Analyze This is a 1999 gangster comedy film directed by Harold Ramis, who co-wrote the screenplay with playwright Kenneth Lonergan and Peter Tolan. The film stars Robert De Niro as a mafioso and Billy Crystal as his psychiatrist. A sequel, Analyze That, was released in 2002.
Plot
Mob boss Paul Vitti narrates a brief history of the Mafia: in the wake of Albert Anastasia's death, the dispute over who among Vito Genovese, Carlo Gambino and Joe Bananas will ascend to mob supremacy results in the Apalachin Meeting in upstate New York. The meeting is raided by the FBI, and the Mafia does not call a summit again until the present day.
Vitti and his consigliere Dominic are discussing the upcoming meeting and the Mafia's present-day problems. However, just as Dominic warns Vitti to look out for Primo Sindone (an up and coming Mafia Don who wants to be capo di tutti capi), gunmen drive past and kill Dominic.>
Psychiatrist Ben Sobel is facing his own problems: his son from his first marriage listens to his sessions, his patients are not challenging enough, and his wedding to Laura MacNamara in Miami is coming soon. Sobel unknowingly rear-ends a car belonging to Vitti and the trunk pops open, revealing a man bound and gagged inside, which Sobel and his son do not notice because they are arguing. Jelly, one of Vitti's made men, takes the blame, but Sobel gives Jelly his business card in case he changes his mind about compensation.
During a meeting with his crew, Vitti suffers a panic attack and tells Jelly that he needs to see a psychiatrist, but it has to be kept a secret and Jelly recommends Sobel. Vitti visits Sobel, claiming his friend needs therapy. Sobel impresses Vitti enough to want to see him whenever necessary. Sobel goes to Miami for his wedding. Vitti, Jelly and the crew follow. Vitti explains he has been having a hard time (after failing to keep an erection during sex with his mistress) and Sobel suggests the source of the problem might be stress.
The next day Vitti has another panic attack and requests to see Sobel. Vitti explains his bleak history with his father to Sobel, who thinks this might have something to do with Vitti's problems. The wedding is interrupted when an assassin kills one of Vitti's thugs. Sobel confronts Vitti and argues with him until he becomes angry. Sobel suggests he resolves his anger issue by calling Primo Sindone and telling him how he feels. Vitti phones Primo and starts by telling him how he feels but ends up threatening to kill him.
Sobel and his family return to New York, where they find a fountain in their garden, a gift from Vitti. The FBI arrive and request Sobel inform on Vitti, but he refuses. He changes his mind when the FBI play an altered tape in which Vitti apparently reveals his intention to kill Sobel (Vitti had actually said he would kill anyone who harmed Sobel). Sobel wears a wire to his next meeting with Vitti, but throws it away when he learns that Vitti saw his father murdered when he was a child. Sobel thinks he can help Vitti, but Vitti, informed that Sobel was working with the FBI, takes him to a secluded place to kill him. Sobel and Vitti get into an argument, and Vitti cries when reminded of his father's murder. Just as this occurs, two hitmen sent by Sindone arrive to kill Vitti, but Jelly kills them both as Vitti is crying. Vitti apologizes for nearly killing Sobel, and the two reconcile.
The day of the meeting arrives, but Vitti has another crisis. Jelly interrupts Sobel's wedding, requesting Sobel attend the meeting as Vitti's consigliere. Sobel is initially terrified, but his self-confidence grows to the point that he begins to cheek Primo until Primo finally pulls a gun on him. Vitti arrives, ordering Primo to stand down and announcing he knows a traitor in his own family killed Dominic, but will not seek revenge and instead retire from the Mafia. Once outside, another gun battle ensues between Vitti and Primo's men, during which Sobel inadvertently takes a bullet intended for Vitti. The FBI intervenes, the mobsters are arrested, and Sobel is taken to the hospital.
Sobel visits Vitti in prison and Vitti thanks Sobel for his help. At home, Sobel dances with his new wife as Tony Bennett (as a favor to Vitti) serenades them.
Cast
- Robert De Niro as Paul Vitti
- Billy Crystal as Ben Sobel M.D.
- Lisa Kudrow as Laura MacNamara Sobel
- Chazz Palminteri as Primo Sindone
- Joe Viterelli as Jelly
- Kyle Sabihy as Michael Sobel
- Pat Cooper as Sal Masiello
- Joe Rigano as Manetta
- Leo Rossi as Carlo Mangano
- Max Casella as Nicky Shivers
- Richard C. Castellano as Jimmy
- Pasquale Cajano as Frankie Zello
- Gene Ruffini as Joe Baldassare
- Judith Kahan as Elaine Felton
- Tony Bennett as Himself
- DonnaMarie Recco as Shiela
- Bill Macy as Dr. Isaac Sobel
- Rebecca Schull as Dorothy Sobel
- Aasif Mandvi as Dr. Shulman
Reception
The film grossed $177 million in total. It scored a 69% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 102 reviews, with an average rating of 6.4/10. The critical consensus states that "Analyze This is a satisfying comedy with great performances by De Niro and Crystal."
References
External links
- Analyze This at the Internet Movie Database
- Analyze This at Box Office Mojo
- Analyze This at Rotten Tomatoes
- Analyze This at the TCM Movie Database
- Analyze This at AllMovie