Metacritic Film

Crimes and Misdemeanors

Starring Martin Landau, Anjelica Huston, Woody Allen, Alan Alda, Sam Waterston, Claire Bloom, Stephanie Roth, and Jerry Orbach

MPAA RATING: PG-13

Orion Pictures
Comedy  |  Drama
107 minutes | Color
USA
Released In Theaters October 13, 1989

The film's title indicates the themes of two separate stories: 1) a renowned opthalmologist is desperate to cut off an adulterous relationship...which ends up in murder; and 2) an ethically frustrated documentary filmmaker woos an attractive television producer while making a film about her insufferably self-centered boss. (MGM)

WRITTEN BY
Woody Allen

DIRECTED BY
Woody Allen

Overall Metascore

This is a weighted, normalized average of all individual scores given by critics, on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

77 / 100

Critic Reviews

100 The New York Times
Mr. Allen's most securely serious and funny film to date.
100 Rolling Stone
In this risky, riveting film, our most prolific and provocative moviemaker uses his wit to touch a nerve. Crimes and Misdemeansors is so funny it hurts.
100 Chicago Sun-Times
In the world of this film, conventional piety is overturned and we see into the soul of a human monster.
88 The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Staff (Not Credited)
Flagrantly flawed but never less than fascinating film that does indeed blend the funny Woody and the serious Woody.
80 The New Republic
It is his best and most courageous work to date. [13 Nov 1989, p. 22]
80 Time
At times the joints in the movie's carpentry are strained, at times the mood swings jarring. [16 Oct 1989, p. 82]
70 TV Guide Staff (Not Credited)
Fine ensemble acting (Alda and Huston are outstanding), evocative composition and design, intelligent writing, and spritely musical score.
70 Variety Staff (Not Credited)
Alda is perfect casting as a successful TV comedy producer, whose pompous attitude and easy romantic victories with women (including Farrow) exasperate Allen.
70 Washington Post
Whiny, quirky and urbane.
20 Chicago Reader
None of the characters or ideas is allowed to develop beyond its cardboard profile.

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