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Bananas (Dir. Woody Allen/1971)
Woody Allen, in such a light, comedic tone, takes on politics.
“It’s all over for El Presidente” as the beginning depicts an assassination on
the news with sports-style commentary before introducing Fielding Mellish
(Allen), an invention tester. Marvin Hamlisch’s Mexican music sets the scene as
Mellish is caught up in a revolution when attempting to woo a lovely lady in
Nancy (Louise Lasser). Amongst the highlights is an homage to Chaplin’s Modern Times, as Allen is caught up in an
exercise-in-the-workplace invention while a trial reveals J. Edgar Hoover as
large, black woman. Bananas, like Sleeper and Everything You Wanted To Know About Sex, is Allen having fun. Poking
fun at fashionable revolutions and using one-liners to nab every opportunity
for a gag, Woody knows how to toy with us but flounders when sewing the story
together. Also includes a small role Stallone playing a thug tops off Bananas.
Rating: 7/10
Love Bananas. I used to only watch newer Woody Allen movies, thinking I wouldn't like his primer slapstick-loving self, but it really is some of the best and funniest slapstick I've seen!
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