The phenomenal worldwide success of this hopelessly formulaic gangster
comedy is hard to account for, although the prospect of Robert De Niro
parodying himself into early retirement may have been one of the
factors behind the film's popularity. Analyze This (1999) has some
decent gags, but these are desperately few and far between and most of
the best jokes manage to get lost in all the tedious flotsam and
jetsam. The scenes that work well are those with De Niro and
Crystal slugging it out in the psychiatrist's consulting room - both
actors have great fun at their own expense and their interaction is
often blisteringly funny. When the film opens out and turns into
a full-blown gangster parody it loses both its direction and its
charm. It's a pity that the film's makers didn't have the
foresight or the courage to make this as a predominantly two-handed
piece for its two highly capable lead performers - in a similar
vein to De Niro's earlier comedy successes
The King of Comedy (1982) and
Midnight Run (1988).
That way, it could have been something far more interesting and enjoyable, a chance
for De Niro to show he can do some real comedy. As it is, Analyze This is a somewhat
lacklustre variation on a familiar theme, a missed opportunity for all
concerned. Still, it's far better than its 2002 sequel, Analyze That, which is simply too
awful for words.
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Film Synopsis
Paul Vitti is a New York gangster boss who fears that his reputation as
one of the city's most notorious hoodlums may be undermined when he
starts to suffer from panic attacks. He turns to Ben Sobel, a
successful society psychiatrist, expecting to have his inner demons
exorcised in time for a big gangster conference in a few weeks.
Sobel reluctantly agrees to treat Vitti after he has returned from his
vacation in Miami, where he is planning to get married to his
fiancée Laura MacNamara. Sobel is somewhat disconcerted
when Vitti shows up in Miami and demands his immediate attention.
What neither of them knows is that they are being monitored by the
FBI. By manipulating a recording of one of Vitti's conversations
with another hoodlum, FBI agents persuade Sobel that he must help them
to arrest Vitti and his gangster associates...
Script: Kenneth Lonergan (story),
Peter Tolan (story), Harold Ramis
Cinematographer: Stuart Dryburgh
Music: Howard Shore
Cast: Robert De Niro (Paul Vitti),
Billy Crystal (Dr. Ben Sobel),
Lisa Kudrow (Laura MacNamara Sobel),
Chazz Palminteri (Primo Sidone),
Kresh Novakovic ('50s Gangster),
Bart Tangredi (Young Vitti Sr.),
Michael Straka (Young Dominic Manetta),
Joseph Rigano (Dominic Manetta),
Joe Viterelli (Jelly),
Richard C. Castellano (Jimmy Boots),
Molly Shannon (Caroline),
Max Casella (Nicky Shivers),
Frank Pietrangolare (Tuna),
Kyle Sabihy (Michael Sobel),
Bill Macy (Dr. Isaac Sobel),
Rebecca Schull (Dorothy Sobel),
Pat Cooper (Salvatore Masiello),
Leo Rossi (Carlo Mangano),
Aasif Mandvi (Dr. Shulman),
Neil Pepe (Carl)
Country: USA / Australia
Language: English
Support: Color
Runtime: 103 min
Aka:Analyze Me
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