Manhattan Murder Mystery

Directed and starring Woody Allen and screenplay by Allen and Marshall Brickman, Manhattan Murder Mystery is the story about a couple who find themselves involved in a murder mystery as they take part in the investigation finding what’s going on. The film a whodunit where a couple goes into the world of mystery as it marks a reunion between Allen and two of his great collaborators in co-writer Marshall Brickman and Diane Keaton who plays Allen’s wife in the film. Also starring Alan Alda and Anjelica Huston. Manhattan Murder Mystery is a fantastic suspense-comedy from Woody Allen.

The film revolves around a couple who learn that the wife of their new neighbor has died as they suspect something isn’t right. Carol (Diane Keaton) investigates what happens despite her husband Larry (Woody Allen) telling her not to. With the help of their friend Ted (Alan Alda), Carol goes further to find out what happened as she is convinced is a murder. Larry eventually helps out as he and Carol make some discoveries of their own while realizing that the killer is on to them. Turning to Larry’s author friend Marcia (Anjelica Huston) for help, Larry and Carol along with some friends decide to nab a trap in order to expose the truth. It’s a premise that is quite simple yet told in a pretty humorous manner where a couple play detectives to see whether or not their neighbor killed his wife.

The screenplay that Woody Allen and Marshall Brickman create is full of ideas that play in the world of mystery as it is driven by this couple who have been married for a long time but have lost a bit of excitement. Upon the news of this woman’s death and her husband’s behavior in its aftermath, the two become suspicious where Carol goes head on into see what is going on. Little by little, clues would emerge as they go into many revelations as Carol gets help from Ted who is a mystery buff as he would inspire Larry to get more involved. There are moments in the film where the suspense is quite intense while it allows time for Ted and Carol to deal with themselves. Eventually, the intensity of the suspense would allow the two to rely on each while calling on Ted for help as they also bring in Marcia who knows a lot about mystery as she would play a key role in the third act.

Allen’s direction is quite engaging as it is mostly straightforward where it is set entirely in Manhattan where he makes it a character in the film as there’s scenes shot at Madison Square Garden and at the Metropolitan Opera House. Still, there’s moments in the direction where Allen does play up into that approach of suspense-comedy where there’s bits of slapstick but also some very mesmerizing scenes involving intrigue. Many of the compositions Allen create are quite lively while he creates a climax that is truly thrilling as well as making it a tribute to Orson Welles’ The Lady from Shanghai as the film is also played in that climatic sequence. Overall, Allen creates a very entertaining and witty suspense-comedy that allows the audience to be engrossed in the mystery.

Cinematographer Carlo Di Palma does excellent work with the cinematography from the look of some of the nighttime exteriors scenes in the city to its daytime interior and exterior scenes. Editor Susan E. Morse does amazing work with the editing as most of it is straightforward with the exception of some montages that play into Marcia‘s theories over what might‘ve happened and such. Production designer Santo Loquasto, with set decorator Susan Bode and art director Speed Hopkins, does wonderful work with the set pieces from the look of the apartments that the characters live in to the theater house where Ted and Carol snoop at.

Costume designer Jeffrey Kurland does nice work with the costumes as it‘s mostly straightforward for the men though the clothes that Carol and Marcia wear are quite fun to look as it displays their different personalities. Sound editor Robert Hein does superb work with the sound from the intimacy in the locations to a very inspiring scene in the film’s third act to play a trick on the killer. The film’s soundtrack is terrific as it features an array of music from Cole Porter, Richard Wagner, Dave Brubeck Quartet, and Benny Goodman to play up some of the humor and suspense.

The casting by Juliet Taylor is fantastic for the ensemble that is created as it features some notable small appearances from Aida Turturro as a hotel clerk, Wendell Pierce as a policeman, and Zach Braff in his film debut as Larry and Carol’s son Nick. Other small roles include Melanie Norris as a young actress named Helen, Marge Redmond as a woman named Mrs. Dalton, Ron Rifkin and Joy Behar as friends of Carol and Larry, Lynn Cohen as the neighbor’s wife who dies early in the film, and Jerry Adler as the mysterious neighbor Paul House. Anjelica Huston is great as the novelist Marcia Fox as a woman who is a friend of Larry as she helps out Larry, Carol, and Ted to uncover the mystery while providing some theories. Alan Alda is brilliant as Ted as a mystery buff who helps Carol in uncovering things while becoming attracted to Marcia over her theories.

