Quite possibly Woody Allen's masterpiece.

Easily one of Allen's best movies. The faux documentary format is practically seamless especially with the use of cameras from the 1920s.

Woody Allen makes a fascinating mockumentary about him playing someone iconic filmed and shot with artificial black-and-white footage and scripted interviews They called him a phenomenon of the 1920s A man who could become anyone he met during the Jazz Age Some found him fascinating others a triple threat affecting other races and worker's and religious communities Leon Zelig had a talent for mimicry ingratiating himself with every person from society No one could find him but he catches the eye of Eudora Fletcher, a psychiatrist believing he needs serious cognitive analysis Their relationship evolves outside of medical research Zelig's psychological condition might be the source of his odd behavior This is one of the shortest works by the talented director Yet it's still amusing, thought-provoking about the work of psychiatry Quite the mediation on American society and individuality Several people exist self effacing themselves much like Allen as this faux sensation

"He was, of course, very amusing. But at the same time touched a nerve in people, perhaps in a way that they would prefer not to be touched." Though he wrote it for one of his characters, that's an oddly apt description of Woody Allen himself. Allen discards most of the neurotic intellectual persona that he used to such acclaim on his other work in order to create one of the most successful faux-documentaries that had been made to date. Using bluescreen technology, Allen and longtime cinematography collaborator Gordon Willis got very creative with the techniques that could convincingly edit old newsreel footage in the pre-digital era. With an eye towards lampooning the dry nature and even the practical design of traditional documentaries, the script gives plenty of short-form comedy to get the quick laughs. But as usual, there's also some creative subtext mixed in, as Zelig serves as a way for Allen to explore his own nervousness and social coping mechanisms, just taken to the extreme. Zelig is definitely dated on the race jokes, which might make some people turn it off early, but for the world before Christopher Guest and This is Spinal Tap, the film is groundbreaking in the development of mockumentaries. Not as emotionally involving or consistent as some of Allen's other comedies, but definitely a creative departure featuring a lot of solid gags. (3.5/5)

Yes, a masterpiece. The entire premise of the movie is wildly original, even coming from WOODY ALLEN who continually cranks out one interesting film after another to this day. The label of mock-umentary just doesn't do justice to the uniqueness of this film. ALLEN and his amazingly talented staff created a movie that no other director could have made nor even thought of doing. Some of the humor is rather modern like the forward references to self-gratification during the psychiatrist scenes with MIA FARROW. But mostly, it's filled with humor from another time and place which we'll never return. To me, one of the wonderful aspects of this is the period music dispersed throughout with joyful admiration. We are lucky that ALLEN has continued to use music from the early part of the 20th century. I think no other director has so consistently had such a reverence for this wonderful music. Perhaps no other director has such a strong knowledge of it either. That WOODY ALLEN normally portrays himself as a nebbishy character in many of his own movies works so well in this movie. A more aggressive person who becomes a chameleon would not have worked as well at all. I am glad that MIA FARROW was still associated with him when he made this film, I think no other modern actress could have pulled this off as well as she did. She has that timeless look that is appealing but has a far-off feeling. The flavor of the period-looking cinematography and photography is part of the genius of the implementation here. It is so right on the money. The flickering of projectors, the out-of-focus look to so man scenes shot today meld amazingly well with the contrived shots. THINK ABOUT THIS - this is years before CGI took over Hollywood...years before FORREST GUMP and countless of other knock-offs have proliferated in movies. Gee whiz, there is CGI in so many movies these days. I watched a DVD of a recent movie recently which used special effects in the most unexpected, unlikely and unnecessary parts you'd be surprised. Yes, ZELIG is a masterpiece and I only feel sorry for those who cannot see the astounding piece of cinema this is.

Zelig is a brilliant look at identity in a time of mass media, with particular resonance to actors. On the musical side, Bruce Cockburn expresses it equally well in "Pacing the Cage" "I've proven who I am so many times The magnetic strip's worn thin And each time I was someone else And everyone was taken in."

This mockumemtary shows that Woody Allen is one of best American comedian of all time. Hilarious till end!!. 9/10

Woddy Allen at his very best - in a hilarious mockumentary about the extreme human chameleon Zelig. Allen is brilliant in the main role, and Mia Farrow is also perfect as the psychiatrist doing research on and trying to cure Zelig's exceptional ability to change character, which is a result of an intense identity disorder. The story is basically set to the 1920's, and this together with the superb old style filmography and special film and photo effects, takes the total up to a unique dimension of realism that almost makes one forget that it's only satire. Technically very realistic and most impressive for being made in the early 1980's. Also the actors playing the bi-characters are all doing such a credible job, without trying to be funny, which makes it all the more comical. In a myriad of priceless humoristic elements, there's also a general but subtle segment of serious psychology, both on the individual and universal human plan. It's so spot on that Charles Chaplin, who even has a small part as himself, would have been absolutely amused.

