Razz Ma Tazz

Rating: 9/10 (11 March 2013)

The thing that sets this apart from other Woody Allen Movies is its sheer, electrifying efficiency. Sure, the Director/Writer/Actor is what he always is. A self deprecating, death obsessed, Nazi hating, neurotic Jew.
But here he is intertwined with so much wrap around that it is a dizzying, yet sharply edged commentary about love, culture, show biz, and human frailty. It is an unrestrained, razz-ma-tazz of Cinema techniques and stand up one-liners and it is all stirred with some biting bemusement.
Diane Keaton also is such an on screen force that Woody, at times, has to put it in overdrive just to keep up. He never fails. The pace is a non-stop, intelligent display of Artistic angst and there is so much fun that there isn't any time, except afterward, to contemplate all that has gone before.
A rich and rather poignant picture that pulls out all the tricks but never seems self indulgent, with just enough inquiry into the human psyche and just enough of the ridiculous to make this a unique and fascinating Film.