Finally, there’s the duo of Woody Allen and Diane Keaton in remarkable performances as Larry and Carol Lipkin. With Allen playing his usual nebbish persona and Keaton as the more outgoing of the two, the two clearly have not lost a step in their rapport with one another. Notably as Allen would provide some of the slapstick with Keaton as the more serious providing this unique balance as they are definitely the highlight of the film.

Manhattan Murder Mystery is a marvelous film from Woody Allen with superb performances from Allen, Diane Keaton, Alan Alda, and Anjelica Huston. The film is definitely one of Allen’s finest as well as another top-notch collaboration between Allen, Keaton, and co-screenwriter Marshall Brickman. It’s a film definitely has great odes to mystery as well as providing elements that are full of laughs. In the end, Manhattan Murder Mystery is a wonderful film from Woody Allen.

Woody Allen Films: What's Up Tiger Lily? - Take the Money and Run - Bananas - Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask) - Sleeper - Love and Death - Annie Hall - Interiors - Manhattan - Stardust Memories - A Midsummer's Night Sex Comedy - Zelig - Broadway Danny Rose - The Purple Rose of Cairo - Hannah & Her Sisters - Radio Days - September - Another Woman - New York Stories: Oedipus Wrecks - Crimes & Misdemeanors - Alice - Shadows and Fog - Husbands and Wives - Don’t Drink the Water - Bullets Over Broadway - Mighty Aphrodite - Everyone Says I Love You - Deconstructing Harry - Celebrity - Sweet & Lowdown - Small Time Crooks - The Curse of the Jade Scorpion - Hollywood Ending - Anything Else - Melinda & Melinda - Match Point - Scoop - Cassandra’s Dream - Vicky Cristina Barcelona - Whatever Works - You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger - Midnight in Paris - To Rome with Love - Blue Jasmine - Magic in the Moonlight - Irrational Man - (Cafe Society)

The Auteurs #24: Woody Allen Pt. 1 - Pt. 2 - Pt. 3 - Pt. 4

© thevoid99 2013

Garden State

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 8/15/04 w/ Additional Edits.

The Sundance Film Festival has always been known as a festival that gives the spotlight to new up-and-coming filmmakers as they rise to the world of cinema. In 2004, TV actor Zach Braff of the show Scrubs released his directorial feature-length debut film, which he also wrote, and starred in entitled Garden State. A big hit at the festival, Garden State is a quirky comedy-drama about an actor from L.A. named Andrew Largeman who returns to New Jersey for the funeral of his mother. After years of being in a medicated state, Largeman wakes up from his monotone, mind-numbing state where he meets a quirky young woman while trying to make amends with his psychiatrist father and old school friends. Starring Braff in the lead role of Andrew Largeman with a cast that includes Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Ron Liebman, Jean Smart, Method Man, and Ian Holm. Garden State is a majestic film that is rich in its quirkiness and compassion.

For the 26-year old Andrew Largeman, life has been nothing but one monotone, numbing world as he is often in a trance. Even when he is doing his acting, he's often in a state, including one moment as a waiter in a Vietnamese restaurant. Then one day, his father and psychiatrist Dr. Gideon Largeman (Ian Holm) calls him that Andrew's paraplegic mother had died, drowning in her bathtub. Andrew returns to his home in New Jersey to attend the funeral where he sees his old friend Mark (Peter Sarsgaard) working as a gravedigger with pal Dave (Alex Burns). Mark invites him to a party where Andrew is forced to deal with relatives and his estranged father, who wants to talk to him, especially about his medication that Andrew had forgotten to bring for his depressing state of mind. Later that night, driving his grandfather's Army motorcycle, an officer stops him who turns to be former school pal Kenny (Michael Weston) who is surprised to see him. Andrew goes to the party where he meets Jesse (Armando Riesco), who got rich off of inventing Velcro that makes no sound where Andrew took ecstasy and began to see an orgy of drugs and sex.

The next morning at Mark's house, he meets another old friend named Tim (Jim Parsons) and Mark's mother Carol (Jean Smart). Tim has become a knight for the Medieval Times restaurant franchise while Carol often tells Mark to work on his plans to become a real estate agent but Mark isn't interested except in getting stoned. Andrew leaves to attend a therapy session his father had signed on for him. Andrew comes across a humping dog and a quirky, pathological liar named Sam (Natalie Portman) who recognized from TV as a mentally challenged quarterback. The talkative Sam keeps talking to him as she gives him a chance to listen to the Shins. For the first time ever, Andrew gets out of his state as he meets a psychiatrist named Dr. Cohen (Ron Liebman) who checks his prognosis and thinks Andrew is just feeling fine although he is wondering what just happened after Andrew stop taking his pills.

