Analyze This (1999)

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

Director:

Harold Ramis

Writers:

Kenneth Lonergan (story), Peter Tolan (story)

Stars:

Robert De Niro, Billy Crystal, Lisa Kudrow

4 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert De Niro	...	Paul Vitti
Billy Crystal	...	Dr. Ben Sobel
Lisa Kudrow	...	Laura MacNamara Sobel
Chazz Palminteri	...	Primo Sidone
Kresh Novakovic	...	'50s Gangster (as Kresimir Novakovic)
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

Storyline

Living in the shadow of his famous psychiatrist father, with multiple issues to deal with while getting ready to remarry, the New York City psychologist, Dr Ben Sobel, has one more problem to take care of, after a fender bender with the powerful mob boss, Paul Vitti. Secretly suffering from intense anxiety attacks that render him incapable of doing what he is best at, the notorious gangster decides to pay the good doctor a visit, hell-bent on resolving his deep-seated issues before the annual meeting of Big Apple's Mafia Dons. Now, Ben has a pressing two-week deadline to come up with an effective solution, as his conflicted but dangerous patient takes no for an answer. Can Ben analyse this?

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Plot Keywords:

sex scene | mafia boss | mob boss | sexual intercourse | mobster | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

The bar with the fish tanks also appears in The Right Stuff (1983).

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Goofs

When Vitti is getting ready for the big meeting he sees in his mirror a television ad that reminds him of his father. Before he sees it the TV faces the audience, then must turn to be seen in the mirror. After Vitti sees it, he sits on his bed to watch the commercial, so the TV must again turn back around toward the audience.

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Quotes

Michael Sobel: Dad has a patient who thinks he shits trout.

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Connections

Referenced in Storage Wars: Breathalyze This (2013)

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Soundtracks

So Nice (Summer Samba)
Written by Marcos Valle and Paulo Sérgio Valle (as Paulo Sergio Valle)
English title by Norman Gimbel
Performed by Billy May and His Orchestra
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under license from EMI Music Special Markets

User Reviews

Good mixture of comedy and crime-action

I was looking forward to seeing ANALYZE THIS for many reasons. One, Billy Crystal is one great and funny comedian. Two, Robert De Niro is the king of crime-action movies. I mean, ever saw THE UNTOUCHABLES? Three, the storyline did seem like a very good idea that had never been done before. And four, I love Lisa Kudrow. I was not disappointed with this movie. There could have been more, but it is surely worth seeing. There were only a few instances that I started to really laugh, but there were plenty of good and funny jokes, as well as some good touches of mobster-like crime.

Ben Sobol (Billy Crystal) is a family psychiatrist who has a son and is engaged to the beautiful Laura MacNamara (Lisa Kudrow). He gets into a car accident with a dim-witted man Jelly (Joe Viterelli), who happens to be the right-hand man to Paul Vitti, (Robert De Niro) the most powerful mobster in New York. This leads to Vitti seeking the help of Sobol. Vitti gets into very emotional moods and anxiety attacks. He refuses to admit it because he doesn't want to show weakness before a big meeting with the heads of the mob group. Sobol must help Vitti realize his problems with his father, as well as try to survive among the gangsters.

The plot is very original and cool, but the unlikely mixture of crime and comedy might leave a stale taste in your mouth. The curse words in this movie can get a little out of hand for a comedy, but that's because of the crime added to it. They did not bother me at all, in fact I thought it was funny and pulled of very well, especially in scenes between Crystal and De Niro.

Billy Crystal and Robert De Niro work great together. Both do very good jobs at their performances, even though De Niro's crying scenes seemed a little fake. The one at the end was getting better, but they still looked forced. The gorgeous Lisa Kudrow, although probably a bit under-played, did a good job too. I also think Joe Viterelli did a good job as the stupid, funny mobster. He certainly looks the part of a mobster, and I think the comic touch in his role was pulled off well.

There were a few plot holes, however, such as the one with Billy Crystal's character having problems with his father. This is, arguably, used to further the plot between De Niro and his father, but it is never resolved for Crystal. There are also a few jokes that didn't work, but the jokes that do work completely make up for them. This movie is different from your average SNL-alumni comedy movie, but it's full of funny jokes and characters and is certainly worth a rent.

Details

Country:

USA Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 March 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Analyze This

Filming Locations:

Bal Harbour, Florida, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$80,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$18,383,507, 7 March 1999

Gross USA:

$106,885,658

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$176,885,658

Company Credits

Production Co:

Village Roadshow Pictures, NPV Entertainment, Baltimore Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1