I just saw Zelig tonight at the Film Forum in NY. It was a packed house. Don't get me wrong, I'm a Woody Allen fanatic. But I think Zelig is his most overrated movie. People love it because of the authentic early documentary style, but besides that there isn't much more. There's only a few laughs, and it's a little on the pointless side.
shareOh I totally disagree. I for one thought that its romantic comedy aspects were quirky enough that it was incredibly interesting and unlike most romances was actually, for me, appealing and romantic (most bore me and make me feel nothing). In addition to that, his adaptation of a character from folklore was pretty fantastic.
shareIn addition to that, his adaptation of a character from folklore was pretty fantastic.
Of course, shape-shifters or beings that can assume any form have existed in folklore and mythology for thousands of years. But is Zelig based upon or inspired by any specific myth or character?
All the universe . . . or nothingness. Which shall it be, Passworthy? Which shall it be?
Interesting, I came here because I felt the opposite. I think this film is severely underrated! Of course the seamless injection of documentary footage is great, but I also think it's very funny film, clever and sort of sweet. Doesn't everyone have a little Zelig in them?
"To me you are the teacher in a Charlie Brown cartoon"
really! I love this film. It is a sweet, romantic story about how "the love of one woman" saved a man. It's got alot of laughs and the documentary genre is skewered really good.
This is one of my favorite Woody Allen movies (and, let's face it, even the "inferior" ones are little gems.) If we decide to place "Zelig" in the romantic comedy genre, I'm hard-pressed to think of another that was produced more creatively or originally. The faux documentary is more common today, but not many were utilizing the style in the '80s. Of course, there is Rob Reiner's "Spinal Tap", and from the '70s, Albert Brooks' "Real Life" and Allen's own "Take The Money And Run," but few others, and perhaps NO romantic comedies.
shareInteresting, I came here because I felt the opposite. I think this film is severely underrated!
I wouldn't say it's anything classy, but the one-liners are great! There's nothing sentimental in it, it's just an obscure comedy.
shareI thought the mockumentary style was great, but I don't think it was the "meat" of the film. I really liked the tone of the film and how it touched on various ideas, such as the public's reaction to, and condemnation of, people who simultaneously stand out and make mistakes. At least, that's what I got from it. Not to mention, the one-liners are in great form here; the bit about the pairs of Siamese twins had me in tears. I've seen almost all of Allen's films and I rank it in my top five, no question.
shareOddly enough, I found the film to display a myriad of underlying ideas. The most obvious one is the ridicule of man as an empty conformist, the consequences of conformism and individualism, respectively, then the one-scene quip on fanatical individualism for it's own sake that had me dropping in tears of delight, then there is some contemplation on responsibility in regard to peer pressure. Quite more than your average mockumentary, if you only care to take a look. The exquisite style of a dockumentary is a mere added bonus to all this. I'm not saying it's perfect, the movie seemed somewhat inconclusive (or perhaps just not really revelatory), but it is certainly not a mere display of style with quips far between.
shareInteresting post from The Rover, good points well made. I like the film for the ideas you mention, it's thought provoking & intelligent entertainment without feeling the need to construct an unnecessary conclusion.
share"thought provoking & intelligent entertainment"
Couldn't agree more. Pretty much sums up Woody Allen's opus as well, at least the meagre share of what I've seen of it. :)
[deleted]
I agree , it still makes me laugh 24 years later !
sharemaybe you should stop listening to
rating's
when it comes to woody allen i would just see the
film and rate it only by my standards
ps. its a real gem. and kicks forrest gumps ass.
HANDS DOWN Woody's best film. Also on my list would be Radio Days, Another Woman, Deconstructing Harry, Stardust Memories, Sweet and Lowdown
Its alright Ma, its life and life only
Overrated? Hell, nobody I know has even heard of Zelig. It's one of Woody's finest films IMO.
Last film seen: Robert Bresson's Pickpocket - Brilliant!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053168/
If i wanted to pick 2 of Allen s greatest movies i would pick Annie Hall and this one. This is Allen s masterwork and...Its more underrated than overrated. Its his masterpiece(so much better than Manhattan which is itself a great movie) that nobody ever mentions its name!
shareI would say among Allen fan's this movie is Overrated but among the general audience underrated. To explain, if your into Allen then you want to see all his films and you appreciate every piece of every film. I personally love Allen and if I could only watch one film makers films it would be Allen, but I find that my favorites differ from the hardcore Allen fans. E.g. I love Zelig and find new laughs ever time I watch it but it's somewhere in the middle of my favorite Allen movies. Crimes and Misdemnors is often said as being the favorite among hardcore Allen fans and again it's below Zelig on my list. I'm not scared to admit that early Allen is still my favorite. Sleeper being at the top. Followed by Annie Hall, Bananas, Love and Death. The early films have me ROLF! I love all of his films but I am a bit tired of the Hardcore fans saying If Zelig or C&M's isn't on the top of your list your not a real fan. That's bogus, I mean after you watch The Seventh Seal and then watch Love and Death you'll have to pry yourself off the floor IMO.
shareLittle on the pointless side? Actually it has more point to it than most of his other films. Isn´t conformism relevant?
"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan
It's definitely an exercise in irony to watch it today. One of the things Allen was getting at was the whole culture of celebrity in the 1930's, how a fiction was created for public consumption. One could argue that era was the first time we had this due to the rise of "the talkies" and movies really taking root, so that every town had a theater. Then he gets into the scandals along the lines of Fatty Arbuckle and the like.
So when I watch it today I can't help but think about everything that happened, how him and Mia Farrow were engulfed in exactly that type of scandal.
I've seen about 30 of his films, and I'd say this is is one of the weakest ones. I think it's a really interesting idea, and there's some good jokes, but overall I felt the mockumentary style held it back. Maybe that's just me, but I thought the documentary stuff was just going to set things up, and I kept waiting for it to end. Meh, that's just me! Still pretty good film though.
shareI saw it for the first time at the 1983 Bombay Film Festival. I loved it then and love it now.
shareI do agree with the OP that I don't find it especially funny, apart from a few particular sequences. But pointless?
I just think it's great that a director of Woody Allen's stature was prepared to take the chances on making a film like this.
Difficult to see any mainstream directors at the moment doing anything remotely off the wall akin to Zelig.