The best of Woody Allen's pre-Annie Hall films, and one of his best also

Rating: 10/10 (23 July 2014)

Not quite top 5 Woody Allen but top 10? For me definitely, and of my viewings(which have not been in order of release, very random actually) of his films The Purple Rose of Cairo was the last film of his that got the 10/10 rating. Love and Death is a beautiful-looking film, lush scenery and opulent costumes as well as beautifully shot, of his pre-Annie Hall films Love and Death is his best-looking and quite possibly also among his overall filmography. The music is very memorable and fits perfectly, sprightly, stirring and lush, of the music scores of Allen's films Love and Death is among the favourites. With a script that crackles with wit and quotable lines, truly rewarding references to Bergman, Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky(which are easy to spot and get) and fun knockabout comedy set pieces with homages to silent film, Love and Death is among Allen's funniest and insightful films writing-wise. The philosophical stuff Allen includes is very intelligently incorporated and nothing comes across as biased or offensive, Allen has plenty to say and does so in a way that has his style all over it without feeling self-indulgent. The story is enormously entertaining from start to finish, very silly but in an endearing and genuinely hysterical way, once you get the references Love and Death is quite possibly among his most accessible films as well. Allen does a terrific job directing and his performance as a purposefully anachronistic character is just as great. No complaints to be had from the rest of the cast either, Diane Keaton in particular is sublime in one of her better performances in a Woody Allen film. Overall, a fantastic film, his best Pre-Annie Hall film, one of his best films overall and possibly one of his most accessible along with Purple Rose of Cairo and Sleeper. 10/10 Bethany Cox