Written and Directed by: Woody Allen
Cinematography: Vittorio Storaro
Music by: Stephane Wrembel
This film is "full meals" for cinephiles - who have seen the works of Truffaut, Godard, Bergman, Fellini and more. The references and parodies are hilarious. It's ironic how this film, and essentially Woody Allen is also bourgeois, just like how Mort is when he recommends the Japanese film on the dining table. Michael Shawn, the lead actor did a good job of replicating the Woody Allen hero. The humor is self deprecatory, making fun of his own intellect in a way. There are terrific moments of humor out of how Mort's wife is clearly swooning over the French director. A lot of the characters and the problems they have are references to his own work. The painter boyfriend is a reference to Vicky Cristina Barcelona, the way the doctor wants to quit her job and find her calling, and also the way Mort clearly knows that his wife has an affair. All of these are recurring themes. It's like the entire filmography of Woody Allen is a big series with the same theme, and characters put in different situations.
The way the city is captured is beautiful, it's done by simply setting up conversations in the middle of the roads and by capturing everything in deep focus. And of course, with the soothing jazz and blues music playing. Mort trying to find excuses to meet the doctor is so cute, and you know exactly what he wants. He doesn't only wants to get laid - that's not the Woody Allen guy. He wants to be called a genius, he looks for purpose, he wants artistic fulfillment, great food, a beautiful city to live in, somebody to channelize his passion, and also sex. He wants all of these. That's the Woody Allen guy.
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