MovieChat Forums > Play It Again, Sam (1972) Discussion > Only Downfall

Only Downfall

posted 14 years ago by jmbwithcats
3 replies | jump to latest

Woody Allen portrays Dick as a man obsessed with his work, who is ultimately so bad for Linda that it makes little sense how Linda loves him, or how he's even good for her. He's only interested in his work the entire film and shows no love or emotion, or interest to Linda the entire film, and yet we're to believe Linda loves him and they're right for each other just going through a hard time?

The movie doesn't get that across at all.

I love this movie, always have, always will, but in the end it doesn't make sense why either Linda or Allen feel they have to call it quits when they're obviously so perfect for each other, and Dick is so wrong for her.

The ending following the Casablanca script is touching and beautiful, being that Casablanca is in my top 5 favorite films of all time, but even that scene comes off a bit off.

Of course Casablanca is far more profound in that there is a threat of war and nazis and camps, so he isn't just saving her love he's saving her life. The dialog of Casablanca is also so classy, so beautiful, understandable why Woody Allen chose it.

In this movie, Allen really does get to play it again.

[–] beatlenut8 12 years ago

YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF WOMEN WHO LOVE MEN AND THE SAME MEN WHO HATE THEM? WHO KNOWS WHY THEY MARRIED. Maybe it was a quick romance and then off to the alter. Linda is an insecure girl and maybe fell into the arms of someone who could financially care for here or the first man to show her interest. Maybe he changed as he rose up the corporate ladder. Or maybe he was like that before and she married him purely to change him

[–] global_global 12 years ago

Is it also possible that Woody Allen's character wanted their marriage to stay together?

They were his crutches. They were there for him during the failure of his own marriage. They were the two people who gave him hope in the redemption of marriage all together. If they couldn't keep it together, all hope would truly be lost for Allan.

[–] jmhow 9 years ago

In the end, he promises to be better, and more like he was when she fell in love with him. It's nice for a married couple to be best friends, but not necessary. And not all couples who are best friends make good marriages.

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