Zelig [Blu-ray]

This is Woody at his most inventive. Beginning in the prohibition era and filmed documentary-style largely in black and white, it tells the fictional tale of Leonard Zelig (Allen), a humble clerk with a troubled childhood, who grows into a man who can change his physical appearance to match that of those around him. If he's among Chinese people, he becomes Chinese; if he's among Scotsmen, he grows red whiskers and sports a kilt. When among professional people, he talks convincingly as though he were one of them, though he's unable to accommodate any changes to emulate women, midgets or chickens. In the company of his psychiatrist, he pretends to be one himself, claiming that he's treating two sets of Siamese twins for split personalities, and is therefore getting paid eight times ...Zelig eventually finds himself in hospital, being experimented upon by numerous doctors who try to find the physical cause of his peculiar talent. The general public are interviewed, expressing their theories, including `I think it's something he picked up from eating Mexican food.' Eventually, he is put under the care of psychiatrist Eudora Fletcher (Mia Farrow) and she determines that he has developed chameleon abilities due to his desire to fit in. Their relationship blossoms into love, but the road to the altar becomes strewn with enormous and comical obstacles. Eventually overcoming his problems, he rises, falls and rises again to become a Lindbergh-like figure.Although made before the advent of CGI and other techniques, Woody seamlessly blends genuine footage of the era with his own material and for added realism begins and ends the film with contemporary mock contributions from great American intellectuals, including Susan Sontag and Saul Bellow. They comment philosophically on Zelig's relevance in American history and how his story reflects the underlying psychology of the nation.Woody captures the spirit of the zany twenties and thirties extremely well in this, while successfully blending his own style of humour into the proceedings. Technically impressive, too.

Nothing Woody has done has come close to this. Genuinely funny.

A spoof documentary by Woody Allen about a fictional character who has the curious ability to take on the appearance and traits of the people around him in order to become “liked”; described as a “human chameleon”, the film charts his strange odyssey through the 20s and 30s with some amusing and effective doctored newsreel footage and straight-faced interviews by “witnesses” and cultural commentators.It's still a very amusing film with a tragicomic storyline; in context it was fairly innovative – some of it's elements have been used in other film since it was made - but it's a well-realised and thoughtful little venture.As with all of Allen's films on DVD there are no extras; English subtitles are available if required.

Great film! Just trying to complete my Woody Allen blu ray collection! I'm replacing films I've already bought on vhs or laserdisc. Very disappointed in the poor quality of the packaging...just a disc, no insert and a poor quality case which arrived broken. Still, that makes 32 of his films I've got in blu ray..."Play it again, Sam" is the one I really want!

Woody Allen's humour comes across well here, the footage of Zelig in various situations is funny, & the narrator's descriptions are great. Good comedy by Allen. However if you don't tune-in to Allen's humour . you may not like it (my wife hated it).

Uninteresting and boring story. Not worthy of Woody Allan.

At just an hour and twenty minutes this is a very short film indeed. Woody has such a brilliant and wacky mind that he’s always capable of coming up with something quite different, though the inevitable ‘relationship’ again creeps in here with one of his regulars. You all know the storyline and how it’s put together and presented, so I’ll skip that.I found this film 'interesting' rather than engrossing or overly humorous. It comes across as very dated now, yes, I know we’re taken back to the jazz age and that B & W grainy film, but for me it was all rather tame and I can’t recall one laugh out loud moment - for me. I do appreciate that 30 years ago this may have been seen as cutting edge, quite a daring and clever piece. Sorry, but it’s a decent enough three stars, as it did little for me overall, other than add another ‘WA’ flick to those that I’ve watched - and have to say, thoroughly enjoyed in the main.I know a lot of 'Woodyites' really rated this film (it scored fairly well on RT, IMDb and grossed well), but my preference is for the likes of ‘ Broadway Danny Rose, which followed this film, ’ and the wonderful 'Midnight in Paris,' to mention but a few.It’s just a personal choice of course, and few of us would have the same top ten ‘Woody’ films now would we?

A mockumentary featuring Woody Allen as the human chameleon. Did the author of Forrest Gump (the book appeared two years later than this movie) find inspiration in the way Zelig gets involved in important events in history?