EVERYONE SAYS I LOVE YOU (1996)

Written & Directed By: Woody Allen
Cinematography By: Carlo DiPalma
Editor: Susan E. Morse
Cast: Woody Allen, Julia Roberts, Goldie Hawn, Edward Norton, Natasha Lyonne, Billy Crudup, Alan Alda, Natalie Portman, Gaby Hoffman, Lukas Haas, Tim Roth, Tony Sirico, Christy Romano


Holden and Skylar are in love with each other. Skylar lives with a large and extended family on Manhattan. Her parents, Bob and Steffi have been married to each other for many years. Joe, a friend of theirs, who has a daughter, DJ, with Steffi. After yet another relationship, Joe is alone again. He flees to Venice, and meets Von, and makes her believe that he is the man of her dreams. However, their happiness is fake all the way, and she returns to her previous husband. Steffi spends her time with charity work, and manages to break up Skylars and Holdens relation when she introduces Skylar to a released jailbird, Charles Ferry.

This is really a farce not believable at all. I would even go so far as to call this Woody Allen’s experimental film, but he has always been open to cutting edge technology in his films. He just doesn’t make it all about it or obvious. he is more subtle with it. Which is one of the reasons I admire Woody Allen films . Though when it comes to his films it is undoubtly his voice telling the stories with his fingerprints all over the filmmaking. He is not afraid to tweak his style and try different styles and subjects when it comes to his films. Most are alike but then there are some that are one of a kind and don’t really fit with the rest. The only similarity is the language and who made them.

Woody Allen didn’t tell anyone this was a musical until after they had all signed their contracts.

This is more like a woody Allen fantasy film. It’s still experimental it is very light more like a updated homage to the musicals of the 30’s. This was done during the 90’s so it is a large ensemble cast. Who each have their part to play to complete the puzzle. Some more then others. This was when stars really wanted to work with him. The films weren’t hits but they made enough money at the time. His films tended to garner not only critical accolades, but so did the casts. Showing not only range but a lot of the actors mostly actresses would end up garnering Oscar nominations if not wins.

This film was more of his biggest star cast. (like a Robert Altman film) The film also had had a cliché people at the time were getting tired of, Him always pairing himself romantically with way younger women. Who totally fall for him. Which worked when he was close to the leading ladies age and was more the nerd getting the pretty girl. Now he is more clearly in his 60’sand seducing Julia Roberts at the peak of her popularity is more than a little far-fetched.

The film is magical. The musical scenes are well orchestrated and acrobatic. Hankering back to the classic musicals. Very impressive the love stories not so much, But it is so sugary sweet that you can’t help but enjoy yourself.

The whole cast sings except for Drew Barrymore who is obviously dubbed. Though the whole cast is great the person who steals all of his scenes in a too brief appearance is Tim Roth as a criminal on parole who ends up becoming a romantic rival for Barrymore’s character. Though he is a total comedic character through and through. He is the most memorable person at least to me in the whole film. The Kramer to the films Seinfeld.

This is only the second Woody Allen film I had seen at the time in a theater. I really wanted to see this film because it was a musical plus I had a crush on Drew Barrymore and liked Natalie Portman. (Who I am shocked never again or so far has not starred in a woody Allen film though she seems like she would be perfectly cast in one.)

While not his best film. I would say it is his happiest film. The show stopping scene is the musical performance is France. That is a homage to the Marx brothers as usual he makes New York, Italy and France look luminous and perfect positively cosmopolitan and warm. The film is definitely worth a look.

GRADE: B