Bananas (1971)
Company: Twilight Time
Starring: Woody Allen, Carlos Montalban, Howard Cosell, Rene
Enriquez, Charlotte Rae, Conrad Bain, Louise Lasser
My Review and Thoughts:
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Yet again we adventure into a Woody Allen film. A over the
top comical craziness that only Allen can get away with. The plot is a comical
reality that Allen can do so well. It’s about a New Yorker named Fielding Mellish
(Only a name Woody Allen could capture), who is dumped by his girlfriend who is
an activist. He ends up traveling to a foreign tiny Latin America nation and
there as in all Allen twist and wonderment in film, he gets involved with the latest uproar
rebellion. The movie is interesting because it is filmed in so many different
spots. From New York, Lima, Peru, to Puerto Rico. It goes up there as one of
the funniest Allen films. I feel this is one of his most memorable films. Annie
Hall will always be my personal favorite of Allen’s, but this one goes in the
top 5 I feel.
This like many of Allen’s films has a wonderful cast of
actors and actresses. Woody Allen uses many of the same actors and actresses
repeatedly in his films. This one is a little different many of the actors in
this film are not at all regulars in his countless movies. But there is a few
such as the beautiful and amazing Louise Lasser as your main female lead named Nancy, who is Woody Allen’s ex-girlfriend in the film. Now in real life she was married to Woody
Allen and yes appeared in many of his first films. She is probably best known
from the comical soap opera satire Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. Started acting
in 1962 and her last acting role was in 2015.
Twilight Time has released many Woody Allen films on Special
Edition, 3,000 Unit Blu-ray’s. Which you can read my reviews for all of them by
looking in the Twilight Time Section on the Left-hand side. From: A Midsummer
Night’s Sex Comedy / Love and Death / The Purple Rose of Cairo, Interiors, Another
Woman, most recently September, and many others.
Woody Allen needs no
introduction to the cinema world. His vast career of films as both writer,
director, actor and so on, have been hits, misses, but always unique and
interesting.
Woody Allen has a style that only he can do and get away
with in film. He has a natural talent of creating truly original pieces of
cinema. His ultimate completion of films is something that stands out as being
one of a kind experiences. Bananas is one of those one of a kind experiences.
You either love or hate Woody Allen movies. Most of Allen’s
films are simple, down to earth and nothing grand, just great interaction and
performances. That performing holds the watcher, and creates a satisfied
experience, no matter how simplistic it is. Woody Allen is just one of those
unique, masterly, gifted and iconic performers, directors, and writers that
are, few.
Audio/Video:
My Rating: 5 out of 5
The movie looks amazing for its age. The audio is equally
impressive. The sounds are crisp and the imagery is vibrant and looks like a
perfect transfer to an older film. The imagery which was flawlessly captured by
the cinematography comes to life in this new beautiful transfer. Yet again
another flawless example of how to treat a film. I tend to sound like I am a
broken repeating record when it comes to reviewing the audio and video of Twilight
Time Blu-ray’s but, it’s always a true treat to see the amazing transfers.
LANGUAGE: English
VIDEO: 1080p High Definition / 1.85:1
AUDIO: English 1.0 DTS-HD MA
SUBTITLES: English SDH
1971 / Color
Extra’s:
My Rating: 1 out of 5
Isolated Score Track. Twilight Time honored a great music
legend that has often been overlooked, or simply forgot about. Marvin Hamlisch
was a true gifted musician that should be remembered. The music by him was
always a beauty for films. Marvin had been composing music since the late 1960’s,
and continued to do music for films all the way up to 2009. His music is still
used today on many soundtracks to films. He sadly passed away in 2012 at 68
years of age. He left a vast array of music excellence in film. Working on
films both great and small. The phenomenal and much underrated film, 1968’s The
Swimmer. To me it would be this Woody Allen’s 1970's comedy Bananas that stands
out. The wonderful romantic drama, 1973’s The Way We Were. The amazing, 1982’s
Sophie’s Choice. One of my personal favorite childhood films, 1985’s D.A.R.Y.L.
and many others. His talent was amazing, and his music is something to
remember, talk about, and share.
Original Theatrical Trailer
Overall:
Another awesome, fantastic release by the wonderful company
that honors, cares for, and respects cinema as important art, that should be
expressed in top notch products. Twilight Time Blu-ray, always seems to amaze me
in their products.
Bananas is an excellent comedy film. A great Woody Allen
film to experience, wonderful directing by Allen, great acting by all, and only
a story Allen could create.
This Blu-ray is Highly recommended.
INFO:
Make sure you head over to www.screenarchives.com to buy all
the wonderful Twilight Time Blu-rays. The main page that gives you these
beautiful releases on top quality Special Editions.
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