Andrew sees Sam after his session where he takes her to Jesse's house and then to her home where he meets her mother Olivia (Ann Dowd) and her adopted African brother Titembay (Ato Essandoh). Andrew is intrigued by Sam's quirky personality as she admits to lying a lot and during a burial for one of her dead hamsters, Andrew talks about his mother and her death as Sam is moved by the fact that he had a hard time trying to reveal his sadness after being numb for years. Deciding to stay in New Jersey for a few more days, Andrew tries to avoid his father for a conversation only to hang out with Sam, who gets embarrassed by her mom over a video of her skating in a crocodile costume, and with Mark. Andrew and Sam join Mark in swimming in Jesse's pool where later that night, Andrew reveals how his mom became paraplegic and how he got heavily medicated. Andrew and Sam are left alone with Andrew having a few more days left before returning home.

Mark, who has been happy with Andrew's return wants to give him a going away present while presenting him his collection of Desert Storm cards which he hopes will be worth a lot of money. Mark decides to get Andrew his present with Sam as Mark scams money at a convenience store where Andrew meets another old schoolmate Karl Benson (Geoffrey Arend) who presumed that Andrew had committed suicide. Andrew isn't sure what Mark is trying to do as they go to a hotel where they meet a sleazy, underground porno organizer named Diego (Method Man) who gives Mark direction to meet Albert (Denis O'Haye) and wife Faye (Debbon Ayer). Mark accompanies Sam and Andrew into an abandoned canyon where they meet Albert, who has these weird theories of the world. Mark gives Andrew his present where Andrew is finally forced to confront his own life and father while trying to decide if he wants to return to Los Angeles or stay in New Jersey.

Presenting itself as a quirky film with some funny moments in sad situations or vice versa, Garden State in some ways plays up to the offbeat world of 1970s filmmaker Hal Ashby. While Braff only recalls a bit of Ashby's world, he does manage to bring a vision that isn't just heartbreaking but also absurd and compassionate. With a wonderful screenplay that is filled with witty dialogue and strange yet sympathetic characters, the film's story works in all levels, even in its love story between Andrew and Sam. Braff as a director is truly a visionary with his eye-wielding direction where he brings in wonderful crane shots and spectacular camera movements that is complemented by cinematographer Lawrence Sher.

Sher brings a colorful, dreamy photography that gives richness of the film with help from production designer Judy Becker and art director Laura Ballinger, notably a scene where Andrew's shirt matches a wallpaper design. Another great aspect to some of Braff's direction, especially in faster shot sequences is editor Myron I. Kernstein who helps brings a wonderful pace and crafted editing style that helps Garden State be wonderful in its technical achievements.

One great aspect of the film is its dramatic, acoustic music score from composer Chad Fisher who brings that Ashby quality of offbeat drama and comedy. The film's music really makes Garden State a gem of a film. With cuts from Coldplay, the Shins, Colin Hay of Men at Work, Remy Zero, Nick Drake, Simon & Garfunkel, Frou Foru, Zero 7, and a hilarious cover of Lionel Richie's Three Times A Lady in the funeral scene. It's by far the best film soundtrack of the year and credit goes to Braff, Fisher, and music supervisors Buck Damon and Amanda Scheer-Demme.

Then you have the film's amazing cast with great small performances from Jim Parsons, Alex Burns, Michael Weston, Armando Riesco, Ann Dowd, Ato Essandoh, Geoffrey Arend, Denis O'Hare, Debbon Ayer, and Jackie Hoffman as Andrew’s Aunt Sylvia, who created that shirt that matched the wallpaper. Method Man is funny in his small performance along with Ron Liebman as the quirky, unorthodox Dr. Cohen, and Jean Smart as the loving but stern Carol who is frustrated at Mark's lack of ambition while is willing to believe anything that will get her out of New Jersey. Ian Holm is excellent in the role of Andrew's father Gideon. Holm brings a performance that carries guilt inside as he desperately tries to talk with his son but is having a hard time balancing the role of father and shrink. In the final confrontation, we see Holm at his most restraint where he and Braff have great tension together.

Of the film's supporting cast, no one is as good or as charming as Peter Sarsgaard in the role of Mark. Sarsgaard's character is supposed to be this sleazy, cunning friend who takes a lot of pride in not taking anyone's money, even Andrew's. Sarsgaard brings a likeability and sympathy to his performance as a guy who just has small dreams and doesn't really want to live up to any ambitions or be a failure in favor of simplicity. Sarsgaard has wonderful scenes with Braff and Portman as he proves himself to be one of the best supporting actors in the industry and it's the supporting players that really help carry the leads and story. Sarsgaard is just one of the best supporting actors right now who can be a leading actor but seems comfortable as well in the supporting role.

