____twoism

I've recently become infatuated with a girl.

she's beautiful, she's gorgeous, she lights up the room whenever she walks in, and when I see her my day, no matter how awful, becomes about a hundred and ten percent better.

She's my reason to live at the moment, and she introduced me to Woody Allen.

I once watched Annie Hall about 5 years ago. I thought it was decent.

A film which was praised only because of the fact it was old, and it's kinda arty and apparently means something.

Fast forward to last year, I meet this girl, and lap up damn near anything she recommends me.

She pushed me to watch Annie Hall again.

Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. I've watched it like 5 times in the past year or so since.

I loved it so much I've expanded and watched so much more of his filmography, it's all gorgeous, and has such a matter of fact look at life in its various forms and ideas.

I've watched about 12 or so of his films now, and I watch a new one every single week. Each time it's like seeing an old friend, getting reacquainted and learning something new about them, something that makes me respect them more and shows more of their deep, rich character.

Or maybe it's because I'm flat out in love with this woman, that I'll convince myself that Allen is a genius just so I can try to win her over.

I'm not sure, but what I do know is that I'm willing to live a lie if I can watch an Allen film every week and be bedazzled every single time.

what are your thoughts on Allen and his films? Nothing is really off topic in this thread, you can make it about his divorce if you wish, his (not really) incestuous affair and subsequent break up.

But I really don't care when such an auteur is at the hand of so many good films, it's really the heart wants what the heart wants. Sometimes it feels too out of reach but other times in the case of Woody, it's right there in front of him.

All I know is that he's a brilliant film maker, who puts in everything I want from a film, comedy, heart, brains and soul. That's like a perfect combination for me. She also has that combination, but we're getting off track.

THOUGHTS ON THE DUDE, YOU GUYS.

And for those interested, no I have not become involved with this woman as of yet, but after a year of knowing her, I'm starting to wonder if it's too late.

Sometimes I just want to meet her, and spill the beans.

But of course, this isn't a thread about that, this is a thread about the brilliance of Woody.

I've been a movie fan for years but for some peculiar reason I've never watched anything by him.. *goes to watch Annie Hall*

Never really clicked with me, which may say more about me than the movies.

That said, I recently watched one of his more recent efforts, Midnight In Paris, and I loved it.

my personal Allen top 10 (as of today)

1. Annie Hall
2. Zelig
3. Bananas
4. Manhattan
5. Hannah and Her Sisters
6. Bullets Over Broadway
7. Love and Death
8. Midnight in Paris
9. Manhattan Murder Mystery
10. Crimes and Misdemeanors

A lot of his films are very different so if you don't like one, pick another and give it a go.

I'd say he's an auteur along with the likes of Bergman and Kubrick, he's an important film maker and often one which seems to be swept under the rug for making silly comedies.
He's much much more than that.

I don't think Annie Hall is really a good starting point with Woody as it's got everything Woody Allen is about turned up to 11.
I'd say taste a bit of the more romantic (Manhattan), funnier (Bananas), or dramatic (Hannah and Her Sisters) aspects of his film making before really putting all your eggs in one basket.

A lot of his films are very different so if you don't like one, pick another and give it a go.

I'd say he's an auteur along with the likes of Bergman and Kubrick, he's an important film maker and often one which seems to be swept under the rug for making silly comedies.
He's much much more than that.

I totally agree. I'm not a huge fan of all of his films either. The first film of his I really clicked with at the time was Hannah and Her Sisters. But Match Point and Crimes and Misdemeanors (while really different) both have some serious issues like murder of affair partners though Match Point isn't a comedy at all and fairly dark.

I'd like to see Midnight in Paris, it's been on my list.

Annie Hall is a classic though.

you watch his films and think "that doesn't sound sound like clever writing - that sounds like a REAL conversation." instead, its clever CASTING. he gets amazing personalities, gives them a theme and trusts them to cover the script but encourages them to bring to the film what he brought them to the film for - their personality, the way they would say it, its fucking brilliant and so very human - stuttering and stammering and missteps all included. its as perfect as real life is - imperfect!

'Husbands and Wives' is an amazing example of this very visceral style of his - watch it!
'Love and Death' is my all time favorite (as a Russian and a historian)
but 'Sleeper' is a close second as a sci-fi and sic-fi-satire (see: MST3K) geek!

great thread Telepathic Kid.
if she introduced you to Allen films, she is a keeper - go get her mate.

The Telepathic Kid wrote:my personal Allen top 10 (as of today)

1. Annie Hall
2. Zelig
3. Bananas
4. Manhattan
5. Hannah and Her Sisters
6. Bullets Over Broadway
7. Love and Death
8. Midnight in Paris
9. Manhattan Murder Mystery
10. Crimes and Misdemeanors

A lot of his films are very different so if you don't like one, pick another and give it a go.

I'd say he's an auteur along with the likes of Bergman and Kubrick, he's an important film maker and often one which seems to be swept under the rug for making silly comedies.
He's much much more than that.

I don't think Annie Hall is really a good starting point with Woody as it's got everything Woody Allen is about turned up to 11.
I'd say taste a bit of the more romantic (Manhattan), funnier (Bananas), or dramatic (Hannah and Her Sisters) aspects of his film making before really putting all your eggs in one basket.

