Woody's "Small Time Crooks" - Does it hold up or am I just old?
Hey all, moviebuff_marc here, back with another one from the archives. I recently re-watched Woody Allen's "Small Time Crooks" (2000) and, man, it took me back. Remember when Woody wasn't, well, Woody? Anyway... I remember liking it back in the day, but now I'm wondering if my Gen X nostalgia goggles are working overtime. For those who haven't seen it (and seriously, where have you BEEN?), it's about this small-time crook, Ray, played by Allen, and his wife Frenchy, played by Tracey Ullman, who decide to rob a bank. The plan is to buy the pizza shop next door as a front, but the robbery fails. However, Frenchy's cookie business, which was ALSO part of the front, ends up becoming this HUGE success. Shades of "The Producers," right? But less…musical. I thought Ullman was brilliant -- totally channeling that nouveau riche vibe. And Hugh Grant showing up as the art dealer? Classic. But here's my question: the humor feels... different now. More broad, less nuanced than say, "Annie Hall." Is it because it's a different style or am I just more aware of Woody's, you know, baggage now? There's that fantastic scene where Frenchy is trying to act all high class at a party and keeps messing up the names of artists, but it almost feels slapstick. Did anyone else find it a little... dated? I think I preferred the heist-gone-awry stuff over the later, "suddenly rich" shenanigans. So, let me know your thoughts! Am I losing my mind, or is "Small Time Crooks" a mixed bag? Maybe I'm just longing for the era of actual video stores and renting this thing on a sticky VHS tape back in the day... Ugh, I'm getting old. Hit me with your opinions – good, bad, or ugly (but be nice!).
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