One Man's Movie Review: Interiors

In an effort to balance my harsh critiques and biting sarcasm, I feel it necessary to present positive things as well. Thus, I turn my attention to an old Woody Allen movie, Interiors (1978). It is not a funny movie, nor is it a quick, up-tempo movie. It is slow, deliberate, and emotionally intense. Unfortunately, it came after the success of Annie Hall and Manhattan, and was considered unwatchable by many critics; it was subsequently lost to the dustbins of history. However, I give this movie two thumbs up and feel it is a necessary and important piece in his career. Dramatically better than his 80's dramas, but lacking the comedic bite that made the audience feel better about the tragic outcomes of many of his characters. Nothing is resolved (and I will not spoil anything of the movie).

It is a patient movie that really is a character study revealing the true depths of sadness, depression, and negative affect surrounding one particular family, but really addresses the general malaise found underneath the surface of most families. The three daughters reflect three different coping stategies for the harsh realities of familial life and for the way people reconcile the process of growing up and becoming adults like their parents. Our parents' failures reflect our own. Indeed, Allen gives us the most powerful window into the human condition in Interiors because he holds nothing back. Choosing a large, nearly empty house on Long Island speaks volumes to the emptiness of external appearances. For the characters, that house was filled with good and bad memories, but its exterior had not survived the elements. One can imagine how the one character whose exterior was vibrant and intense was treated by the director and his characters. If you do not like slow movies, sad movies, or movies that require some attention...don't watch it. Otherwise, watch an underrated masterpiece.