chaswe-28402
Genius. Wonderful. Many of Allen's films tackle the dichotomy between reality and delusion, and this one nails it, better even than the others. Technically, creatively, wittily. I'm staggered by the low 7.7 rating. This film is one of the most ingenious, clever, philosophical movies ever made, and I do not understand why it's not in the top ten of all time. Perhaps it's just because it's too movingly downbeat and melancholy at its conclusion.
MJB784
This is my favorite Woody Allen movie! It's heartfelt, artistic, creative, funny, thoughtful and nostalgic. It's basically a love letter to movies about a waitress who is unloved by her husband, unhappy at work and only finds love in the movies. One day, she watches the latest movie The Purple Rose of Cairo and after watching it the fifth time, the main character literally leaves the screen of his black and white movie and enters reality in technicolor. Soon, the black and white actors are up on the screen screaming for him to return while the movie theater is in panic and the actor playing the character who left the screen tries to get him back on. What an exciting story told with art, thought and entertainment!
SnoopyStyle
Cecilia (Mia Farrow) is a mousy waitress during the Depression. Her husband Monk (Danny Aiello) is unemployed, heavily in gambling debts, brutally abusive and a womanizer. She goes to the movies to escape from the world. Tom Baxter (Jeff Daniels) is a dashing archaeologist character from the film "The Purple Rose of Cairo." Cecilia is fired from her job. She goes to the cinema and Tom Baxter walks out of the screen. Hollywood is besides itself with news that Tom has escaped. Gil Shepherd (Jeff Daniels) who played the role is brought in to fix the situation.This is a great concept from Woody Allen. I do wish that Jeff Daniels could differentiate his two characters better. Tom Baxter should be more swashbuckling and heroic. He should be a fantasy character. The husband is also a bit too much. He should be dialed back a little and maybe he shouldn't be violent. Mia Farrow is great at being mousy. It's generally an inventive and engaging movie.
JLRMovieReviews
Mia Farrow lives in the world of make-believe, the world of old Hollywood. Her neglectful husband, played by Danny Aiello, doesn't help at all. She watches movies every chance she gets, even watching the same film over and over. The images blend, the thin line thins. In yet another viewing of an old musical/adventure tale, one of the characters, played by Jeff Daniels, turns to her and starts talking to her, even coming out of the celluloid projection. He has come to life. What's so extraordinary is that others see this, too! It's not like only Mia can see him. Jeff's real existence creates havoc. People want their money back. The movie moguls in Hollywood get wind of it, hoping against hope for no lawsuit. But most importantly, the cast left behind has nothing to do because they can't go to the next scene without him. But Jeff Daniels doesn't want to go back in the film. He is having too good a time with Mia. Jeff Daniels plays two roles in this Woody Allen film. Don't get confused. The character who jumped out of the movie screen and the actor who played him, who is asked to go this town to get him to go back into the film. Even if "The Purple Rose of Cairo" contains flaws and is not perfect, it proves one thing – Woody Allen can really tell a tale, can really wrap you into a world of fantasy. He is a master of his craft, as he spins a web of tall tales come to life with zany results. Van Johnson has a role in the film's film that goes on and on. This has much ingenuity and charm, and Jeff Daniels may have his best movie role/roles of his career with this experience. But what becomes of the movie character Jeff? More importantly,what becomes of Mia! Is she destined to a part of the theater's atmosphere, to live there, to breathe there? Does she get a chance to live, to branch out, to be her real self? Sometimes what we want can be detriment to (or be in direct opposite to) what we need. The real world vs. fantasy! Only the purple rose knows
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AD
