Crimes & Misdemeanors — Films That Suggest There is No God

Gist: A married man has to contend with a spurned mistress, who threatens to destroy his life.

Supposed Godlessness: Like his cinematic idol, Bergman, Woody Allen likes to explore the philosophy of faith on occasion, but never more effectively than in this film, which offers a well-proportioned argument as to our Godless nature. Simply put, there is no cosmic (or karmic) justice in the world, ergo, there can be no one watching over us and making things right.

Counter Argument: Allen’s film neatly offers its own counterproposal to its thesis; the second major plot thread involves Allen himself as a documentary director who attempts unsuccessfully to woo the assistant of a pompous man he’s been forced to make a film about. Near the end, these two main protagonists meet and share a discussion about the nature of crime and guilt. Not surprisingly, they share completely different world views about their fate.

Conclusion: Allen is smart enough to play this one right down the middle. We might believe one thing or another, but no one knows for sure if your actions are being judged by a higher power.