Woody Allen is one of the most well-known directors of dark yet at times comedic films in the history of cinema. The subject of this film, Crimes and Misdemeanors, is one that he has analyzed in many of his pictures. The main issue to look at is that of morality. Everything we see in the film is based on the character’s choices and what they believe is right or wrong. The meaning that they give to their actions is all that matters, and if no one finds out that they have done anything wrong, is it wrong? Allen heightens the circumstances by having Judah decide to have Dolores murdered in order that his reputation be kept in tact. Before her life is taken he sees only in the balance the loss of his family and career which he has been building for decades. But once the act of murder is committed the true weight of Judah’s actions are felt. They press down on him and he is left to decide whether to buckle under the crushing truth or hold himself up with the strength of his lies.
Allen borrows this concept of guilt from Crime and Punishment, the exception being that he doesn’t have a confession at the end of the film, thus Judah carries on believing he is meant to thrive. It is also important to note the key religious aspects in the film and how Allen presents them. The first is Professor Levy, the subject of Cliff’s documentary who speaks of God is such a moving and provoking way that Halley wants to have him be part of her show. But Professor Levy ultimately takes his life. Here is a man who believes in God and knows the weight of taking his own life and yet still chooses to do so. What example this provokes for society is at the center of what Allen is trying to say. That is, if the religious and pious people in our communities don’t hold sacred the Law, does that mean that I can be exempt as well?
Secondly, we see Ben throughout the film. He is a Rabbi and a friend of Judah’s. He’s also blind. Allen throws this touch in to further discuss the idea that if the sin isn’t seen, can a man go on living a full life without punishment? This exact conversation is the one Judah imagines when he goes to his childhood home. There are those who believe that God sees all and will punish the wicked and those who believe that as long as it isn’t seen by any other person and the man can manage living with what he has done then it’s fine. Allen zones in on Old Testament Law because if one committed a crime they couldn’t simply repent and be forgiven which is possible after Jesus, but with their belief system they had to navigate their way to a solution and that was usually through their interpretation of the Law rather than the truth of what is right and wrong. All of this is heavy subject matter that Allen explores from parallel stories of unfaithfulness in marriage. One that has ended in murder and another that never got off the ground.
