SMALL TIME CROOKS (2000) *** He's made so many absolute masterpieces that when the time comes to judge (aaargh!) Woody Allen's incredible career this film won't get much consideration. Which is ok because he's done better, but it also kind of sad because it's a very fine film. It's a nod and a wink to all the nattering nabobs (like myself) who like his "old, funny stuff." It has plenty of insight, but very little is personal. Is it too late to start demanding more darkness and torment? Tracey Ullman is a natural for Woody, they flow together like streams in the forest, you see where every plot turn is going reels ahead of time but so many lives are just like that. It's fun, smart, insightful; there's not really anything wrong with such a movie but the throwaway lines are the funniest, especially the series on the men downstairs drilling holes through the wall so they can expand the dougnut shoppe into a tea room, and the line about Reagan.
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