Analyze This (1999)
-
68% of critics liked it
(101 reviews) -
57% of users liked it
(206,368 ratings)
In the same year that a hit cable television series, The Sopranos, successfully mined the same premise, this comedy about a mobster seeking advice from a psychiatrist was a box office winner for director Harold Ramis. Billy Crystal stars as Dr. Ben Sobel, a New York shrink who's becoming a… More In the same year that a hit cable television series, The Sopranos, successfully mined the same premise, this comedy about a mobster seeking advice from a psychiatrist was a box office winner for director Harold Ramis. Billy Crystal stars as Dr. Ben Sobel, a New York shrink who's becoming a little bored with his upscale but neurotic clientele. Into Sobel's practice comes a guy with legitimate problems, Mafia kingpin Paul Viti (Robert DeNiro), a godfather who is being reduced to tears and panic attacks by stress and his guilt over his beloved father's assassination. Intimidated but also fascinated by Viti, Dr. Sobel becomes frustrated when his mob boss patient becomes a full-time occupation, as Viti summons the psychiatrist for his professional help at all hours and in all places, even including the doctor's Florida wedding to TV reporter Laura MacNamara (Lisa Kudrow). In the meantime, a power struggle is brewing with Viti's long-time rival Primo Sidone (Chazz Palminteri), but Viti begins employing the feel-good self-help jargon and techniques he's learned from Dr. Sobel to keep his enemy off balance. Just as the therapist and his powerful patient are making breakthroughs, the FBI attempts to persuade Sobel that Viti is going to have him murdered, leading to a nearly lethal misunderstanding. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Directed By
- Harold Ramis
- Written By
- Ken Lonergan, Phoef Sutton, Peter Tolan, Harold Ramis
- Genres
- Comedy
- In Theaters
- Mar 5, 1999 Wide
- On DVD
- Aug 17, 1999
- Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
Critic Reviews
-
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer
[De Niro and Crystal] would seem to be perfectly cast as this oddest of odd couples, but something has gone wrong with the comic chemistry.
-
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
The comedy is heavy and the use of the stars lazy and cliched...
-
Jeff Millar, Houston Chronicle
What De Niro ends up doing is simply burlesquing himself, much as he would do if he were guest-hosting Saturday Night Live.
-
Peter Rainer, New York Magazine
What we learn -- yet again -- is that potentially terrific comedies are often whacked by filmmakers who feel the need to spread a little therapy themselves.
-
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
Moments and lines are so perfect that they linger in the mind.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Also available on
UltraViolet Retailers
Other Retailers
Subscription Services
Cast
-
Robert De Niro
as Paul Vitti
-
Billy Crystal
as Ben Sobel
-
Lisa Kudrow
as Laura MacNamara
-
Joe Viterelli
as Jelly
-
Chazz Palminteri
as Primo Sindone
-
Bill Macy
as Isaac Sobel
-
Leo Rossi
as Carlo Mangano
-
Kyle Sabihy
as Michael Sobel
-
Rebecca Schull
as Dorothy Sobel
-
Molly Shannon
as Caroline
-
Max Casella
as Nicky Shivers
-
Pat Cooper
as Salvatore Masiello
-
Richard C. Castellano
as Jimmy
-
Jimmie Ray Weeks
as Agent Steadman
-
Elizabeth Bracco
as Marie Vitti
-
Tony Darrow
as Moony
-
Donnamarie Recco
as Sheila
-
Michael Harkins
as Paretti's Family
- Dave Corey
- Bart Tangredi
- Frank Pietrangolare
- Joseph Rigano
- Kresimir Novakovic
- Michael Straka
- Tony Bennett