In Woody Allen's mockumentary Zelig, set during America's Jazz Age, Leonard Zelig (Allen) captures the nation's attention with his ability to become a human chameleon, changing his physical appearance depending on his environment in order to assimilate, conform, and be accepted. Stylistically, the film is unlike anything else found in Allen's expansive oeuvre. Shot to mimic aged film, it is scratchy and shaky and tinny and totally effective. The film itself is funny, insightful, endlessly fascinating, and immensely entertaining. Despite its brief running time, this may be Allen's most wildly ambitious film.

I'll confess to not being a Woody Allen fan but this is absolutely outstanding. Very funny mockumentary, probably wouldn't be made today as someone would claim it is offensive. This is outstandingly well made and a great send up of the 1920s. Just properly brilliant comedy.

Didn't work for me at any level.

One of the most original, well-structured, well-executed, thought-provoking, witty, effortlessly profound and technically impressive films I've ever seen. It's also a sad reminder that the comedic sub-genre, that's Mockumentary, has long been dead after being mocked and insulted. It does have some flaws, though. It drags a bit at some point (definitely not a good sign, especially given its 79-min runtime) and it's bookended with a less-than-subtle delivery of its moral. (8.5/10)

One of Woody Allen's most technically ambitious films this has a large a cult following and often ranks highly in critical assessments of Allen's entire filmography. In concept it is fascinating and it can be seen as a forerunner to films like Forrest Gump (1994) in the conceits that it employs and the comments that it makes on the nature of American society. I did find myself loving parts of the film but where it lost me was in the fact that we spend so much time viewing Zelig through the eyes of the intellectuals that narrate the pseudo documentary and not enough time with the characters at the center of the film. That meant that this was a difficult film to engage with emotionally and it lost something in it's refusal to let us into the character's mind. The shy young man Leonard Zelig, Woody Allen, lied about having read Moby Dick to a group of people as a child and was able to assimilate successfully. From that moment on he was able to fit into any group he met, losing his own identity in the process. He becomes a media sensation as the public are fascinated by him but kind Doctor Eudora Fletcher, Mia Farrow, is eager to take him on as a patient and treat his condition. While treating him the two fall in love and eventually marry but women make unfounded claims against him which bankrupt him and the young couple struggle to survive. The heart of the film should have come from the love story between Zelig and Fletcher who find themselves when they fall in love. Some of the best moments in the film come when Fletcher is simply questioning Zelig and an attraction between them slowly builds as the quiet Fletcher is charmed by Zelig's aggressive pursuit of her. Those who do not appreciate Allen's regular nebbish persona will be pleasantly surprised by his performance here as he is quiet and subdued without the joking of Alvy Singer. I could have used more of Allen in the film though as while there is novelty to hearing Susan Sontag spout absolute trash there should be more than just vague amusement to be drawn from imaginative nature of the film.

The best comedy movie ever made!

A fictional documentary like no other. It's hilarious, innovative and shows off the brilliance of Woody's filmmaking skills.

Zelig aus dem Jahr 1983 von und mit Woody Allen als Regisseur und Haupdarsteller ist eine fiktive Doku in der es um Leonard Zelig geht. Er ist ein ''menschliches Chamäleon'' dass sich perfekt auf sein Gegenüber einstellen kann und somit ein Meister der Anpassung ist. Diese Mockumentary ist humorvoll und traurig. Sie erinnert an vergangene Zeiten. Owohl nur 71 Minuten lang wirkt Zelig langatmig und teils langweilig.

It might be Allen's magnum opus. One word for it: BRILLIANT.

This is one of the funniest and most intelligent films I've ever seen. It's very rare to have those two things together, but this film is incredible and makes it work. Creative, funny and tackles some rather philosophical insights into human nature all at the same time. Well done Woody.

#woodyallenretro Podcast Project Woody perfects his mockumentary skills from take the money and run to a perfect tee with a very interesting and fantastically shot look into this charismatic chameleon character - still holds up to this day and can fool people to even think this was real person... well... not really but great execution

One of the most philosophical, historical, mocking documentary showcasing Woody Allen at the height of his imagination and moral seriousness, thinly and charmingly under the disguise of wit and mockery.