Your thoughts on Woody Allen
 

I now he's fallen from favour a little........but his movies have always been my favorites. Why spend millions on special effects when great dialogue can substitute. Always funny, accurate, and cliche free viewing.

With the exception of perhaps Spike Lee,Woody Allen is the only American director I can think of who consistently and prolifically creates personal films,some of very high quality,and some just curiosities.The reason he can keep doing this,despite his films usually doing poorly at the box office,is that he makes them fairly cheaply,and they are considered prestige products by his studio,oftentimes garnering Oscar nominations,etc.
I think Ive seen close to everyone of his films,and often my favorite ones are the same ones the critics have ignored.Anything Else is a good example.A lot of his more serious films mine the same territory(fate being without conscience,and often without consequences for those that do terrible things).But Anything Else takes a different approach,and uses two very fine young actors to good effect.
I think one of the biggest downturns in his film output began when Diane Keaton was replaced as leading lady in favor of Mia Farrow.

My favorites include:
Love And Death(1975)
Sleeper(1973)
Annie Hall(1977)
Manhattan(1979)
Stardust Memories(1980)
Purple Rose Of Cairo(1985)
Hannah And Her Sisters(1986)
Crimes and Misdemeanors(1989)
Husbands and Wives(1993)
Bullets Over Broadway(1995)
Mighty Aphrodite(1996)
Anything Else(2004?)
Sorry,I love talking about Woody Allen!
Jimmy

I also liked Deconstructing Harry. Kirstie Ally acted so well in that. I named my Daughter Hannah after H+her sisters. What about a Midsomers' Night Sex Comedy. I also loved that. (as well as those you've mentioned).

Merry Christmas 2Duals!

Midsummers Night Sex Comedy is one of the most beautifully shot films Ive ever seen.Almost every shot looks like a 19th century painting.
Merry Christmas to you,too!

Jimmy

Sleeper. Great movie. Is it coming true?

Play It Again Sam and Take The Money and Run are two of my all time fav movies....oh, and All You Wanted to Know About Sex...

I missed the last film. The last one I saw was "Match Point" which was a pretty good film, but disturbing.
"The Curse Of The Jade Scorpion" was hysterical. "Annie Hall" was my favorite.

"Sleeper"-Hilarious. Loved the Volkswagen, the Huge Giant Tit, all the neurotic Noo Yawkish asides....

His early movies were funny - through Annie Hall. Of his later movies...I watched them until I found out he was a pedophile hunting at home. At this point I wouldn't care if he turned out the best movie in history, I wouldn't pay a dime to see it.

http://judicial-inc.biz/woody_allen_with_mia_farrow.htm

I really didn't know too much about Woody Allen growing up - missed most of his movies. But some friends dragged me to see "Hannah and her Sisters," and I cannot remember a more boring experience at a movie theater.

Later, when I saw some of his earlier works, they definitely had some funny bits in them. But I am not from NYC, and I fail to follow the "NYC is the center of all things" kind of humor that only people living in the Five Burroughs seem to get. Nothing against NYC, but since I'm not from there, I don't see it as the center of the universe, and the fact that everyone who lives in Manhattan is in therapy doesn't strike as funny, only sad and pathetic.

I don't watch his movies. Nothing personal, they just don't interest me.

Same here. "Everything about Sex" was funny, but other than that........:boring:

Funny guy. :yes:
I would not hesitate to let him walk my dog or borrow my Kenwood - but not date my daughter. :nono:

I liked "What's Up Tiger Lily", I used to drag people down to the old Clark Theater in the Loop when it would show there once in awhile.

But the guy's a creep, he won't get a nickel of mine now. Same with Polanski who has a penchant for anal sex with young girls; he doesn't get my money either.

Except for "Radio Days", grossly overrated.
Tom

Good.

Then bad.

And then good again.

Yep. Loved "Radio Days", too. GREAT music ! Woody's a genius, but his work is kinda uneven, & he CERTAINLY has uhh, "Issues", to be polite.

Although I have tremendous respect for his work, they are not the movies that I ever liked or made me want to see again. Don't know why, just never enjoyed them.

Sleeper was great.

My all time favor line: "There is nothing wrong with you that can't be cured with a couple of Prozac and a polo mallet". - Manhattan Murder Mystery

How about in Sleeper when the two doctors from the future are talking about Allen's character's 20th Century health food ideas----"What, no deep fat? No hot fudge?"

Or when a large Black women in Bananas identifies herself on the witness stand as J. Edgar Hoover.

"My mustache wiil eat your beard."

"Name three presidents."

"I'd say you were sadistic, bestialic and necrophiliac but that would be beating a dead horse"

The guy is funny.

