Review of September

Introduction

Woody Allen goes Bergman. Variety said of the film "the debts to Chekhov are everywhere". Starring Allen regulars Mia Farrow and Dianne Wiest, sterling support is given by the great Denholm Elliott, Elaine Stritch, Jack Warden and Sam Waterston. This is a deep, deep movie where the dialogue is king and characterisation rather than action matters.

If you expect comedy from Woody Allen, then this is his most humourless piece. All the characters are in love with the wrong person, and all you can do is watch as relationships stagger towards total collapse. As Mike Pinsky of DVD Verdict says, it is all to easy to end up feeling trapped in a house "with a bunch of people we just want to slap some sense into".

Video

Presented in anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen, colours are muted as the whole piece takes place within the walls of Lane`s (Mia Farrow) childhood Vermont home.

Audio

A very limited mono mix with little above and beyond dialogue and sound effects to it.

Features

Woody Allen says his pictures should stand or fall on their own, so he refuses to have anything to do with extras. In this case it`s his mistake.

Conclusion

Some call it a masterpiece, some call it a stinker. I`d go with the latter.