Crisis in Six Scenes

I have missed Woody Allen acting in his own films.

This Amazon project brings him back to the screen " cause the dough is good" as his character tells his hairdresser. In that opening scene Allen gives his testimony of this for him unique project.

If you like the earlier films of Woody Allen, in which he always acted in the leading roles, you will like this.

It's the continuation of the New York laid-back humour and wise cracks like in the film "Small Time Crooks". This is not a politically correct series and I appreciate Amazon didn't censor its content too much.

Still, I think this series will be generally better received in Europe, where Allen's biggest fans are, strangely enough concentrated in Italy, France and Spain (countries where all his movies are dubbed).

Standing ovation for Crisis in Six Scenes.

I stayed away from this one, having read Woody's dismissive comments about the project (not to mention the generally lukewarm-to-negative critical reviews). So I was taken aback to discover "Crisis in Six Scenes" is actually solid latter-day Allen. While the plot is predictable, it serves as a sufficiently effective frame for Woody's always delightful dialogue. The Old Man's still got it.

Harsh critic reviews keep me from watching this for almost two months. As usual the mass of critics were wrong and I totally enjoyed the two and a half hours I spent binge-watching this on the day after Thanksgiving. By the way, Elaine May's "Ishtar" is another movie the mass of critics were totally wrong about. Trust me, it was hilarious - see it).

I felt that this was very much like some of Allen's early movie efforts from the 1960s and 1970s like "Take the Money and Run" "Bananas" and "Love and Death" where plot took a backseat to absurd and ridiculous one-liners and dialogues.

For example:

Lenny (Miley Cyrus): I don't dislike you, its just everything that you stand for.

Sidney: God's going to punish us in this. Kay: God's not going to punish you, you're an atheist. Sidney: But if I'm wrong we're in big trouble.

Kay: Chairman Mao say "Death's certain, life unpredictable." Sidney: He got that from Charlie Chan.

If you're familiar with early Woody Allen, watch this and see the amazing continuity. If you are unfamiliar, watch this and then get DVDs of "Bananas," "Take the Money and Run" and "Love and Death." You will see what a rich source of material the 1960s youth rebellion offered for sharp comedians of the time.

Miley Cyrus is terrific and Woody Allen is Woody Allen and Elaine May is Elaine May. That should be enough of a recommendation. After you see it, come back here and write a great review of it.

I'm a Woody Allen fan, but I wasn't sure what to expect when I read some of the reviews. Now that I'm finished, I honestly can say that I don't understand why this got slammed by the critics. Is it on the level of Annie Hall? Of course not. But I thought it was an enjoyable way to spend a few hours. Woody Allen's character is very Woody Allen and fun to watch him fumbling around. Elaine May and her gaggle of book club friends are amusing, but the funniest scene is with Trooper Mike in the last episode.

I think the weak point is probably Miley Cyrus. I just didn't buy her as Lenny.

This 6-part series has it's ups and downs in a story about a sedate couple (Woody Allen and Elaine May) in the 1960s who get thrust into a world of radical politics when a fugitive (Miley Cyrus) breaks into their suburban home one evening. Over the course of the 6 episodes she radicalizes everyone in sight, including May's old-lady book club, while verbally jousting with Allen and stealing his fig newtons.

Co-stars include Joy Behar, John Magaro, Rachel Brosnihan, Lewis Black, Michael Rappaport, Deborah Rush, Christine Ebersole, Rebecca Schill, Margaret Ladd, Judy Gold.

Builds to an hilarious final episode that recalls the Marx Brothers.

Certainly worth a look.