Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)

Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)

Along with Annie Hall, Woody Allen’s Hannah and Her Sisters ranks among the writer-director’s best films. The movie manages to be complex and nuanced without going overboard. It is not a comedy, but there are big laughs within the family dynamics. In a sense, you could also view the film as a near-tragedy. The film is viewed through the eyes of Woody Allen’s character, Mickey. Mickey is one of those characters who is hypochondriac or a person who believes he has some unchecked major disease and is about to die. He wants a sense of belonging within the web of characters. That alone makes the film have tragic moments. The film on a whole works because of Allen’s sprawling, but tight (if that makes sense) narrative that interweaves dozens of characters within one another. It’s funny, sad, poignant, and emotional.

Woody Allen originally imagined the film to be a simple one about a husband falling in love with his wife’s sister. Then he started getting ideas to make his film more complex. His lover at the time, Mia Farrow actually criticized his script and suggested changes. She felt the characters, especially the sisters, were too indulgent and narcistic. With the film already in pre-production, there was little that Allen could do. In the end, the script is seen as one of Allen’s best. Although, it could be problematic hinting at his later years and the drama it came with it. Allen, being a New Yorker himself, gets the idea of the characteristics of a typical New Yorker; always busy, bustling, and moving fast. There is no such thing as slowing down and thinking ahead. That idea is portrayed very well in his script and from the performances.

The film has a zillion characters it seems and that means a large cast. Usually a large cast has the propensity to dull a film, but Allen managed his cast very well. Hannah (Mia Farrow), Holly (Dianne Wiest), and Lee (Barbara Hershey) are sisters from a family that runs in the show business. Their mother, Norma (Maureen O’Sullivan) is married to Evan (Lloyd Nolan), a constant cheater. Hannah is the glue that holds the family together and is married to an accountant, Elliot (Michael Caine). Her first marriage was to Mickey (Woody Allen), a TV executive who believes he will die. She keeps him around the family, however. Holly is the insecure sister who starts a catering business with her friend, April (Carrie Fisher). She is the typical Manhattanite. Lee is the more emotional sister. She lives with an older artist, Frederick (Max von Sydow) who is out of touch with reality. If this does not sound complicated already, hold on to your seat! Elliot figures out he has feelings for Lee, who may not being romantically satisfied enough herself with Frederick.

As the plot description outlines, there is a big cast! In addition to the aforementioned actors, there are cameos/small performances from Sam Waterston, Julia Louis-Drefyus, John Turturro, J.T Walsh, Daniel Stern, Julie Kavner, Richard Jenkins, and the list goes on. Yeah, told you so! The best performance comes from Michael Caine. His performance is more subtle compared to other roles, but it works very well. Dianne Wiest is hilarious and ultimately very human. These two won the Academy Awards for their supporting performances which is the right move considering how awesome they are. Woody Allen’s character is a headcase, a neurotic guy who does not believe in the afterlife and figures he will die soon and wants redemption. Funny and touching performance. Farrow was solid and Hershey’s role was just right for her. This is an actor-driven film that highlights a plethora of excellent performances. You can say Allen told this story in a series of vignettes that highlight individual characters.

Hannah and Her Sisters is Woody Allen at his finest. It allows him to mix his style of filmmaking without going overly complicated or sentimental. His characters are humanized and are involved in situations that could be relatable to most of us. I enjoyed the style in which the dialogue is used. Despite a sophisticated complex of characters, the story is simple to follow. Allen definitely grew as a filmmaker and it is not a surprise this film is one of his finest. My only concerns are about very brief situations in which tied Allen up with his later personal life. That said, the film is a definite recommend.

My Grade: A-