Natalie Portman meanwhile, brings her most fulfilling performance since her 1994 debut role in Luc Besson's Leon-The Professional. Here, Portman brings a quirkiness and radiance to a performance that is always wonderful to watch. Portman seems comfortable and relaxed in a role where she lets loose and even act like an idiot at times for sheer fun while she manages to display her brilliant mastery in restrained, subtle dramatic performances. With Braff, the two carry a wonderful chemistry that is funny and sad in some sequences where you root for both of them with Portman just being the loveable oddball. This is by far Portman's most complex and charismatic performance for the young actress.

Zach Braff is a wonderful leading man in easily one of the year's best performances. Even for those who haven't seen him in the show Scrubs won't really need to because in this role, he really brings in an engaging, troubled performance as Andrew. Braff doesn't make his character pathetic or plain idiotic but someone who is just lost after years of being in a trance. Braff makes Andrew someone we love and feel sorry for, even with his flaws. Braff is also brilliant with scenes with other actors in the way he reacts to their quirkiness and oddball activities while being the butt of the jokes where he would have words all over his body. This is definitely Braff's breakthrough role into the world of films.

***Updated 3/25/05, DVD Tidbits***

The DVD to Garden State that is shown in its anamorphic widescreen format of 2:35:1 along with 5.1 Surround Sound and Dolby for English and Spanish along with subtitles and captions in English, Spanish, and French. The DVD includes a Fox Searchlight trailer to Danny Boyle's 2004 family film Millions along with a promo for the acclaimed soundtrack to Garden State. The special features includes a 30-minute making-of featurette that includes Braff and his cast and crew where Peter Sarsgaard got into character by practicing the guitar. The making-of feature shows some intimate moments with the crew and cast, notably Braff, Sarsgaard, and Natalie Portman who shows her humorous side more while doing takes and how the motorcycle often doesn't work.

The DVD also includes a 3-minute outtakes and blooper reel where the cast flub their lines including Sarsgaard, Braff, and Portman as she tries to do a funny New Jersey accent and the hilarious outtakes of the humping dog along with a hilarious scene of Sarsgaard almost fainting during a take with Method Man that got Natalie to go into hysterical laughter. The DVD also includes 16 deleted and extended scenes that features optional commentary from Braff, cinematographer Lawrence Sher, production designer Judy Becker, and editor Myron Kerstein. Some of the deleted scenes included extended scenes of the funeral party that featured many of Braff's relatives including his father, an audition scene, extended scenes with Portman and Sarsgaard including the ark scene. The best scene that Braff didn’t want to cut but did for pacing issues was an earlier confrontational scene with him and Ian Holm where Holm delivers a great performance but Braff felt like several of the deleted scene, it was pacing that forced him to cut the scene.

The DVD also includes two audio commentary tracks from Zach Braff. One with Sher, Becker, and Kerstein is more technical driven on talking about some of the details of the films but it's mostly straightforward and relaxed since they’re having fun talking during the commentary while Braff asks Becker who's a better director to work with, him or Ang Lee (since she's credited on production design for Lee's upcoming Brokeback Mountain). The overall filmmakers' commentary is one of the most fun and detailed of commentaries. The second commentary Braff is in is with Natalie Portman which is more fun than the other commentary. Portman not only seemed relaxed but also says some of the funniest things in the commentary with Braff as she talks about her New Jersey-Jewish accent and her quirky approach to the character. She also complains how weird her ears are and how Method Man was nervous in cursing in front of her when she didn't seem to mind since she's a fan of Meth and the Wu-Tang Clan.

While the DVD doesn't include the teaser or full trailer to the film or the Anatomy of a Scene special on the film from Sundance Channel, the Garden State DVD overall is an excellent DVD that the film's fans will love.

***End of DVD Tidbits***

Garden State is truly a majestic film helmed by the multi-talented Zach Braff with a wonderful film crew and cast that include Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, and Ian Holm in amazing performances. With a great soundtrack as its accompaniment, Garden State is indeed one of 2004's best films with Braff being a triple-threat in the acting, writing, and directing field as he created one of the best debut features ever by a new director. Sundance truly found a winner with Garden State as this film has something for everyone, it's romantic, it's funny, it's dramatic, and it's strange. In the end, Garden State is a wonderfully complex film that marks the emergence of a new visionary.

(C) thevoid99 2010