Woody Allen - A discussion

[Max Payne]

Okay, was thinking about this for a while and thought I would guage people's opinions of him.

Ive been into all area's of film for the past 30 years or so, but everytime I even see Woody Allen in a film, I stay away from it and if its on the telly, I change the channel straight away.

The look of him for some reason just annoys me. I mean, I have seen 0, NONE of his films, or at least anything with him in it anyway.

Now i understand from so much press/people that he is a "genius/great" filmmaker and I was hoping someone could recommend his films to me and give me reasons to watch them?

Any type of comments welcome..

[unique]

i wouldn't call myself a woody allen fan at all, but if i look at my collection i have a few of his movies on dvd, and some of my favorite movies just happen to be by him. i'm not a fan of the "typical" woody allen self depreciating style, but he has a lot of different types of movies

one of his most recent, matchpoint (misleading title) is a really great movie, and if you watched it without knowing it was by WA you wouldn't believe someone if they told you afterwards

you have the old stuff like what's new pussycat, and the first casino royale movie, and banana's, which are decent comedies

and then the sex comedies, everything you wanted to know about sex but were afraid to ask, and a midsummer nights sex comedy

and then you have sleeper, one of my faves, where he ends up in the future, and zelig, which uses old footage ala forrest gump, but many years before

being into music in a big way, i really liked sweet and lowdown, starring sean penn as the second most famous jazz guitarist in the world, a fictional biopic

and then you have the classic annie hall, and manhatten, the "typical" woody allen films, of which i've never seen, altho being a fam of kevin smith and seeing him rate AH highly, i'll have to get round to seeing soon. i have it on dvd, just never been in the mood to watch it. he did a movie called anything else with jason biggs (the pie ****er) and christina ricci in 2003 which i think people were saying was like an updated version of annie hall.

so whilst people think of WA as doing those "unfunny" too smart for thier own good type comedies, he has a fairly varied output, and probably something for everyone

[Max Payne]

Thanks for the detailed reply. You seem to have watched alot of his films. So if you were to recommend one for me to start off watching, which one would you recommend?

[unique]

Originally Posted by Max Payne

Thanks for the detailed reply. You seem to have watched alot of his films. So if you were to recommend one for me to start off watching, which one would you recommend?

say in this order

1) matchpoint
2) sleeper
3) zelig
4) annie hall
5) everything you wanted to know about sex
6) midsummers sex comedy
7) sweet and lowdown

apart from annie hall which i haven't seen, i wouldn't say any of the above would be what you would perhaps think of if you were to think of a WA flick, if you don't know his flicks that is

if you don't like those movies then you probably won't like the rest. if you don't like 5 you wont like 6, as similar themes. if you don't like 2 and 3, you might like 7, you could hate six of the above but still love 1 or 2 of them. i'd say it's worth checking all that lot out. you can get the dvds for £5 pretty easily, maybe less. if you wanted 3 different titles to check, get matchpoint, sleeper and annie hall

[cutmymilk]

I became a Woody Allen fan in 2003 when I went to the cinema to watch Anything Else and absolutely LOVED it. Reading reviews, it was said that it was one of the weaker Allen film I had to get me some more!

I now have 25 Allen DVDs and have seen around 30 of his films. Absolute genius, aside from the odd couple I havent enjoyed.

Personally, I would start with Annie Hall. Beat Star Wars to the Best Film oscar and it is in my top 2 films ever (along with Die Hard, so Im no film snob!) Theres a superb boxset out that I got for around £25. A great introduction, but if you don't want to go for that my picks would be Manhattan and Everything You Wanted To Know About Sex... along with AH.

I do agree that Match Point is a superb film for modern Woody, as is Melinda and Melinda.

That should get you started but can I recommend after that lot (if you happen to like!) Small Time Crooks as a nice little comic caper!

The reason to love the films is that they're made over a short amount of time with a low budget, and are mostly dialogue driven (if you don't like this you will hate the films). No special effects, just classy filmmaking.

Enjoy!

[elicash73]

I really think Crimes and Misdemeanors is his most accomplished film and a great place to start because it successfuly combines Woody Allen as a comic actor and Woody Allen as a serious director.

