Talk:Crimes and Misdemeanors

References to use

Please add to the list references that can be used for the film article.

• Gilmore, Richard Allen (2005). "Visions of Meaning: Seeing and Non-Seeing in Woody Allen's Crimes and Misdemeanors". Doing Philosophy At The Movies. State University of New York Press. pp. 81–94. ISBN 0791463915.
• King, Mike (2008). "Taxi Driver and Crimes and Misdemeanors". The American Cinema of Excess: Extremes of the National Mind on Film. McFarland. pp. 176–177. ISBN 0786439882.
• Litch, Mary M (2002). "Ethics – Film: Crimes and Misdemeanors". Philosophy Through Film. Routledge. pp. 117–140. ISBN 0415938759.
• Litch, Mary M (2002). "Existentialism – Films: The Seventh Seal, Crimes and Misdemeanors, and Leaving Las Vegas". Philosophy Through Film. Routledge. pp. 185–200. ISBN 0415938759.

Existentialism

For a while now I've wanted to expand the Influences section with some information about the Existentialist philosophy in the movie. Although I think there are a lot of more subtle examples, this quote (from the film's imdb page) from the Professor Levy character really seems to sum it all up:

"We're all faced throughout our lives with agonizing decisions, moral choices. Some are on a grand scale, most of these choices are on lesser points. But we define ourselves by the choices we have made. We are, in fact, the sum total of our choices. Events unfold so unpredictably, so unfairly, Human happiness does not seem to be included in the design of creation. it is only we, with our capacity to love that give meaning to the indifferent universe. And yet, most human beings seem to have the ability to keep trying and even try to find joy from simple things, like their family, their work, and from the hope that future generations might understand more."

The only problem is that this is probably original research. I've tried to look for reviews or articles to support this, but most only casually discuss the philosophical aspect of the film. I should point out that Woody Allen is mentioned on the Existentialism page, as is Ingmar Bergman. What does everybody think about this? -- Gestrin 13:20, 9 September 2005 (UTC)

Dostoevsky

I'd like to address the reference to Dostoevsky's C&P. I am going to delete it because it is written by someone who has not read the book. It says that Raskolnikov confesses his crime in the streets and accepted God, he does no such thing at all. He confesses to a bureaucract in a police station and his specific reasons are unstated. Only in the epilogue does he read the raising of Lazarus from the Gospel of John, and that's where it ends. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 210.214.18.215 (talk) 17:19, 21 October 2007 (UTC)

Rectified: Cited part 10 of Mary P. Nichols' book on Woody where connection with C&P is explored in detail. DBWikis (talk) 14:47, 16 July 2009 (UTC)

Plot

As far as the ending of the movie goes, Lester and Halley announce that they are engaged.

The part that reads, "This seemed to Cliff to be the move which finally made Halley fall in love with Lester," seems a bit off to me.

As far as a thesis to the movie, it's pretty clear cut that to maintain wealth and power, people can not have ideals. Those that cling to their ideals are diminished, such as Dolores losing her life, Cliff's losing both his wife and Halley, and Ben losing his eye site, while Judah preserves his life by abandoning his ideals, and Lester is not only a millionaire, but also gets Halley by having none. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Jcordone (talk • contribs) 00:54, 26 January 2008 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:Crimes and misdemeanors2.jpg

Image:Crimes and misdemeanors2.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images lacking such an explanation can be deleted one week after being tagged, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot (talk) 20:05, 13 February 2008 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:Crimes-and-misdemeanors.jpg

Image:Crimes-and-misdemeanors.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images lacking such an explanation can be deleted one week after being tagged, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot (talk) 20:07, 13 February 2008 (UTC)

Film title

Should there be a mention of the source of the title of the film, which seems to be the "high crimes and misdemeanors" clause of the U.S. Constitution dealing with impeaching federal officials[1]? — Loadmaster (talk) 22:29, 1 March 2008 (UTC)

Actually, there is just as much to be claimed for "Crime and Punishment," by Dostoyevski, from whom much of the plot-premise and philosophical issues were taken, and "Cries and Whispers," the Ingmar Bergman film. I really don't think Allen is referencing the Constitutional phrase; it has nothing to do with the issues treated in this film. 66.108.4.183 (talk) 02:55, 2 March 2008 (UTC) Allen Roth

Fellini

I have removed the reference to Steiner in La Dolce Vita, as it seems too loose for inclusion. One could cite the same director's 8½ as an influence for its merging of fantasy/dreams (in C@M the old movie clips), remembrance and reality. Philip Cross (talk) 12:03, 19 January 2009 (UTC)

Thriller?

The lead says this film is a "black comedy/thriller." It is definitely a black comedy, but I have doubts about "thriller." What is the consensus among reviewers and film historians? Stetsonharry (talk) 20:06, 28 June 2009 (UTC)

Levy and Levi

I took out the part that said that the character of Louis Levy was based on Primo Levi. In the book Woody Allen on Woody Allen the interviewer asks Allen, "When you made the portrait of the philosopher in the film, Louis Levy, did you model him on any known person?" and Allen replies, "Interestingly, people have spoken to me about Primo Levi, because even the name is similar. But he was not an inspiration for me, oddly enough." (p. 209) Retinalsummer (talk) 02:22, 9 March 2011 (UTC)

"... one of Allen's greatest films."

The lede says: "Crimes and Misdemeanors is now regarded by many as one of Allen's greatest films." This may well be true. But which material, in the "Accolades" section, supports this claim? Thanks. Martinevans123 (talk) 21:11, 1 February 2017 (UTC)

After the sentence about the 20/20 Award, two publications' rankings of Allen's efforts are mentioned. The sentences in the body concerning them support the claim that Crimes and Misdemeanors is considered one of his best works. AndrewOne (talk) 15:46, 2 February 2017 (UTC)

So you mean "In a 2016 Time Out contributors' poll, it ranked second only to Annie Hall among Allen's efforts .." and "the film achieved the same rank in an article by The Daily Telegraph critics Robbie Collin and Tim Robey..."? So that's two publications, one with an unknown number of pollsters and one with two critics. I'm still struggling with "by many". Would it not be simpler and fairer to say something like "Crimes and Misdemeanors has been placed as second only to Annie Hall, as Allen's best film, by at least two publications"? Martinevans123 (talk) 16:25, 2 February 2017 (UTC)

Along with its rankings in Time Out and The Daily Telegraph, the film also ranks highly in lists in Entertainment Weekly (2nd), The Arizona Republic (2nd), CBS (3rd), and Nerve (4th). The sentence could say, "In several publications, Crimes and Misdemeanors has been ranked as one of Allen's greatest films." AndrewOne (talk) 18:52, 2 February 2017 (UTC)

That sounds ok to me. Maybe you should add those other sources too? Thanks. Martinevans123 (talk) 19:14, 2 February 2017 (UTC)

Nice work. I think you've made a real improvement. Martinevans123 (talk) 19:58, 2 February 2017 (UTC)

Wild Strawberries

The scene where Judah visits his childhood home and experiences a strong sense memory of his time there copies a similar scene from Wild Strawberries. Allen has I'm sure acknowledged that it is a lift (done of course with due reverence and respect for Bergman). Is this not worth mentioning somewhere in the article? Martyn Smith (talk) 06:32, 12 December 2020 (UTC)