Movies About Purim

From Woody Allen, starring Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts, Carol Kane
Rated PG

Annie Hall, directed by Woody Allen and starring Allen and Diane Keaton, is a romantic comedy telling the story of two people from different worlds that fall in love. Set in the 1970s New York City, the film follows Alvy Singer (Allen) and Annie Hall (Keaton) as their relationship progresses from a chance meeting to a long-term commitment. Throughout the course of the story, Alvy and Annie deal with the pain of past relationships, the complications of modern romance, and the strains of living in two very different worlds. Along the way, the two learn valuable lessons about themselves and each other and ultimately decide to give their relationship a real chance.

From Woody Allen, starring Martin Landau, Woody Allen, Bill Bernstein, Claire Bloom
Rated PG-13

Crimes and Misdemeanors is a 1989 American black comedy-drama film written and directed by Woody Allen. The film stars Martin Landau, Anjelica Huston, Martin Short, Mia Farrow, Alan Alda, and Woody Allen. The film follows two interweaving storylines. In the first, Judah Rosenthal (Landau), a wealthy and respected New York optometrist, has been having an affair with Dolores Paley (Huston). When she threatens to expose him, he decides to have her killed, but is wracked with guilt. In the second storyline, television producer Cliff Stern (Allen) is a struggling documentary filmmaker looking for meaning in life. His brother-in-law, Lester (Alda), is a successful but morally bankrupt television producer who is dating Cliff's ex-girlfriend, Halley Reed (Farrow). The film explores themes of moral dilemmas and justice, as well as the nature of faith and family. At the end, Judah's guilt is not punished and Cliff discovers his own path towards happiness and fulfillment.

From Directors: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, starring John Turturro, John Goodman, Judy Davis, Michael Lerner
Rated R

Barton Fink (1991) is a dark comedy-drama film written, produced, and directed by the Coen brothers. It stars John Turturro in the title role, as a young New York playwright who is hired to write a movie script in Hollywood in the 1940s. As he struggles with the creative process, Barton becomes increasingly frustrated, and his growing paranoia leads him down a dark path as he battles his writer's block. Throughout his journey, Barton is confronted with a strange assortment of characters, including a mysterious neighbor, a mysterious woman, and a colorful assortment of Hollywood-types. The film was a critical success and is now considered a modern classic, having earned three Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. The Coens' unique blend of dark comedy and drama make Barton Fink a unique and captivating watch.

From Mel Brooks, starring Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, Dick Shawn, Kenneth Mars
Rated PG

The Producers (1967) is a classic Mel Brooks comedy about a down-on-his-luck Broadway producer, Max Bialystock, who teams up with an anxiety-ridden accountant, Leo Bloom, to produce the worst musical of all time in order to make a fortune. They plan to raise more money than they need, put on a terrible show, and keep the rest of the money for themselves. However, their scheme backfires as the show becomes a huge success. With the help of the sexy Swedish secretary Ulla, they manage to dodge the police and their angry investors, and the trio ultimately finds success and love in the end.

From Pawel Pawlikowski, starring Agata Kulesza, Agata Trzebuchowska, Dawid Ogrodnik, Jerzy Trela
Rated PG-13

From Michel Gondry, starring Noam Chomsky, Michel Gondry, Richard Feynman, Michèle Oshima
Rated Not Rated

From Directors: Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner, Simon Wells, starring Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sandra Bullock
Rated PG

From Noah Baumbach, starring Adam Sandler, Grace Van Patten, Dustin Hoffman, Elizabeth Marvel
Rated TV-MA

From Jonathan Kesselman, starring Adam Goldberg, Andy Dick, Judy Greer, Mario Van Peebles
Rated R

From Ridley Scott, starring Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton, Ben Kingsley, Sigourney Weaver
Rated PG-13

From Salvador Litvak, starring Lesley Ann Warren, Michael Lerner, Shiri Appleby, Jack Klugman
Rated R

From Seth Kearsley, starring Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, Jackie Sandler, Austin Stout
Rated PG-13