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Zelig

Zelig

Comedy · 1983

Fictional documentary about the life of human chameleon Leonard Zelig, a man who becomes a celebrity in the 1920s due to his ability to look and act like whoever is around him. Clever editing places Zelig in real newsreel footage of Woodrow Wilson, Babe Ruth, and others.

Movie details

Zelig

“You wanted more when it was all over!”

1983 Comedy 1h 19m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.4 / 10

Community rating

Fictional documentary about the life of human chameleon Leonard Zelig, a man who becomes a celebrity in the 1920s due to his ability to look and act like whoever is around him. Clever editing places Zelig in real newsreel footage of Woodrow Wilson, Babe Ruth, and others.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Zelig?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Woody Allen

Written by

Woody Allen

Woody Allen

Woody Allen

Leonard Zelig

Mia Farrow

Mia Farrow

Dr. Eudora Nesbitt Fletcher

P

Patrick Horgan

The Narrator (voice)

John Buckwalter

John Buckwalter

Dr. Sindell

M

Marvin Chatinover

Glandular Diagnosis Doctor

S

Stanley Swerdlow

Mexican Food Doctor

P

Paul Nevens

Dr. Birsky

Court is in session

Put Zelig on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Sentimental Softie

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.