Good Comedy

Rating: 7/10 (30 November 2010)

On the movie's wikipedia page it is given that this is a transition film for Woody Allen from his more Marx Brothers influenced early period to his later period. Transition from Sleeper to Annie Hall.
And you can see that transition brilliantly in the film. You can draw a line between the film and see a perfect balance of philosophy and comedy. The movie is mix of Marx Brothers style sight gags and one liners, Woody Allen's comic dialogue and overtly philosophical musings.
The movie is set in Russia and we are introduced to the setting by a voice-over by Woody Allen just about to be hanged and from then on we are taken down on a hilarious trip through Russia at the time of Napoleon seen through the eyes of 'the Woody Allen character'
Most of the philosophical debate is related to Death as seen in most of Allen's movies and interviews but there is also some good points made about murder. Although most of the dialogue even the most serious is done in a very humorous way Allen does make some valid points about death,war, murder and the like.
This is one of Allen's best movies. More so than Annie Hall and Manhattan. It is right up there with Crimes and Misdemeanors.