Analyze This

Director: Harold Ramis

Overview

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.

Product Details

Release Date:	11/09/2010
UPC:	0883929155293
Original Release:	1999
Rating:	R
Source:	Warner Home Video
Region Code:	1
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	1:44:00
Sales rank:	5,945

Special Features

Closed Caption; ; Commentaries by Billy Crystal, Robert De Niro, and Director/Cowriter Harold Ramis; Documentary "Gag" Reel Segment

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Billy Crystal	Dr. Ben Sobel
Robert De Niro	Paul Vitti
Lisa Kudrow	Laura MacNamara
Joe Viterelli	Jelly
Chazz Palminteri	Primo Sindone
Bill Macy	Isaac Sobel
Leo Rossi	Carlo Mangano
Kyle Sabihy	Michael Sobel
Rebecca Schull	Dorothy Sobel
Molly Shannon	Caroline
Max Casella	Nicky Shivers
Pat Cooper	Salvatore Masiello
Richard C. Castellano	Jimmy,Actor,Jimmy Boots
Elizabeth Bracco	Marie Vitti
Joe Rigano	Manetta,Actor
Kyle Sahiby	Actor
Kresimir Novakovic	Actor,Actor
Bart Tangredi	Actor
Frank Pietrangolare	Tuna
Aasif Mandvi	Dr. Shulman
Neil Pepe	Carl
Tony Darrow	Moony
Michael Haley	Producer
Ian Marioles	Soundman
Donnamarie Recco	Sheila
Vince Cecere	Tino
Jimmie Ray Weeks	FBI Agent Steadman
Bob Cea	FBI Agent Ricci
Luce Ennis	Belinda MacNamara
Gina Gallagher	Theresa Vitti
Dave Corey	Miami Hall Guard
Fred Workman	Justice of the Peace
Daniel W. Barringer	Dream Sequence Gunman
Drew Eliot	Priest at Funeral
Michael Harkins	Paretti's Family
Howard Shore	Composer

Technical Credits

Harold Ramis

Kenneth Lonergan

Peter Tolan

Harold Ramis	Screenwriter
Kenneth Lonergan	Screenwriter
Peter Tolan	Screenwriter
Bruce Berman	Executive Producer
Chris Brigham	Executive Producer
Ellen Chenoweth	Casting
Billy Crystal	Executive Producer
Laura Rosenthal	Casting,Producer
Paula Weinstein	Producer
Mark Bero	Special Effects
Bill Anagnos	Stunts
Randle Akerson	Sound Effects
Len Amato	Producer
Randall Balsmeyer	Special Effects
Michael J. Benavente	Sound Effects
David Boulton	Sound Effects
David Burk	Sound Effects
Les Lazarowitz	Sound/Sound Designer

Scene Index

Disc #1 -- Analyze This
1. Family History (Credits) [3:40]
2. It's a Hit [1:49]
3. Reflections on Caroline [2:06]
4. Relatively Painless [1:04]
5. Close Encounter [2:08]
6. Getting Hostile [1:47]
7. Not a Panic Attack [3:52]
8. Office Visit [6:30]
9. What Primo Wants [1:35]
10. Not Happening [2:41]
11. Gangster Under Stress [6:18]
12. Not Treating Him [1:26]
13. All Wet [1:45]
14. Greek to Him [3:00]
15. The Captain And Black Milk [2:28]
16. Guy Stuff [1:25]
17. Wedding Day Victims [4:02]
18. Closure with Primo [2:22]
19. Shrink Under Stress [4:25]
20. The Godfather Dream [4:03]
21. Mutual Analysis [3:11]
22. Truth Over Pasta [4:14]
23. Reaching Out [2:33]
24. A Sorry State [4:15]
25. Bang-Bang! [3:05]
26. Her Bucking Bronco [1:33]
27. There Goes the Groom [3:43]
28. A Vague Plan [2:03]
29. Blending In [2:48]
30. The Consigliere [3:31]
31. Problem with Aggression [4:07]
32. Bullet Taken [3:20]
33. Live Music [2:14]
34. End Credits [4:00]

Menu

Disc #1 -- Analyze This
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Special Features
Cast & Crew
Robert De Niro - Paul Vitti
Billy Crystal - Ben Sobol
Lisa Kudrow - Laura MacNamara
Joseph Viterelli - Jelly
Chazz Palminteri - Sindone
Kennth Lonergan - Story
Peter Tolan - Story
Peter Tolan - Screenplay
Harold Ramis - Screenplay
Kenneth Lonergan - Screenplay
Paula Weinstein - Produced by
Jane Rosenthal - Produced by
Harold Ramis - Directed by
Commentary By Director Harold Ramis
Commentary By Billy Crystal and Robert De Niro
Gag Reel
Theatrical Trailer
Languages
Soundtracks
English
Commentary 1
Commentary 2
Subtitles
English
Subtitles: Off
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Editorial Reviews

Analyze This (1999) had the potential misfortune of hitting the screens shortly after HBO's new series The Sopranos began to explore the pregnant story possibilities in sending a mobster to see a psychiatrist, but the inspired comic pairing of Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal gave the film its own life. Under comedy veteran Harold Ramis's direction, the reluctant engagement of New York psychiatrist Crystal by Noo Yawk mafioso De Niro becomes at once a giddy culture clash between stereotypes and a chance for De Niro to strut his comedic stuff. Sending up his considerable history of screen mobsters and psychos, De Niro moves from emotionally anguished to therapeutically chastened to professionally menacing, all with razor-sharp timing. Crystal's restrained yet terrified responses and nightmares about The Godfather make him the ideal straight man for De Niro and another sign of what the media images of the Mob have wrought. Although Ramis keeps it all moving crisply, a subplot involving Chazz Palminteri and the obligatory final turn towards sentiment dilute the clever set-up. The hilarious first half, however, fostered enough good will with critics and audiences to turn Analyze This into a welcome hit for Crystal, De Niro and Ramis.