Transitional Woody Allen film

Rating: 7/10 (18 October 2012)

If you ever wondered about the missing link between Woody Allen's early slapstick comedies and his later, heavier stuff, this is it. While it's still very much a comedy, "Love And Death" is noticeably mellower, slower, more mature than Woody's earlier films, with more attention paid to the story and to the general production. It's also more philosophical and theological, as Woody constantly questions the existence of God ("I wouldn't want to blow my brains out and THEN learn that they found something up there!"). It does get too verbose for its own good at times, and some parts just don't come off (his monologue about Socrates, for example). But "Love And Death" also contains some of the most unforgettable visual gags (his military training) and classic punchlines ("You are the greatest lover I've ever had" - "I practice a lot when I'm alone!") of Allen's career. And Diane Keaton, besides being great to look at, proves once again that her contribution to Allen's movies is invaluable - Woody himself once again, to an even larger extent than in "Sleeper", trusts her with some comic scenes without his presence, which she pulls off fantastically ("I could have made love to you more often....once even"!!). And Woody's music selections (this time it's Prokofiev) continue to be excellent. *** out of 4.