Woody Allen

Discussion in 'Movies, TV and Music' started by Boogie_Down, Dec 2, 2011.

  1. Boogie_Down

    Boogie_Down Member+

    Jul 7, 2010
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
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    He needs his own thread. Are there any Woody fans on BigSoccer? There was recently a PBS documentary on Woody that covered his entire career. Woody is one of my favorite directors. He's a workhorse that churns out a film a year and has consistently created quality films for decades. His birthday was yesterday so I'm on a Woody kick.

    Here are my ratings of his films:

    Manhattan 1979 9/10
    Vicky Cristina Barcelona 2008 9/10
    Play It Again, Sam 1972 9/10

    Annie Hall 1977 8/10
    Hollywood Ending 2002 8/10
    Small Time Crooks 2000 8/10
    Deconstructing Harry 1997 8/10
    Husbands and Wives 1992 8/10
    Interiors 1978 8/10
    Stardust Memories 1980 8/10
    Shadows and Fog 1991 8/10
    Hannah and Her Sisters 1986 8/10
    Another Woman 1988 8/10
    September 1987 8/10

    Midnight in Paris 2011 7/10
    You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger 2010 7/10
    Whatever Works 2009 7/10
    The Curse of the Jade Scorpion 2001 7/10
    Scoop 2006 7/10
    Mighty Aphrodite 1995 7/10
    Cassandra's Dream 2007 7/10
    Anything Else 2003 7/10
    Sweet and Lowdown 1999 7/10
    Celebrity 1998 7/10
    Manhattan Murder Mystery 1993 7/10
    Crimes and Misdemeanors 1989 7/10
    Radio Days 1987 7/10
    Broadway Danny Rose 1984 7/10
    A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy 1982 7/10
    Bananas 1971 7/10
    Zelig 1983 7/10
    Every Thing You Always Wanted to Know About Sex... 1972 7/10

    Alice 1990 6/10
    Match Point 2005 6/10
    New York Stories 1989 6/10 Rated the entire movie, not just Woody's part.
    Don't Drink the Water 1994 6/10
    Melinda and Melinda 2004 6/10
    The Purple Rose of Cairo 1985 6/10
    Take the Money and Run 1969 6/10
    Love and Death 1975 6/10
    Sleeper 1973 6/10
    What's New **********cat 1965 6/10

    Bullets Over Broadway 1994 5/10
    Everyone Says I Love You 1996 5/10
    What's Up, Tiger Lily? 1966 5/10

    I also enjoyed Wild Man Blues 1997 7/10 a documentary that followed him around Europe while he toured with his jazz band.
     
  2. Crimen y Castigo

    May 18, 2004
    OakTown
    Club:
    Los Angeles
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    What do you call an agnostic child bride?



    Sun-Yi of little faith.




    ThankYouGoodnight!!
     
  3. Boogie_Down

    Boogie_Down Member+

    Jul 7, 2010
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    ba dum tss
     
  4. fischerw

    fischerw Member+

    Sep 15, 2004
    Joplin, MO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    In general, I love his films. I haven't seen nearly as many as Boogie_Down has, however. My viewership of his films has been weighted to the more recent ones-- I really need to go back into his older catalogue.

    I think Match Point was my favorite of his for a long time, but Midnight in Paris is one of the most delightful times I've had going to the movies in a long time. The movie was practically tailor-made for my history-nerd, literature-nerd, hopeless romantic self. I found myself identifying to a great degree with Owen Wilson's character; I'm susceptible to strong feelings of nostalgia for time periods I never lived in.

    I also really liked Manhattan (it hits close to home-- my wife also turned out to be a lesbian! But I didn't then get involved with a 17-year old), Vicky, Cristina, Barcelona, Mighty Aphrodite and Everyone Says I Love You. I've also seen Hannah and Her Sisters, Bananas, Manhattan Murder Mystery, Small Time Crooks and Annie Hall, which were enjoyable but didn't leave as much of an impression. Anything Else had its moments but was overall not very good.

    I must admit, I wasn't so crazy about Annie Hall, even though most regard it as his best film. Part of it may have to do with the fact that I've never really liked Diane Keaton-- I never really get interested in her performance in movies.

