Analyze This (1999)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Harold Ramis

Writers (WGA):

Kenneth Lonergan (story) and
Peter Tolan (story) ...

Release Date:

5 March 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

New York's most powerful gangster is about to get in touch with his feelings. YOU try telling him his 50 minutes are up.

Plot:

A comedy about a psychiatrist whose number one-patient is an insecure mob boss.

Plot Keywords:

Psychiatrist | Mafia | Wedding | Mafia Boss | FBI

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 4 wins & 5 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Nov. 8

7:00 AM

AMC

Cast

Robert De Niro	...	Paul Vitti
Billy Crystal	...	Dr. Ben Sobel
Lisa Kudrow	...	Laura MacNamara Sobel
Chazz Palminteri	...	Primo Sidone
Kresimir Novakovic	...	'50s Gangster
Bart Tangredi	...	Young Vitti Sr.
Michael Straka	...	Young Dominic Manetta
Joseph Rigano	...	Dominic Manetta (as Joe Rigano)
Joe Viterelli	...	Jelly
Richard C. Castellano	...	Jimmy Boots (as Richard Castellano)
Molly Shannon	...	Caroline
Max Casella	...	Nicky Shivers
Frank Pietrangolare	...	Tuna
Kyle Sabihy	...	Michael Sobel
Bill Macy	...	Dr. Isaac Sobel

MPAA:

Rated R for language, a scene of sexuality and some violence.

Runtime:

103 min | Argentina:109 min

Country:

USA | Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Australia:M (re-rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Belgium:KT | Canada:14A | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 (w) | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:PG (cut) | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Taiwan:GP | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #36441) | Iceland:12 | Philippines:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Bal Harbour, Florida, USA

Company:

Village Roadshow Pictures

Trivia:

The scene towards the end in which all the Mafia bosses meet was filmed twice. The first filming occurred in Queens, New York. After watching the scene, Robert De Niro offered some suggestions, including that Dr. Sobel (Billy Crystal) "really belt" Jelly (Joe Viterelli). So the scene was filmed again, this time in Miami, Florida. In the final cut, the two scenes were merged. The shots of the scene in which a room full of people can be seen were taken in Queens whereas the shots in which Dr. Sobel is talking to Primo Sidone (Chazz Palminteri) and slapping Jelly were shot in Miami. There are only two or three people in the room for the scene that was shot in Miami.

Goofs:

Continuity: The two mermaids in the pool at the back of the bar are shown wearing goggles in some shots but not in others.

Quotes:

Primo: Get a dictionary. Find out what this "closure" thing is. If that's what he's going to hit us with, I want to be ready.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Analize This (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

So Nice (Summer Samba)

Amusing

Overall, I found "Analyze This" a very amusing comedy, well worth seeing. There are a number of laugh-out-loud lines, a screamingly funny parody of "The Godfather", and a well-chosen cast that's very funny. Movie is also very well photographed, and is never boring for an instant.

Some minor objections, though:

(1) Robert DeNiro was funny and believable - except for his crying scenes. These scenes came across as somewhat forced.

(2) Forgotten subplots. There are a couple of subplots - one with Crystal's relationship with his father, encounters with some FBI agents - that are started up, and then dropped and forgotten about. I strongly suspect this version we saw was cut from on originally longer print.