is in such films as Annie Hall, it is still enough to fill the filmwith mirth.The film ends rather abruptly with Kleinman having never learned hisrole in the plan, nor the killer having been caught. Yet as the creditsrole we realize the mystery was not so much the reason behind the storyas method in creating it.

RoxAnn Eaton 2012-04-26 17:43:10

One of my very favorite Woody Allen comedies.

I loved it! Woody is wonderful, as usual. His script is hysterical, asusual. The black and white cinematography, directing and editing createvery interesting visual effects that leave you wanting to watch it over andover again. (The slew of well-known actors are more noticeable the secondgo round, anyway).In a sense, the movie is a visual portrayal of those frustrating dreamswe've all had in which we can't quite see; you know, where you wake upexhausted and nervous wondering, "what was that all about?" The entiremovie can be watched from that perspective as you, once again, see yourselfall over the place in Woody's movies and characters. At least I do.

PersianPlaya408 2012-04-26 05:44:57

One of the better Allen flicks... another gem

This is a brilliantly done comedy about a bookkeeper who is caught in ascandal involving vigilante groups trying to catch a killer. WoodyAllen is brilliant in this role, hilarious in both the dialogues andhis acting and expressions. He is great a coward, lol, a very funnyone. The rest of the cast is impressive as well, Mia Farrow was solidas circus worker who leaves her artistic husband who takes her forgranted (portrayed decently by John Malkovich). The whole film takesplace in shadows and fog as the name says and i thought the set helpedthe story, gave it suspense which balanced out with great humor. JohnCusack was especially good as a rich man who goes to brothels. It wasalso nice to see Jodie Foster and Kathy Bates in their prostituteroles, both were good. The cast was great in this Woody flick, andscreenplay was awesome as well, cant see why it doesn't have a higherIMDb rating, very entertaining to me. 9/10

Jackson Booth-Millard 2012-04-24 05:10:28

Shadows and Fog

I have seen Annie Hall and thought it was really good, and this issecond film I have seen from the great actor/director/writer. Basicallywoken up in the night by his neighbours as a vigilante group, Kleinman(Woody Allen) is wanted to help track down a strangler who has beenkilling people all over town. The town is pretty deserted as it isreally late at night, and the vigilante group has disappeared.Meanwhile, Irmy (Mia Farrow) has walked away from her career at thecircus in town, and her Clown boyfriend, Paul (John Malkovich).Eventually, after going to a brothel, and sleeping with Student Jack(John Cusack) for $700, she meets Kleinman, and is almost the onlyperson that he can rely on or get some sort of help from. Also starringMadonna as Marie, Lilo & Stitch's David Ogden Stiers as Hacker, MichaelKirby as Killer, Independence Day's James Rebhorn as Vigilante, DonaldPleasence as Doctor, Jodie Foster as Prostitute, Kathy Bates asProstitute, The River Wild's John C. Reilly as Cop at Police Station,Deep Impact's Kurtwood Smith as Vogel's Follower, William H. Macy asCop with Spiro, The Simpsons' Julie Kavner as Alma and Toy Story'sWallace Shawn as Simon Carr. Some pretty funny moments, but it's alwaysthe nerd-like, wining voice and "I, I, I" from Allen that is thehighlight. Worth watching!

2012-04-23 12:59:13

awesome film, mediocre dvd

Alfred Hitchcock once said that directors and cinematographers had so perfected the cinematic techniques of light and shadow that it was a shame color came to movies when it did. Woody Allen and Carlo Di Palma's underrated masterpiece harkens back to those masters and adds depth to their exquisite method. With a claustrophobic feel even outdoors, characters and milieu conspire against everyman Kleinman (Allen), armed only with his pragmatically amorous landlady's pepper and the desire to do right (as long as there is no physical discomfort involved). From his stark and rude awakening by sinister vigilantes, through his reluctantly deepening involvement in the search for a serial killer, and to a final confrontation and redemption, Allen and his team capture the anxiety inherent in living an engaged life. Shot in a 26,000 square foot New York studio, sets are exquisitely mythic. Allegorical characters are played (with one surprising exception) flawlessly -- John Malkovich's narcissistic clown, Mia Farrow's dowdy wallflower on the verge of enlightenment, Julie Kavner's merciless ex-fiance, John Cusack's youth on a search for meaning, and so many others. (The one actor who doesn't ring true is Jodie Foster, delivering her prostitute's lines stiffly and self-consciously.) The entire experience, Kleinman's and ours, is obscured by shadows, fog and mirrors. At the same time, the protagonist's central desire is to become a master illusionist himself, under the tutelage of his magician idol (Kenneth Mars), who ends the movie with a philosophical assertion about illusions: "Love them? They need them .... like they need the air." This DVD version is disappointing though. It's great to have the film available, but the bells and whistles are not here. Material includes the movie itself, a scene selection feature, language and subtitle options of English, Spanish or French, a theatrical trailer, and an interesting but brief booklet that incorporates statements from director/actor Allen and a few factoids. (For instance, Donald Pleasence says actors looked forward to seeing the film because none of them had read the script beyond their own parts.) Don't buy this package if you are looking for extras, but if you would like to own a great film in digital format, this is a wise purchase.

David 2012-04-16 23:59:25

Pretentious But Entertaining

I was having chemotherapy when this came out and don't actuallyremember its even existing. And, to be honest, it barely does exist. Ithas lots of superb actors. It's shot with great atmosphere. But it is alittle of this and a little of that and not much of anything in theend.Mia Farrow is charming as a waif. Allen as the central character isannoying. He wrote and directed it so who am I to criticize? But,though the plot doesn't make much sense, it appears to be a veryserious movie. And here he is, doing his usual shtick as a (supposedly)lovable nebbish.The brothel scenes are the movie's highlights. The prostitutes -- LilyTomlin, Kathy Bates -- are cast against type but are very funny andbelievable. John Cusak is also cast against type as a bookish butsexually ravenous student. He seems to have independent means and paysFarrow, who has been given refuge by the girls, a large sum even bytoday's standards.Allen writes very well and is a superb director. None of his movies areuninteresting. This one is somewhat amorphous but has many finesequences.

2012-04-16 14:17:43

A real surprise.

SHADOWS AND FOG is one of my favourite Woody Allen films. Although the reviews here are very positive that's not what I've read elsewhere, so it wasn't really a film that I was obsessed with tracking down, but I saw it at my local video store and gave it a go. The first thing I found is that it's much funnier than I expected, one of Allen's funniest in my opinion. The humour in the film is something that isn't even mentioned in a lot of the reviews I've read elsewhere. Also, the atmosphere is perfect and the sets are amazing. Talk about a movie living up to it's title. The music is also very effective, not just the standard old jazz/pop tunes he seems to use in every single film he makes. It also has one of the best cast's he's ever assembled and everyone performs well, except for maybe Malkovich who seems a bit awkard.It may have been passed over by some critics, but SHADOWS AND FOG is a must see.