    Boogie-- which ones should I see next? I'm thinking The Purple Rose of Cairo is probably pretty great, but it's not available on Netflix streaming.
     
  5. Boogie_Down

    Boogie_Down Member+

    Jul 7, 2010
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The Purple Rose of Cairo is good, it's like the inverse of Midnight in Paris. I would recommend Crimes and Misdemeanors since you enjoyed Match Point so much. It may diminish your views on Match Points since Crimes came first. It's very similar.

    If you are a fan of the movie Casablanca, try to find a copy of Play it Again, Sam and watch it.

    Also, if you like the movie 8 1/2 by Fellini then check out Stardust Memories. It is a movie paying homage to Fellini's 8 1/2 in style and plot.
     
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  6. gildarkevin

    gildarkevin Member

    Aug 26, 2002
    Washington, DC
    Big Woody Allen fan here, though I mostly like the early stuff (I still haven't seen Midnight in Paris).

    I still put Annie Hall as a clear # 1 on my list. I could watch the first 15 or so minutes of that film (through the movie theater lobby/Marshall Mcluhan scene) every day for the rest of my life and not tire of it.

    I'm also a huge fan of Play it Again Sam (especially the blind date scene "it's really more of a shoveling motion").

    But I have some sleeper films that I like -- none of which, ironically, includes Sleeper. I'm a very big fan of:

    Radio Days, especially. Might even nip out Play It Again Sam for my # 2. I think it's the genuine heart (yes, that's a pun of sorts if you've seen the movie and the scene about the baseball player) that pervade the movie, his clear love for the extended Jewish family and the craziness that surrounds it, but also old radio.

    Sweet and Lowdown: great acting by Sean Penn and Samantha Morton and a great soundtrack. Clearly a labor of love for Woody as well, which is where he shines.

    Bananas. A little corny but, really, it had Howard Cosell commentating on the consummation of a marriage. What more do you want?

    Take the Money and Run (see above: re corny, but "What's a Gub" just does it for me every time).

    Match Point. Probably the strongest of his serious movies
     
  7. metroflip73

    metroflip73 Member

    Mar 3, 2000
    NYC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    These are the ones that I saw the whole way through. With Bananas through Annie Hall being my faves, and Match Point/VCB being the 2nd tier.
     
  8. Boogie_Down

    Boogie_Down Member+

    Jul 7, 2010
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I have a few sleepers as well. I can watch Shadows and Fog once a week without tiring of it. I also love to watch A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy. Those two never get old.

    Truth be told though, I can watch any Woody movie at any time and be a happy camper.
     
  9. metroflip73

    metroflip73 Member

    Mar 3, 2000
    NYC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    just saw Midnight in Paris. Thoroughly enjoyed. Now in the 2nd tier with MP, VCB, Love & Death, ETYAWTKAS.
     
  10. Boogie_Down

    Boogie_Down Member+

    Jul 7, 2010
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
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    Nice. Let us know what you think of them.
     
  11. metroflip73

    metroflip73 Member

    Mar 3, 2000
    NYC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Actually saw a documentary about Woody late last nite, it was a 2 parted and they showed only the 1st part. had me laughing at 3am. great stuff...

    "She said I wasn't Leader enough for her...WHO DID SHE WANT, HITLER?"
    :D
     
  12. Excape Goat

    Excape Goat Member+

    Mar 18, 1999
    Club:
    Real Madrid

    I also like Match Point, but the fans did not like it because the movie is un-Woody Allen. I actually rethink things over after seeing it.... every time I see a tennis ball hitting the net.... I realized that life in general is about luck. The ball could go either way.
     
  13. metroflip73

    metroflip73 Member

    Mar 3, 2000
    NYC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Just saw Crimes and Misdemeanors last night. The Martin Landau/Jerry Orbach part had me riveted, and the Woody/Alan Alda part had me laughing heartily every now and then. It has now in my 1st tier of Woody Allen movies. I'd have to say that this is the first film in the Mia Farrow era that I truly liked, considering I prefer the Keaton-Lasser earlier films.