Believe this falls under the heading of, "she said, he said". WA has spent no time in jail for all of what Mia has said, and it was thoroughly investigated. Aren't they still married?

I like most of his early stuff and will almost always watch his films when they come on TV.

Lots of good stuff in them.

Remember Gene Wilder drinking the Woolite in the alley.......:lmao:

Soon-Yi the adopted daughter of his partner of 10 years (Mia Farrow) was of the age of consent (freshman in college) when the affair between the two was outed (allegations were that it began when she was in high school). Illegal no. Unethical, yes! No crime but just about as slimey as you can get.
There was enough evidence of molestation of his children that he was barred from unsupervised visits with his biological son and adopted daughter. The bar for civil issues is lower than the bar for legal ones but evidence is still required. Would you let Woody baby-sit your children?

Well....she will be 34 in February, so she can make that decision herself. :D But, I'm guessing she agrees with you. Though, I'll probably not ask.

An interesting movie to watch is "Wild Man Blues." It's a documentary about the Dixieland Jazz Band that Woody plays in, touring Europe. Soon-Yi accompanies Woody and it really gives an insight into their relationship and his neuroses. Also great concert footage of the band.

Manhattan = good.

I used to like his movies quite a bit, but ever since he hooked up with Soon Yi, I can't get past the fact the he is a sad old man now.

I didn't get his early movies.....But then I was way young when they first came out. Now I find them hilarious.

It's a good thing no one has actually marketed the "Orgazmatron". I'd be the first in line. Then I would become totally anti-social.

Dave

Young Asian women, Woody Allen, whodathunkit.....

http://www.8weekly.nl/images/art/4577.jpg

He's funny but he IS a freak. His "association" with the young asian girl has been public knowledge for a long time. Personally I find it rather sick that he'd actually marry his ex-wifes step daughter. :thumbsdn:You don't even want to know the stuff that is NOT public knowledge! (Shudder at the thought!)

I cant remember the name of the movie but he said "my family lived above a bowling ally and it was the bowling ally that complained about the noise!"
He is a favorite and ok it is a little messed up about the yong asian girl but who dosent think it's cool for Hugh Hefner.If a rich man has a young sweetie on his arm hes cool but a poor old guy is a perv right? I really dont care what people do as long as both are concenting ADULTS.and no children are involved.

Get the flame throwers and fire extinguishers.. I just fail to see his humor.I think he is so lame.and boring:thumbsdn:.:thumbsdn:

i always found him to be hystarical.self loathing jewish humor. he is one of he few comedic genius of our time. the soon-yi incident was more media frenzy that anything else. also,at that time,all men going through a divorce were "molesting" their kids. it was a popular accusation back in those days.quirky and abnormal,yet brilliant. zelig and broadway danny rose are masterpieces. he never made a bad film and even his worst is better than most!i am a fan of his work. as for the man,i probably couldn t take all the neuroses. like george costanza,i wouldn t want him around too much.irritating in real life,amusing on the screen.

What you propose; it would be perfectly acceptable for a grown child to have sexual relations with their parent if they were both consenting adults. Or did I read you incorrectly and there would be limits on sexual relations between individuals?

I use to enjoy his movies, but no more. I can not get past feeling that is wife is his daughter.

I think the man is without shame.

when did soon-yi become his daughter? she was mia farrow s adopted daughter with andre previn. i think we need to get the facts straight first. maybe something lecherouis at best, but certainly not incestiuos. woody should make his films in the mountains of west virginia or kentucky. kidding!!!!

read sampson 159 above:she dosent even look like him abit,thank God for that.
He is not her Dad.and I really dont care they do in Hollyweird.
but his movies are funny.
I just try to lead a clean life myself and let others make there own choices.

His personal life is definetely questionable, and he definitely has some 'splaining to do about Soon-Yi.

That said, Crimes and Misdemeanors is a flat out masterpiece.

Correct. Soon-Yi was the adopted daughter of his partner Mia Farrow - a partner of 10 YEARS - so he helped raise Soon-Yi from a child. Woody Allen is a sick piece of work.

This is what you said and this is what I am responding to. What you propose; it would be perfectly acceptable for a grown child to have sexual relations with their parent if they were both consenting adults. Or did I read you incorrectly and there would be limits on sexual relations between individuals? I'm not talking about Woody Allen if you can't figure that one out.

You reaffirm it above. If 2 people are consenting adults, they can do what they want. Is that not what you mean?

I love great, personal filmmaking (Bergman, Ozu).
I love intellectual comedy. But I never have been able to enjoy anything by Allen.
One of those puzzling things: the man can write; the films look beautiful and yet his on-screen character irritates me to the point where I just want to yell "Shut Up Already!"

I'm sure a psychiatrist could explain it to me...:scratch2:

Best,
C.