For the love of the film


This happens to be one of my favorite films. I liked Melanie as the woman detective. She was harsh, shallow and totally full of herself before she becomes involved in this murder case.

Since I am not Jewish, I do not know their rites and rituals, and although the director himself considered this one of his worst films, I cannot imagine that he purposely would mislead us in showing us what this type of Jew is like.

I see that many compare it to Witness, and altho I am not involved in the Amish Community, we do have a very large Amish and Mennonite community within 30 miles of us. In that movie I find really only the nudity scene, and one other scene objectionable.

People are different. All Jews are not the same, neither are all Amish. It is the singulars of all communities they make the movie about--not the mundane.

Another person commented that this took place over a couple of days. I cannot see how this did not take place over several weeks. One way to asses the time sequence is the fact that her partner is nearly dead in the beginning and then eventually in rehab. And as she says "I'm tired of playing this game." -- with the cards--as in--we have been doing this for weeks--can we not do something else.

I liked it when Melanie's character said to her partner "We are in lust"--to I am seeking "my bershert>". This to me shows growth of character. This took a while--not a couple of days.

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It's also one of my favourite movies. I agree that it takes place over a longer period than a few days.

Also, there's lots more to say in favour of Melanie Griffith. I may not be an expert on female NYC cops, but I find her portrayal believable. She comes across as everyday with a touch of rebelliousness and perhaps carelessness, w.r.t. her own danger. But the latter is in line with the background theme that she's at a crossroads personally (at movie begin, anyway); what sense is there in living?

Her very averageness helps transport the amazement one feels with her, when she is submerged in the then very different everyday of the Chassidic enclave she is trying to protect. What an achievement of this movie to show us this other, often smirked-at, world in such a "normal" and attractive light! And in this world, officer Eden is a "warrior" woman, who impresses the community in time with her near-angelic qualities (from their point of view). She in turn learns respect for certain conservative values like loyalty and truthfulness.

In the end, though, it's not her corset to wear. This melodramatic ("non-happy") ending is, in my eyes, perfectly cast with Griffith and Thal as the unfulfilled would-be-lovers. Can you imagine policewoman Jamie Lee Curtis handling these scenes?

Director Lumet is an old-time great (and he had a lot of help here from actors, camera team and cutters), and, to me, this is his best movie. Cross my heart!

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I have always had a soft spot in my heart for this movie... dunno why. I know most say it's crap, but I like it. I guess one of the reasons is the reveal of the Chassidic Jewish culture "you guys really care about each other," to quote MG. While Melanie isn't one of my favorite actresses, she does a good job here, but Eric Thal & the supporting cast are the most believeable.
I dunno, maybe it's the atmosphere, or the unfulfillable love story, or the script, but I like this movie. :)

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I've always favored this movie too. I also believe, as rondine suggests, that it's the love story with an unhappy ending that sticks in my heart.

So much time and so little to do. Wait a minute. Strike that. Reverse it.

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Awww... I'm glad I've found other people who like this movie. I love it and watch it over and over again. Not a Melanie Griffith fan generally, but I like her in this. I am Jewish but not Chasidic and enjoy the way Jewish values and rituals are presented.

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I also like this movie, just watched it last night.

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It certainly wasn't one of his best, however it doesn't aim as high as Night Falls on Manhattan, now THAT movie was awful. This one I have easier to forgive. I think this movie was never meant to be compared to Serpico, Q and A or his other great copmovies.

"Night falls on Manhattan" on the other hand tried to get into the same league and ended up being garbage. This one was fun if you don't take it too seriously.

Ed Powers = Woody Allen

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As a tour into that peculiar Yiddish culture, the film does hold a certain interest and also the human interactions within that peculiar culture are fairly intelligently depicted, but that just about covers the positive aspects on show in this number. Unlike Peter Weir´s similarly themed Witness, ASAS lacks the earlier film´s beautifully poetic tone and great cinematography (never Lumet´s strong suit, anyway) and also presents a murder case to tie things together that is so awfully underdeveloped as to barely register at all. No bad film necessarily in and of itself; more like just a total non-event. An opportunity badly missed.



"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

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I found it inspirational. I loved it from a cultural standpoint and also liked the tender presentation of the unconsummated love story. The love was based on mutual respect, not on hormones or Melanie's luscious figure.

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