Which Woody Allen films must I put on the top of my Netflix queue?

[chazbot]

John (and everyone else),

I really enjoyed the section of the Bendis tapes where you and BMB went on a little Woody Allen discussion. I've seen most of his more recent movies, and liked about all of the old ones I've sought out (Take the Money and Run might be my favorite).
I'm going to list all the ones I have seen. Aside from those, which Woody Allen films do you consider essential viewing? I know he's made about 40 films, so I definitely want to get to the best of the best that I've missed out on.

Woody Allen films I've already seen
Take the Money and Run
Sleeper
Annie Hall
Shadows and Fog
Hollywood Ending
Melinda and Melinda
Match Point
Scoop

Thanks for the advice in advance!

[Derek]

Deconstructing Harry is my personal favorite

[TonyFleecs]

First off- Manhattan.

Sweet & Lowdown
Hannah & Her Sisters
Love & Death
Bananas
Stardust Memories

If you dig what you've already seen (Scoop notwithstanding) pretty much everything in the 70s & 80s have something to like. The 90s through today are way more hit & miss.

[sonnylarue]

Here's a few little woody flicks I still love

The Front-awesome film about the 1950's commie blacklist, directed by Martin Ritt
Broadway danny Rose
Zelig
Manhattan Murder Mystery
Mighty Aphroditie

[ChuckMcButcalf]

If you liked Match Point, I'd point to Crimes and Misdemeanors. Also, Tony's suggestion of Hannah and Her Sisters is golden.

[Philip J Eaves]

I think "Everything you wanted to know about sex but were afraid to ask" is worth a watch, but only for the final skit.

Any one heard anything about Cassandra's Dream? Is it the good, the bad, or the ugly?

[Adrian B AWESOME]

You gotta check out Manhatten and Love and Death. Bananas is also a must for just insane filmmaking.

But for me, Love and Death gets funnier every time I watch it. The hat and coat that he wears throughout are just too much. And the forced discussions with philosophy with Keaton is such brilliant satire of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky.

[Adrian B AWESOME]

Anyone had a chance to see Vicky Christina Barcelona? It looks great.

[Adrian B AWESOME]

Oh, and I recently saw Sweet and Lowdown. What a surprising and charming film this was!

[Adrian B AWESOME]

And I'm amazed no one mentioned Purple Rose of Cairo. To me, while one of his best (but not the pinnacle), it sums up everything that's great about Allen comedies.

[Jonathan Callan]

Zelig is an awesome flick.

Isn't Purple Rose of Cairo widely considered a major miss? I haven't seen it, but that's what I'd thought I'd heard.

[chazbot]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I definitely think I might add these in a more chronological order just for grins.




Any one heard anything about Cassandra's Dream? Is it the good, the bad, or the ugly?

I was curious that I hadn't really heard anything about that one.

[hamgmt]

i'd say john and i share a sense of the good 'uns, as i was about to mention BW danny rose and zelig right before i got to his post. :) zelig is SO SO SO great, i have loved that movie forever and so many people don't even know what the hell it is when i mention it! :)

-bob

[Adrian B AWESOME]

Zelig is an awesome flick.

Isn't Purple Rose of Cairo widely considered a major miss? I haven't seen it, but that's what I'd thought I'd heard.

I don't think so.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089853/ - 7.5 on IMDB. 11 award wins out of 26 noms

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/purple_rose_of_cairo/ - 90% (thought anything before 1998 is a bit sketchy on the site)

[JamesSeals]

I would recommend 2003's "Anything Else" with Jason Biggs & Christine Ricci.

While it's not a Woody Allen classic or anything, but it is a strong enough film that has one or two really great laughs in it. The final scene with Danny DeVito is hilarious! It's nicely constructed, and follows the course of how a relationship starts falling apart from a male perspective, especially in how the reveals are paced.

That and Ricci parades around in her panties for most of the film. :cool:

-James Seals

[sonnylarue]

Zelig is an awesome flick.

Isn't Purple Rose of Cairo widely considered a major miss? I haven't seen it, but that's what I'd thought I'd heard.

quite the contrary, didn't someone got an oscar nomination for it? I'm thinking Jeff Daniels for his dual role in the film.

jeff daniels and mia farrow are very sweet, and cute in it.

i know it was one of gene siskel's favs and one of the best woody films made without woody starring in it.

[Adrian B AWESOME]

quite the contrary, didn't someone got an oscar nomination for it? I'm thinking Jeff Daniels for his dual role in the film.

jeff daniels and mia farrow are very sweet, and cute in it.

i know it was one of gene siskel's favs and one of the best woody films made without woody starring in it.

Only Oscar nom was for best screenplay.

I guess Woody has said it's his favorite work.

[Kevin Marshall]

Zelig is as fabulous as everyone in this thread has said it is. As mentioned in the podcast, Stardust Memories is woefully underrated and ranks among my favorites of the Woody Allen films I've seen - Sandy's conversation on life and love with an extraterrestrial is a highlight.

