Deconstructing Harry (1997)

Harry Block (Woody Allen) is a writer whose life is falling apart. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that he alienates all of his friends and family by putting their drama into his work.

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The Woody Allen Style is a very distinct one. During his first decade, Allen's cinema evolved at a fairly rapid rate. But by the time Annie Hall hit in 1977, everything was pretty much set in stone. From the moment those white Windsor opening credits begin, you have a pretty good idea of what lies ahead. It's kind of comforting in a way. But sometimes there can be surprises, and that's when things get exciting! Deconstructing Harry is one such surprise...

Of the 38 Woody Allen features I've seen, I can easily say that Harry is his most filthy. Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sex * But Were Afraid To Ask and Mighty Aphrodite have nothing on this film because not only is it dirty, it's vicious. They even use the dreaded "C-word" multiple times in this one! And while I'm sure this appalled the blue-hairs who regularly show up for Allen's films, it plastered a big ol' smile across my face that remained for the full run-time. And it's not just shock value either. I recently watched this film for the first time in well over a decade and found myself still greatly amused. This film features some of the most eloquent filth you will hear outside of David Mamet and I defy you to find anyone who can rattle it off with as much aplomb as Ms. Judy Davis. I could listen to her insult me all day long. And Woody is no slouch either.

After Celebrity completed his impromptu "trilogy of filth" that began with Mighty Aphrodite, Allen returned to a more chaste cinema, but its nice to know that he has that quiver in his arsenal. Louis C.K. and Andrew Dice Clay are in his next movie after all...