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movie review - Analyze This

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-eight years and a million words

Toronto, 2000.01.15

Sometimes Hollywood "gets the idea for a movie" by taking two or three of its stars and turning them loose in front of the camera. Sometimes they add a plot. This usually happens when said stars are looking for some easy cash and are possibly past the peak of their respective careers.

The premise of this one is that a mobster (Robert DeNiro) wants out of the mob, and is having trouble figuring that out. To do so, he obtains the services of a shrink (Billy Crystal). DeNiro plays the former, Crystal the latter. You can't really go wrong with this cast, but the over reliance on Crystal's shtick drags in too many places, and DeNiro's routine gets a touch tiring, too.

Not recommended.

rand()m quote

Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.

—Hermann Goering