Analyze This (1999)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Harold Ramis

Writers (WGA):

Kenneth Lonergan (story) and
Peter Tolan (story) ...

Release Date:

5 March 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

New York's most powerful gangster is about to get in touch with his feelings. YOU try telling him his 50 minutes are up.

Plot:

A comedy about a psychiatrist whose number one-patient is an insecure mob boss.

Plot Keywords:

Mafia | Psychiatrist | Wedding | Mafia Boss | Gun

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 4 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Robert De Niro	...	Paul Vitti
Billy Crystal	...	Dr. Ben Sobel
Lisa Kudrow	...	Laura MacNamara Sobel
Chazz Palminteri	...	Primo Sidone
Kresimir Novakovic	...	'50s Gangster
Bart Tangredi	...	Young Vitti Sr.
Michael Straka	...	Young Dominic Manetta
Joseph Rigano	...	Dominic Manetta (as Joe Rigano)
Joe Viterelli	...	Jelly
Richard C. Castellano	...	Jimmy Boots (as Richard Castellano)
Molly Shannon	...	Caroline
Max Casella	...	Nicky Shivers
Frank Pietrangolare	...	Tuna
Kyle Sabihy	...	Michael Sobel
Bill Macy	...	Dr. Isaac Sobel

MPAA:

Rated R for language, a scene of sexuality and some violence.

Runtime:

103 min | Argentina:109 min

Country:

USA | Australia

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Australia:M (re-rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Belgium:KT | Canada:14A | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 (w) | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:PG (cut) | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Taiwan:GP | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #36441) | Iceland:12 | Philippines:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Bal Harbour, Florida, USA

Company:

Village Roadshow Pictures

Trivia:

Robert De Niro picked out the shirt collars used by Vitti and his crew.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Jelly and then the Doctor say 'consiglieri' meaning the doctor's would-be position in Vitti's family. However, the correct form would be 'consigliere' that is an advisor in Italian. The word 'consiglieri' is the plural from 'consigliere'.

Quotes:

Dr. Ben Sobel: Doc, if you gotta talk, try to be vague. Can you do that?
Dr. Ben Sobel: I'm a psychiatrist. Believe me, I can be vague.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Dialogue: An Interview with Screenwriter Peter Tolan (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

Angelina (The Waitress At The Pizzeria)

De Niro And Crystal Are Good. Yes...Yes They ARE

Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal square off in `Analyze This,' a satirical look at `family' life from director Harold Ramis. After witnessing a hit on a colleague outside a restaurant (and narrowly escaping the same fate himself, thanks to the need of a toothpick), mob boss Paul Vitti (De Niro) finds himself overcome with panic attacks. He sweats, cries at the drop of a hat, and can't breathe. With a vital meeting only two weeks away, he realizes he needs help, quickly, and sends one of his men, Jelly (Joe Viterelli), in search of a `shrink.' Coincidentally, Jelly has just been rear-ended in traffic by Dr. Ben Sobol (Crystal), who just happens to be a psychiatrist. And Jelly has his business card. Unable to discourage the adamant Vitti, Sobol acquiesces and agrees to treat him exclusively for two weeks, though he is less than enthusiastic about being pressed into the service of a well-known criminal; even less enthused, however, is his fiancee, Laura (Lisa Kudrow). The ensuing repartee between Vitti and Sobol, served up with snappy dialogue and impeccable timing, takes this comedy, artistically and otherwise, to the highest level. De Niro and Crystal are absolutely outstanding, infusing their characters with every possible nuance, while successfully avoiding the stereotypes that lesser actors may have relied upon here. The two play so well off of one another that the humor virtually seems to explode spontaneously. All the while, the likable Kudrow more than holds her own with her co-stars, proving, unequivocally, that there is so much more to her than just being a great `Friend.' Credit must go to Ramis, as well, for keeping things on an even keel throughout. There's funny scenes aplenty in this film, especially the ones in which the loyal but somewhat thick-headed thug, Jelly, or the winsome Laura take part. The most memorable, though, is one in which Dr. Sobol dreams that he is Don Vito Corleone in the movie `The Godfather,' when he is shot while buying some fruit. This is parody at its finest. Written by Ramis, Ken Lonergan and Peter Tolan, and with a supporting cast that includes Chazz Palminteri (Primo), Richard C. Castellano (Jimmy), Kyle Sabihy (Ben's son, Michael) , Molly Shannon (Caroline) and Elizabeth Bracco (Marie Vitti), `Analyze This' will keep you laughing and `doing lines' (`You...you're good, yes, you are...yes, you are!') long after the credits have faded from the screen. I rate this one 10/10.