Funny somebody should mention Everything You Wanted to Know About Sex being worth it for the last segment, because I felt the same way about New York Stories.

And I know it's not everybody's favorite, but I love Radio Days.

[Jurassicalien]

Love and Death, Mighty Aphrodity, Deconstructing Harry

[hamgmt]

ooh ooh yeah i forgot about new york stories, his segment there is a winner. and mighty aphrodite is one of the things i actually enjoy michael rappaport in...

-bob :)

[Jurassicalien]

Also Bananas is hysterical, and a young Sly Stallone in a non speaking roll. Just crazy silly, so enjoyable.

[TimmyWood]

I know these have already been said but these are a must:
Stardust Memories
Zelig
Manhattan
Bananas
Love and Death

It might be easier to just suggest the woody allen films to avoid as there are less of them. I am a huge huge huge huge Woody Allen Fan but I would just try and avoid Scoop, Hollywood Ending, Curse of the Jade Scorpion, and Anything Else (apologies to whoever recommended it earlier)
Everything else he has done in my opinion has something about it that makes it a worthwhile film.

[Doc Beechler]

Crimes and Misdemeanors, for a religious person, is one of the most challenging movies you'll ever see. It's amazing and I think about it often.

In fanboy mode...I wanted, just once, for the hired killer character that Jerry Orbach played in this film to go up against Lenny, the Jerry Orbach homicide detective in Law & Order. Evil Orbach vs Good Orbach...with singin' and dancin'!

[The Funketeer]

For the most part I find him to be a creepy old perv and try to stay away from his work. I'll second Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex But Were Afraid to Ask. Fairly low brow but still funny. I also have a soft spot for What's Up Tiger Lily.

[Arion]

I know these have already been said but these are a must:
Stardust Memories
Zelig
Manhattan
Bananas
Love and Death

It might be easier to just suggest the woody allen films to avoid as there are less of them. I am a huge huge huge huge Woody Allen Fan but I would just try and avoid Scoop, Hollywood Ending, Curse of the Jade Scorpion, and Anything Else (apologies to whoever recommended it earlier)
Everything else he has done in my opinion has something about it that makes it a worthwhile film.

STARDUST MEMORIES and MANHATTAN are excellent films. Few directors could be able to do something half as good as them in their entire lives.

[chazbot]

I've been slowly going and watching more and more Allen flicks. I caught Radio Days the other weekend. And it's just precious. I don't know if I'm sentimental toward the era it's set in or how the mini-stories are portrayed but I just loved it. Watched it again this past week just to share it with someone. I know it's not one of the more serious films, but I wonder if anyone else feels the same.

[sonnylarue]

is this the first time what's up tiger-lily has been mentioned?

[Gideon Gloom]

is this the first time what's up tiger-lily has been mentioned?

I love the end credits of that movie! It's pretty base to say so, and doesn't reflect well upon me, but there you go!

[JEK]

Zelig
bananas (which i can only spell because of gwen stefani)
Radiodays

[Adrian B AWESOME]

is this the first time what's up tiger-lily has been mentioned?


It's ok, if we don't have any on the ship, we'll just use Miracle Whip.

eeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeee

Saw this when I was 11. It changed me.

Picked up Scoop for $3 at Big Lots. Let's see if it's as bad as Sonny says.

[Joe Kalicki]

Scoop is awesome. Ben made a thread about it a while back.

After watching What's Up, Tiger Lilly a couple weeks ago, I don't think it really holds up.

I'm watching them all in (more or less) release order now. I'm up to Stardust Memories.

[Adrian B AWESOME]

Scoop is awesome. Ben made a thread about it a while back.

After watching What's Up, Tiger Lilly a couple weeks ago, I don't think it really holds up.

I'm watching them all in (more or less) release order now. I'm up to Stardust Memories.

I think What's Up, while being slow at many points, has some of my favorite movie quotes of all time.

Found a copy of Mighty Aphrodite on DVD for free...which is amazing, considering it typically sells for $30 or more, due to its rare OOP status...now I just gotta find a cheap copy of Everyone Says I Love You and I'll be set.

[TonyFleecs]

I would recommend 2003's "Anything Else" with Jason Biggs & Christine Ricci.

While it's not a Woody Allen classic or anything, but it is a strong enough film that has one or two really great laughs in it. The final scene with Danny DeVito is hilarious! It's nicely constructed, and follows the course of how a relationship starts falling apart from a male perspective, especially in how the reveals are paced.

That and Ricci parades around in her panties for most of the film. :cool:

-James Seals
I don't know why but I like this one a lot too. Maybe he's not breaking any new ground with this one but that might be why I dig it... it feels like it could've been made in the early 80s with Woody playing the woody part instead of the crazy old man part.

And yeah- Cute non-bony Ricci... not too shabby.

[Arion]

My favorites are

Stardust Memories
Manhattan
The Purple Rose of Cairo
Crimes and Misdemeanors
Match Point