Deconstructing Harry (1997) - Review and Analysis by Jason Pitt for Critical-Film.com

Please comment on "Deconstructing Harry", and it's review in our Forum.

Deconstructing Harry A film review by Jason Pitt For Critical-film.com   Many years ago, my esteemed colleague introduced me to the film, “Annie Hall.” This was my first exposure to Woody Allen, and it would serve to catapult me into the man's filmography. I still believe that “Annie Hall” is the perfect initiation to Woody Allen's work, as it is both incredibly well written, and impeccably directed. It is also the most representative work of Allen's unique library, pulling the viewer into a story which contains intelligent, likeable, and well-crafted characters, and Allen's trademark dialogue. I consider Woody Allen nothing less than brilliant, and hold his films in a much higher esteem than most.   How does all of this talk relate to the film in question, you may ask… Quite simply, “Deconstructing Harry” is Woody Allen's most drastically different film to “Annie Hall.” I mean that simply in terms of its execution. It is an R-rated film with both nudity and a surprisingly high level of profanity. While “Match Point” is perhaps the most atypical of Allen's films in terms of context, “Deconstructing Harry” at times seems much less like a Woody Allen film than it should, mostly due to it's liberal use of profanity, including many occurrences of the word ‘Fuck', multiple sexual references primarily to ‘blow-jobs', and more than one occurrence of the dreaded C-word.   Had the film been edited (or written) to accommodate the PG-13 crowd, the film would have been more like a typical Woody Allen film, while, at the same time, losing much of its unique appeal. “Deconstructing Harry” is as successful as it is because it manages to successfully fuse Woody Allen's unique brand of humour, and style of storytelling into a more ‘mature' (for lack of a better term) film.   The told in a brilliantly unique fashion… Harry Block (Woody Allen, depicting the same neurotic tendencies we love) is a writer whose work is adapted quite directly from his own life experiences. These experiences are hardly well-disguised, however, and Harry is constantly being harassed by the friends whose lives have been depicted in book-form. Their secrets have been revealed, and they are not happy, to be certain. At the same time, Harry is about to be honoured by the very college that expelled him. He searches for someone to share the experience, but finds that his friends are now less than friendly, and one of his three ex-wives will not allow even Harry's own son to share the experience.   I realize that I'm not particularly adept at providing plot synopses. However, the story is not of as much consequence to this review as far as my description of how it is executed. Rather than tell the story I a typical linear fashion. The film combines the events of Harry's life, present day, and the stories he's written as thinly-disguised events of his past. It's a brilliant plot device, as each story plays like its own story; however we know that it ties into the central plot in some fashion or another. It's a brilliant way to develop character, and inform us of the events leading to present day, and keep us entertained. Each story is undeniably based in truth, but adapted to be appropriate with fictional writing.   “Deconstructing Harry” is different enough from the rest of Allen's work to seem original, while maintaining his trademark wit. The film is edited in a manner that accents the protagonist's completely neurotic nature. All in all, “Harry” is a near-brilliant film, which is among Allen's most under-rated works. The film has been called misogynistic, and given some of the situations and dialogue in the film, is understandable. But I will argue that that is the character which Allen depicts. His character is an alcoholic pill-popper, with a fondness for prostitutes. He is unable to remain faithful, and this mentality has caused the dissolve of three marriages. The film may seem misogynistic, but given the attitude of the central character, and the basis of the film on his life, should excuse this complaint as effective storytelling. Not to mention the film is among Woody Allen's funniest, and most entertaining.   (Four stars)   This review was provided in HTML format, as your browser is not capable of displaying flash content. To experience Critical-Film.com the way it was meant to be seen, please download the flash player from <a href="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash&promoid=BIOW">Macromedia</a>.