    The scene which cemented my opinion is when Landau visits his family's house in Long Island (I am assuming), and he recalls the conversation at the dinner table with his Aunt and his father. It is a topic that I often think about myself. Landau deserved the Academy nomination for that, truly an amazing job. I may go out and purchase the DVD for it, I liked it so much.

    :)
     
  14. Tom_Heywood

    Tom_Heywood New Member

    Jan 7, 2012
    Club:
    Blackburn Rovers FC
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    Wales
    I can't see much in Woody Allen at all, I just don't get the reverence.
     
  15. Boogie_Down

    Boogie_Down Member+

    Jul 7, 2010
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
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    Well said. Landau did knock it out of the park with that performance. Woody juxaposed humor and drama well in that film.

    I'd like to read other Woody reviews from you.
     
  16. Boogie_Down

    Boogie_Down Member+

    Jul 7, 2010
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    He's definitely not for everybody. I understand if you don't like his work, but why don't you understand the reverence for Woody? Just look at the scope of his work and his work rate. I'm not much for awards but that may be a decent measure of quality and Woody has won numerous awards including Oscars. Even his worst films don't dip that much in quality especially compared to the drivel that is produced in Hollywood.
     
  17. metroflip73

    metroflip73 Member

    Mar 3, 2000
    NYC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    And some of his flicks make you piss yourself laughing.

    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV2N4KSh3x4"]Sleeper - Jewish Robot Tailors - YouTube[/ame]

    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iX6HxF-zDM&feature=related"]Woody Allen: What would Socrates say? - YouTube[/ame]
     
  18. Tom_Heywood

    Tom_Heywood New Member

    Jan 7, 2012
    Club:
    Blackburn Rovers FC
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    I dunno, just all the neurotic middle aged Jew constantly talking doesn't do it for me. He does do a lot of films, and are quite varied.
     
  19. Val1

    Val1 Member+

    Arsenal
    Mar 12, 2004
    MD's Eastern Shore
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    I guess I was spoiled, I have a record of Woody from his days doing stand-up comedy and have been disappointed with his movies ever since. There are many I loved the first time around -- Annie Hall, Take the Money and Run, Play it Again, Sam, Radio Days, Zelig -- that have all failed for me the second time around. Maybe it's because there are specific moments that he hits so well, that the anticipation of seeing them again overwhelms the movie. Fr'instance, the whole playing the cello in the marching band in Take the Money and Run. That is one of the funniest scenes on the big screen. And then watching the rest of the movie, I get bored and haven't finished it.

    Anyway, here's the scene:
    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57FUphSl2vA&feature=related"]Woody Allen - Take the Money and Run - cello playing scenes - YouTube[/ame]

    OK, maybe not that funny, but I know I laughed for days thinking of a cello in a marching band.
     
  20. Boogie_Down

    Boogie_Down Member+

    Jul 7, 2010
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
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    The cello scene definitely the best laugh for me of the movie. The first few times I saw it, I couldn't help but crack up.
     
  21. Boogie_Down

    Boogie_Down Member+

    Jul 7, 2010
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Midnight in Paris was nominated for a lot of Oscars: Best Picture, Art Direction, Best Director, and Original Screenplay.
     
  22. Boogie_Down

    Boogie_Down Member+

    Jul 7, 2010
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    My man Woody pulled another Oscar last night winning for best original screenplay.
     
  23. Crimen y Castigo

    May 18, 2004
    OakTown
    Club:
    Los Angeles
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Comedian Doug Benson tweeted last night:

    "Woody Allen couldn't be here tonight because Woody Allen didn't want to be here tonight..."


    Snort.
     
  24. That Phat Hat

    That Phat Hat Member+

    Nov 14, 2002
    Just Barely Outside the Beltway
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
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    Japan
    Slate dug up this video of the last time Woody showed up. Spoiler: he's funny.
    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUvr33UTf6s"]2002 Oscars New York City Tribute.mov - YouTube[/ame]
     
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  25. usscouse

    usscouse BigSoccer Supporter

    May 3, 2002
    Orygun coast
    Old Woody, "You have to laugh at me because I'm so pathetic!"
     
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