Zelig

I will admit first off that I'm not a fan of Woody Allen in general. Many of his films seem to be the same with Allen as the main character making humorous observations about everything around him. However, this film was the most unique that he's made, so I decided to get it and am very happy with the result.The story is told in documentary fashion switching from modern interviews to "old" film stock from the 1920's and 1930's. The subject of the "mockumentary" is a man named Leonard Zelig (Allen) who comes to the public attention as a "human chameleon". Basically, he adopts characteristics of whomever he is around. If he's around a Chinese person, he becomes Chinese. Around a fat person, his girth expands. In a room full of doctors, he becomes a doctor. As doctors and scientists scratch their heads regarding the "Ultimate Conformist", one female doctor named Eudora Fletcher (played by Mia Farrow) is determined to get down to the bottom of his condition and maybe even cure him. Ultimately, she falls in love with the medical oddity that is Zelig, and their relationship is explored in the documentary.As stated, this has to be one of the most creative films Allen made. The process of taking film and "aging" it to appear to have been made in the 20's is extremely clever. Allen also makes use of older actual film stock and photos and manages to insert himself into the picture. In today's digital world, that is very easy to do. However, in 1983, when this film was released, it wasn't so simple. I'm not exactly sure how it was done, but it was done well. It's also enjoyable for a number of visual puns and the humor expressed by the narrator and other interviewed subjects. It's nice that not all of the jokes are delivered by Allen for a change. Allen is good for his deadpan delivery, but it's also just as funny when other characters in the film deliver the lines as well.The Blu-Ray is well made and has really good picture and sound. Most of the shots in the film were intentionally aged, so the quality isn't supposed to be perfect. However, the Blu-Ray version still looks really good. Not much in the way of special features aside from commentary and a trailer for the film. Still, it's a good package.Highly recommended for Woody Allen fans and if you only get one Woody Allen movie, this should be the one.

I have never seen quite anything like it. When Woody Allen's 1983 film "Zelig" was released it was dubbed a "mockumentary". "Zelig" stars Woody Allen as a curious little man called Leonard Zelig who seems to turn up with surprising or unaccountable frequency in a variety of settings. Zelig possesses the uncanny ability to look and act like whoever happens to be around him. One minute he is seen looking like a white major league baseball player and the next time you spot him he might resemble a black jazz musicion. Zelig was a media sensation during The Roaring '20s and was dubbed "the human chameleon". When Leonard Zelig first appears on the scene a young psychologist named Eudora Fletcher (Mia Farrow) takes an interest in his case and vows to help him in any way she can. She quickly determines her patient is only yearning for the approval of others which is why he physically changes to fit in with those around him. It is a bizarre condition the likes of which has been seen before but Dr. Fletcher honestly believes that she can help cure him of this malady. The trials and tribulations of Leonard Zelig and Dr. Eudora Fletcher are chronicled in the film. What makes this film so unique is that it was shot in the style of those primitive 1920's black and white newsreels that were so popular back in the day. Allen, who also wrote and directed this film, cleverly weaves stock footage from the period into the story. Patrick Horgan who narrates the "mockumentary" is just perfect and greatly adds to the ambiance of this film. Meanwhile, Allen adds contemporary commentary (filmed in color circa 1983 when the film was made) on all of these events from a number of the leading intellectuals of the day including such notables as Susan Sonntag, Irving Howe and Saul Bellow. A vintage Woody Allen technique!With all of the hoopla surrounding Leonard Zelig there is really only one person who truly cares about him. Zelig was under observation by Dr. Fletcher when his half-sister Ruth and her shady husband Martin Geist show up to claim custody of Zelig. Ruth and Martin want control of Zelig for one reason only....to exploit him for financial gain. They turn Leonard into a carnival attraction, a novelty, a freak if you will. They not only charge admission to see him but offer all kinds of merchandise to boot. There are Zelig dolls, clocks, toys and books. He truly is a worldwide phenomenon. Zelig's popularity even spawns a dance craze known as "The Chameleon". With no around to love him Leonard's condition continues to deteriorate. Eventually, he vanishes from the scene and Dr. Fletcher is frantic to find him. Some time later she spots him in a newsreel standing right behind of all people Adolf Hitler looking like an SS officer. She rushes to Germany and manages to bring him home for treatment. Eventually the two of them fall in love and are married. Still, there are more peaks and valleys to come.So just how did Woody Allen go about making such an innovative film? "I wrote the whole script first," explains the filmmaker, "then I looked at millions of feet of documentary and I changed my script with the new discoveries. And this went on for a couple of years". Allen also went out of his way to find old cameras, lenses and sound equipment from the 1920's to help give his film the authentic look and feel he was after. The film also features several original new tunes recorded in the 1920's style including "Chameleon Days", "You May Be Six People But I Love You", "Leonard The Lizard" and "Reptile Eyes". Very clever indeed!I viewed "Zelig" for the first time in a good many years the other day and found it to be every bit as engaging, charming and witty as I remembered it to be. This is one of the most unique films you will ever see and ranks at or near the top of my favorite Woody Allen movies. If you have never seen "Zelig" I urge you to give it a look-see. You are in for a real treat. Very highly recommended!

Not quite as funny as I remember as the one conceit is stretched a little thin. Still an incredible technical achievement alongside a satisfyingly comedic one.

La compre para un regalo y llegó en buenas condiciones. Tardo 2 semanas en llegar a CDMX.

Ho visto il film ai tempi della sua uscita nelle sale e l’avevo apprezzato molto. In questi ultimi tempi, l’ho cercato spesso verificando che la versione italiana non era semplice da trovare. Una strana curiosità per un capolavoro come questo. Per fortuna il venditore Federico_ ha risolto positivamente questa mia ricerca. Il Dvd è usato ma perfetto. Il film non ha bisogno della mia recensione. Chi non l’ha visto si affretti a cercarlo: perderlo è una mancanza imperdonabile!

Woody Allen à son absolu meilleur, drôle et attendrissant, une comédie sociale d'une finesse remarquable, avec le ton particulier du grand Woody, indispensable !

Como la mayoría de las pelis de Allen, preciosa. Digna de verse.

Another Woody Allen gem. The premise is very interesting and the film itself is well shot (in black & white) and of course well acted with ALL the Woody wit you've come to love and enjoy!Greg B.