Review of Analyze This

Introduction

The cast is an immediate draw to the film, without even knowing the subject matter, if I see the names of Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal on a DVD cover, I`m interested. So when I saw Analyze this sitting on my friends DVD shelf, I decided to borrow it.

De Niro is one of the best actors in the world, and has made his name as a gangster/wise-guy. Analyze this sees him taking the p*** out of himself as a tough-guy ganster who needs a shrink, brilliantly played by Crystal. What I can`t work out though is whether Lisa Kudrow was deliberately playing a Phoebe-a-like character or she just can`t do anything else!

Comedy this may be, but family comedy it is not - as the dialogue follows the norm for mob films with plenty of swearing, but these guys make it an artform!

There`s plenty of classic lines, and a plot behind the comedy.

Video

The DVD is double sided featuring anamorphic widescreen on one side, fullscreen on the other. The transfer itself is very good, like most recent Warner releases. The image is clean, sharp and stable throughout and shows plenty of detail.

Audio

This is not a film that requires an ear melting soundtrack, as it is mainly dialogue based, but the Dolby Digital 5.1 sound is very good - adding depth and atmosphere when required but letting the all-important dialogue be heard at all times.

Features

Some outtakes and audio commentary from De Niro and Crystal on offer. The outtakes are quite good, but short and the commentary is informative, especially as Crystal was very involved in the writing etc so has plenty to say.

Conclusion

Well, fantastic performances from De Niro and Crystal (only to be expected really) and a great script, some good laughs, a generally good supporting cast and plenty going on - I enjoyed Analyze This.

Picture and sound are both very good and the extras are also of a good standard.

Overall a good, entertaining film and a good DVD.