If you arent into slapstick comedy it would be best to avoid earlier films like Take the Money and Run, Bananas, Sleeper and Everything you wanted to know....

[Max Payne]

Thanks to you both - some great advice and I will take some of the steps. Ive always wanted to see Annie Hall because of its listing on many people's top 30 movies etc.

[the_pauley]

I own every film he ever made on DVD, and as was stated above this is an incredibly varied catalogue.

If I had to choose only one to rescue from a fire, it would be Annie Hall, hands down. Cinematic perfection.

Of his latter-day output Deconstructing Harry has become a very firm favourite, but make sure you go for the Region 1 version as the Region 2 is not avaialable in widescreen, only 4:3.

[Pincho Paxton]

I like Sleeper, but it's a bit outdated now. I'm not sure if I can enjoy Woody Allen films anymore...just the odd clips.

[gm0x45]

Allen was the first director to put the woman at the first central caracter, turning men into derisions. The woman was smarter, more intelligent, more mature, and the guys were just pathetic. In pure contrast of the way women were treated in front of John Wayne or Bogart. So I will watch Manhattan and Annie Hall, thinking that those movies are dedicated for women, not men.

One of Allen's movie even feature Stallone in it, in an hilarous scene.

Allen used young actresses and always work out a scene where he can kiss her.

If you've got too much time on your hands, read some Dostoevsky and Tolstoi books, and then watch Love and Death.

[the_pauley]

Allen was the first director to put the woman at the first central caracter, turning men into derisions. The woman was smarter, more intelligent, more mature, and the guys were just pathetic. In pure contrast of the way women were treated in front of John Wayne or Bogart. So I will watch Manhattan and Annie Hall, thinking that those movies are dedicated for women, not men.

Don't agree with you on that one mate. There were plenty of movies many years before Annie Hall that featured women in the central roles playing strong, dominant characters. Almost anything starring Bette Davis, Joan Crawford or Barbara Stanwyck would fit the bill, as would many 1940's film noir entries, where strong, devious women playing men for suckers was virtually the norm. Annie Hall is doubtlessly "dedicated" to Diane Keaton and to her and Allen's former relationship, but surely Manhattan is Woody's love letter to the city, not to any woman?

On the subject of cameos, has anyone spotted a pre-Alien Sigourney Weaver in one of Allen's movies?

Agree with you about Love and Death - a familiarity with War and Peace in particular will make this movie even funnier. Likewise an accquaintance with the movies of Bergman and Fellini will help you get a few more chuckles out of Woody Allen's movies.

[Rob3959]

As a dedicated Woody fan a few tips for the unwary: Woody (IMO) is indeed a comic genius but has always really wanted to be Ingmar Bergman so his films tend to fall into three distinct groups:

The Comedy Films: (Known wryly a 'his good early films) of which the best are Sleeper, Annie Hall, Love and Death and the much under rated Mighty Aphrodite

The Thoughtful Comedy Films: the best being Manhattan, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Hannah and Her Sisters (and I have a soft spot for Shadows and Fog)

and

The Serious Films: Which, I have to be honest, tend to come off as Ingmar Bergman lite - particularly Interiors. However, Another Woman is worth a watch and as others have said Matchpoint is very good indeed.

Personally I love 'em all but if you do not rest assured - it does not make you a bad person. (I continue to struggle with my "Why Don't I Understand Why Everyone Loves Scorcese" complex)

[Rob3959]

Originally Posted by the_pauley

On the subject of cameos, has anyone spotted a pre-Alien Sigourney Weaver in one of Allen's movies?

Yep - Annie Hall - She's one of Woodys dates I believe. Can you find a pre Basic instinct Sharon Stone in 'Stardust Memories'?

[the_pauley]

Another Woman

I'd definitely put Annie Hall at the beginning of the "thoughtful comedies" section though. This was a radical shift in style from the preceeding "funny" movies such as Sleeper, EYAWTKAS(BWATA) and Love and Death.

Yep, spotted Sharon Stone last time I watched this movie. I love the scene in Stardust Memories where Woody has a Close Encounter and the aliens berate him for his "serious" movies, telling him "We like the early funny ones." Genius!