DrGerbil
I am surprised at what poor reviews this film has gotten. I myself liked it very much.It's very irreverent, very politically incorrect, and I can see where it would offend a lot of people. However, I didn't think it was mean-spirited at all, and it encourages us to think about our faith and what spirituality means to us.I enjoyed seeing Woody Allen out of his comfort zone--wearing Western clothes, and as a character named "Tex"--and, although I am sure that this film didn't make much money, I thought it was adorable.I hesitate to recommend it, though, since it is a very very dark comedy. One of the cast members (I think Fran Drescher) compared it to "It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World." I would definitely avoid it if you're offended by anyone poking fun at religion.
lastliberal
I am not a Woody Allen fan. I consider it significant that he has only one Oscar nomination for acting and that was 30 years ago. All of his other many nominations and wins were for writing and directing. If you like Sacha Baron Cohen, then you will like Woody Allen and vice versa. Maybe they should do something together - with nude wrestling, of course.This is not an Allen project. He only acts here. The director is Alfonso Arau (Like Water for Chocolate), and the writer is Bill Wilson in his only project (maybe this is a ghost name). So, if you like Allen's acting, then you may find it interesting.There are a lot of interesting characters in the movie: Sharon Stone as Tex's (Allen) adulterous wife, whom he dismembers, and whose hand becomes a religious icon; Sicilian beauty Maria Grazia Cucinotta as the town whore and the local priest's (David Schwimmer) babe; Elliott Gould, Andy Dick and Fran Drescher as church authorities; Cheech Marin as the Mayor; Kiefer Sutherland as a dumb Texas cop that gets a real ride in the end; and many many more.You get to see such miracles a a 3-foot schlong, la tortilla get humongous chi chis, the blind see, the lame grow new legs, and everybody just acting as crazy as they can.If you enjoy rubbernecking at traffic accidents, you will enjoy this.
merklekranz
I am a big Woody Allen fan and greatly admire his early films, up to and including Annie Hall. The only two post A.H. films I have enjoyed are "Curse of the Jade Scorpion", and this one, "Picking Up the Pieces". There are moments of the old Woody here that have been missing in many of his more recent efforts. He should venture out of his "New York City comfort zone" more often. The movie is not perfect, and could / will offend some. I really liked the neon lighting, which in no small way reminds me of "Vamp". Do not let the one star ratings steer you away from "Picking Up the Pieces", because it is well worth a peek, and especially for those W.A. fans who yearn for the 1970s Woody. - MERK
tfrizzell
Very silly nickel and dime effort that still has a big-name cast, but suffers from a stupid story and an unclear tone. Woody Allen is a butcher who kills his wife (Sharon Stone) one day after she is caught in the act of infidelity. Allen then chops the body up and buries it in the New Mexico desert, but one of her hands pops up again. An old blind woman trips over the hand and regains her sight. It must be a miracle, right? Well small-town mayor Cheech Marin thinks it is and a media and crazed fan circus starts to the dismay of Catholic priest David Schwimmer (who was hoping to have his church closed down and having a sexual relationship with beautiful prostitute Maria Grazia Cucinotta). Naturally other religious people (nun Fran Drescher in particular) come to the small community and try to keep the miraculous power of the hand from being cheapened. The events continue to get strange as Allen re-surfaces and tries to get the hand back in order to keep local sheriff Kiefer Sutherland from having evidence in Stone's brutal murder. The puzzling events are also too much for town doctor Alfonso Arau (who also directed) to figure out. Some of this may sound rough, but this is a pure comedy that goes strictly for laughs all the way. Arau, Mexico's unofficial answer to Woody Allen, struggles through with uninspired direction and a screenplay that is just not very intelligent. The movie toes delicate subject matter and pokes fun at situations that really are not humorous at all. Some big names in the cast (most are little more than television stars though) are not enough to pick up the pieces in this unintentional mess. 2 stars out of 5.
AD
