If movies reflect their directors state of mind, then Woody Allen must have been in a very good place when he made this movie
Hannah and her sisters is a beautiful movie that makes me feel so content and peeaceful by the end. The pacing is sublime, locations are exquisite and the ensemble cast fits together like the proverbial glove.
Woody Allen movies are loquacious to say they least. This movie has some wonderful dialogue with not a swear word, violence or nudity anywhere. In many ways it's an old fashioned movie with a happy ending.
We follow the trials and downfall of Hannah and her sisters. We watch as they slowly and painfully turn adversity into a kind of triumph that we would all like to achieve in our lives as they put the pieces of life's jigsaw puzzle back together.
Hannah and her sisters is Allens most optimistic movie. His neuroses with death is, as with all his earlier works, prevalent in this. But the difference is that for the first time, he finds resolution to his fears. We all have these same fears and uncertainties. Many of us never resolve them. Maybe that's why we have the movies.
I could watch this movie every week. Finally I have it on bluray. The picture is good, if a little saturated in places. But who cares when a movie is this good.
I wouldn't call this movie a comedy. It's a snapshot of life. And as such, it's very beautiful and satisfying.

Best yet transfer and enhancement of Hannah and Her Sisters to Bluray with good strong colours, clear picture and strong sound bass particularly with the musical numbers between and during scenes. One of Woody Allens most successful and popular films from the mid 80s. Story centeres around three very different sisters, their relationships, trysts, family and friend woes and tthe meaning of love and life. Outstanding cast Mia Farrow, Barbara Hershey, Diane Weist, Max Von Sydow, Carrie Fisher, Daniel Stern, Sam Waterson and starring Michael Caine & Woody Allen . Bluray features a Theatrical trailer only with a menu to scenes.

Woody Allen's 1986 film Hannah and Her Sisters is, for me, very much a mixed bag. I was tempted to rate it as three star only, but, on the strength of the performances from Dianne Wiest, Barbara Hershey and, predictably I guess, Allen himself, it just edges into four star territory.

The film provides another example of Allen's take on life, as mixed between tragedy and comedy - albeit without a clear demarcation in all cases. But, for me, Allen achieves this mix much more effectively in one of his film classics, Crimes and Misdemeanours, than he does here.

As has become Allen's trademark, there are a number of narrative threads running through the film. Actress Hannah (solidly played by Mia Farrow) and her two sisters, Lee (Barbara Hershey, in easily her best film role for me) and Holly (played by the much underrated Dianne Wiest) provide the central storylines. Hannah's husband Elliot (Michael Caine) becomes obsessed by Lee, who herself is suffering marriage ructions with her artist husband Frederick (played with admirable gravity by Max von Sydow), and the two embark on a passionate affair. Meantime, (ex-)drug addict Holly is struggling to find her path in life, rapidly moving between the various men in her life and numerous career paths, much to the dismay of sister Hannah. The other main storyline features Hannah's ex-husband, TV producer Mickey Sachs (played by Allen), who is also beginning to despair at life and obsessing that he has a terminal medical condition. Following some hilarious diagnosis scenes with various doctors, Mickey is given the all clear, at which point he decides he needs to find the true meaning of life, by means of religious conversion to catholicism (or maybe even Hare Krishna), much to the disgust of his Jewish parents.

For me, the film is at its best when focusing on Allen's Mickey character and on the superb performance by Dianne Wiest as Holly, a performance for which she deservedly won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar. It is much less successful when featuring the Lee/Elliot relationship. The reason for this is that, for me, Michael Caine is hopelessly miscast, and just not convincing, as Elliot and certainly not deserving of winning the Best Supporting Actor Oscar as he did. On the other hand, both Hershey and (to a slightly lesser extent) Mia Farrow are both very good in their playing opposite Caine.

Other notable performances are provided by Julie Kavner (as Mickey's co-worker Gail), Carrie Fisher (as April, Holly's best friend, though competitor in love) and Maureen O'Sullivan (Mia Farrow's real life mother) and Lloyd Nolan as Hannah's mother and father, Norma and Evan (respectively). Also watch out for John Turturro in a cameo role in one of his very early film appearances.

The film also has a typically high quality soundtrack mixing jazz (Cole Porter, Dick Hyman, Count Basie, Dave Brubeck) and classical (JS Bach, Puccini). Also, at the end of the film, it is notable that Mickey's faith in life is restored following his cinema visit to see The Marx Brothers film Duck Soup. The film actually ends on a positive note as Elliot is reconciled with Hannah, and Mickey and (previous girlfriend, now wife) Holly announce that Holly is pregnant.

Not my top ranking Woody Allen film, but a must see film nevertheless.

Saw this back in the 1980s -- seemed great at the time. However, watching it all these years later, it seems vacuous, narcissistic and morally suspect.

One of my Woody Allen favourites. Great script and performances. Michael Caine got on Oscar and rightly so (supporting actor). Sharp, funny, and typically angst-ridden, this taps into the American urban 1980s zeitgeist. One of Allen's best.

This film by Woody Allen is typical of his work and most enjoyable. Michael Caine gives a very interesting and sympathetic performance as the husband who strays in middle age. The 'girls' are all splendid Woody Allen gets such good performances from his actors and must be so interesting to work with, reccomended .

Beautifully acted, It is the story of sisters living in New York and their relationships. If you like Woody Allan the that is an additional bonus as he both acted and directed with the sharpness associated with him. Very enjoyable film.

Considered by the plaudits to one of Woody Allen's most successful films, you are reminded that although it may seem to the Allen detractors that he only has one joke and a paranoiac one at that. Allen and that joke appears here again, but this really is a thoroughly good and well structured piece of work. At times you can be convinced that it has a classic almost Shakespearian structure. The three female leads are wonderful and Michael Caine deserves his Bafta for best supporting actor. Certainly a 4* Woody Allen film.