SHADOWS AND FOG (1992)

RATING:

By Shawn McKenna
Date Reviewed: March 15, 1999

There are recurring themes in a Woody Allen film: adultery (the act and redemption), pseudo-intellectual questions (Is there a God as opposed to Bullets over Broadway's question -- Is the art more important than the artist?), and a small nervous and neurotic man. These themes prove especially monotonous when the underlying script is flaccid and limp. For example, 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 going to have an affair herself and, of course, go back to her boyfriend. The main plot involves a fidgeting little man named Kleinman (Woody Allen) who is trying to help vigilantes find a killer. The funniest scenes involve Allen trying to figure out his part of the plan.

There are other problems too. There are too many cameo appearances by mid-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 killer and does not even yell help while trying to escape. He also backs himself into 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 would have 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 just seems that Woody forgot about the human element.

My biggest complaint about the movie is the end or lack of one. If leaves so much hanging and it forgets about many of its characters. It seems that Woody knew about the other shortcomings of his movie and just wanted it to end. Visually it is a decent movie. Intellectually it stinks. Oh well, there are many other Woody Allen movies to rent. I suggest something typical of his early works but atypical of his newer ones -- Sleeper.

Other Critics:

Leonard Maltin's Rating

**