No Sleeper or Take The Money And Run??

Fair enough, I suppose, each to their own, etc....

I've seen everything in your top ten apart from Zelig. It's one I keep meaning to see.

Agree with Paul about Love And Death - great film (always makes me feel Christmassy for some reason).

A lot of people deride his latter stuff, and when thinking of films like Match Point, I can see their, er, point. But Vicky Christina Barcelona has really been a grower for me, 2 or 3 watches of it and I think it's a belter.

One little observation/note. The Marx quote in Annie Hall about not wanting to be a "member of any club that would have me as a member" has pretty much defined my approach to relationships for most of my life (until recently). That REALLY struck a chord.

The Telepathic Kid wrote:after a year of knowing her, I'm starting to wonder if it's too late.

It's NEVER too late. Don't think like that.

Back on topic: just watched Small Time Crooks and enjoyed it.

His newest Blue Jasmine is getting rave reviews, and once again his assembled a fantastic cast. I'm a pretty moderate fan of Allen's, but with Louis CK (who I'm a HUGE fan of) and Dice Clay in the mix, I HAVE to see this

Love and Death is my all time fave Woody Allen film. I was 12 when I first saw it with my dad & it holds a special place for me because he was on medical leave from work that summer & we'd watch it whenever it was on cable while he was healing. The other film we'd always watch that summer as well was Strange Brew. Now THAT'S a great movie...

SynthesizerPatell wrote:No Sleeper or Take The Money And Run??

Fair enough, I suppose, each to their own, etc....

I've seen everything in your top ten apart from Zelig. It's one I keep meaning to see.

Agree with Paul about Love And Death - great film (always makes me feel Christmassy for some reason).

A lot of people deride his latter stuff, and when thinking of films like Match Point, I can see their, er, point. But Vicky Christina Barcelona has really been a grower for me, 2 or 3 watches of it and I think it's a belter.

One little observation/note. The Marx quote in Annie Hall about not wanting to be a "member of any club that would have me as a member" has pretty much defined my approach to relationships for most of my life (until recently). That REALLY struck a chord.

I didn't feel that Sleeper was funny enough, especially the last half. Outside of some obvious bits (the sentient pudding, the giant banana, Keaton doing a heavy jewish New York accent) it was a little laugh free for me.

I'm yet to see Take the Money and Run but that's next on my "weekly Woody watch".

I watched Match Point last week and thought it was great. Not brilliant but the way the initial set up unfolded, and the end came about was really well done. The acting was a bit wooden and Woody clearly doesn't have the flair for dialogue with UK actors like he does with US actors.

I watched Take the Money and Run.

Really funny, but the plot was kinda inconsistent. I hate to rag on a comedy's plot, but Woody's written such better films where the plot seems to actually move the film above all else.

You can tell it was his first. Great gags though, like the soap gun, the hold up, the chain gang gags, etc.

My top 10 now;

1. Annie Hall
2. Zelig
3. Bananas
4. Manhattan
5. Hannah and Her Sisters
6. Bullets Over Broadway
7. Love and Death
8. Purple Rose of Cairo
9. Midnight in Paris
10. Radio Days

Watched Mighty Aphrodite, I liked it a lot.

probably Woody's warmest and most sincerely happy film.

I haven't seen too many of his films... about to watch manhatten this week sometime lol.

I gotta say I love Mighty Aphrodite. I was really young when I first saw it. It was really cool how he would have these physical breaks with the "muses" or "ideas" whatever you want to call em... in the coliseum or ampitheatre with the masks and all that. Really neat!

I've watched Broadway Danny Rose, Vicky Christina Barcelona and Deconstructing Harry in all relative quick succession, and they're all great,

Vicky though, admittedly is his worst.

And Deconstructing Harry, surprisingly, is one of his best. I wasn't expecting one of his 90's (latter 90's even) to be so biting, dark and scathing on both his own life and the life in general. It's so heavy handed in some of the things it says it has to be taken as satire but Woody makes these films with such painful honesty. It's a real juggling act which he always pulls off remarkably well.

and due to watch 20 of his films, here we go, a (off the) top (of my head) 20 list!

1. Annie Hall
2. Zelig
3. Bananas
4. Manhattan
5. Bullets Over Broadway
6. Deconstructing Harry
7. Love and Death
8. Hannah and Her Sisters
9. Broadway Danny Rose
10. Midnight In Paris
11. Purple Rose of Cairo
12. Manhattan Murder Mystery
13. Radio Days
14. Match Point
15. Mighty Aphrodite
16. Crimes & Misdemeanors
17. Stardust Memories
18. Take the Money and Run
19. Sleeper
20. Vicky Christina Barcelona

Been a while since I updated this. I've seen Shadows & Fog, Small Time Crooks, Whatever Works, and Husbands and Wives since my last update.
All good, even the supposed shitty post 1995 stuff. Especially Whatever Works, dunno why people shit on that film, I thought it was charming.

updated top 10;

1. Annie Hall
2. Zelig
3. Bananas
4. Manhattan
5. Bullets Over Broadway
6. Deconstructing Harry
7. Love and Death
8. Hannah and Her Sisters
9. Midnight In Paris
10. Husbands and Wives