Woody Allen

[(akaRyanHoffman)]

granted, I still need to see Scoop and Cassandra's Dream, but here's a list I found from a few months ago:

My ten favorite Woody Allen movies:

10. Bullets Over Broadway
9. Deconstructing Harry
8. Radio Days
7. Hannah & Her Sisters
6. Zelig
5. Manhatton
4. Stardust Memories
3. Annie Hall
2. The Purple Rose of Cairo
1. Crimes & Misdermenors

The Five Worst Woody Allen movies:

1. Interiors
2. His segment from New York Stories, "Oedepus Wrecks"
3. Shadows & Fog
4. Hollywood Ending
5. The Curse of the Jade Scorpion

My five favorite performances in a Woody Allen movie:

1. Diane Weist in Hannah & Her Sisters
2. Martin Landau in Crimes & Misdermenors
3. Judy Davis in Husbands & Wives
4. Diane Keaton & Woody Allen in Sleeper/Annie Hall/Manhatton Murder Mystery
5. Gena Rowlands in Another Woman

now lets see yours!

[shoelaceless]

Ouch. Not a fan of Interiors?

[(akaRyanHoffman)]

Ouch. Not a fan of Interiors?

as mentioned in the 5AM thread, Interiors and "Oedepus Wrecks" are his only two movies I think really do kinda stink.

[Cactusakic]

I'm currently working may way through all of his films.
I have yet to see:

Alice
Another Woman
Anything Else
Broadway Danny Rose
Crimes And Misdemeanors
Radio Days
September
Shadows And Fog
The Purple Rose Of Cairo
Zelig

But I have them all sitting here waiting to be watched.

My five favorites so far are the two obvious ones: Manhattan and Annie Hall, plus Bullets Over Broadway, Manhattan Murder Mystery and Match Point.

The ones I have least enjoyed are Interiors and Melinda And Melinda.

All the others fall somewhere in between.

Anything with Diane Weist and/or Diane Keaton tends to be excellent.
Never been a fan of Mia Farrow though. I wish he hadn't used her quite so often in his work.

[shoelaceless]

as mentioned in the 5AM thread, Interiors and "Oedepus Wrecks" are his only two movies I think really do kinda stink.

I didn't hate it, but I guess I don't remember anything about it anymore.

I still haven't seen a lot of his 80s and 90s stuff, but I would definitely put Manhattan, Zelig, Hannah & Her Sisters, Stardust Memories, and Annie Hall in my top ten too. I think my favorite might actually be Love and Death.

[(akaRyanHoffman)]

Never been a fan of Mia Farrow though. I wish he hadn't used her quite so often in his work.

Well, I can't say I'm a necessarily a fan of Mia Farrow, but I think Woody tends to cast her well. My favorite role of hers in one of his movies is Alice. I think she's pretty spectacular in that movie.

[Ashwin Pande]

I saw Radio Days a week ago and it's become one of my favorites. It's not one of his thinky movies but it's well written, funny and sweet. Reminded me a lot of growing up with my own family. Great film.

[Cactusakic]

I didn't hate it, but I guess I don't remember anything about it anymore.

I still haven't seen a lot of his 80s and 90s stuff, but I would definitely put Manhattan, Zelig, Hannah & Her Sisters, Stardust Memories, and Annie Hall in my top ten too. I think my favorite might actually be Love and Death.

I have just watched both Love And Death and Stardust Memories in this past week or so.
Thoroughly enjoyed both.


Well, I can't say I'm a necessarily a fan of Mia Farrow, but I think Woody tends to cast her well. My favorite role of hers in one of his movies is Alice. I think she's pretty spectacular in that movie.

I haven't gotten to Alice yet. I'll let you know my thoughts as soon as I have seen it.

I agree that he casts her well enough, but I still feel that perhaps some of the roles would have been better served by another actress.
Something about Farrow just leaves me cold.

For example, just a couple of days ago I watched A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy and I enjoyed and empathized with all the characters except hers. Had she of been played by Keaton or Weist, chances are I would have liked the character a great deal more.

[(akaRyanHoffman)]

And y'know, the other thing about Interiors is that I can't deny that it's a well-made, well-written and well-acted movie, it just kinda annoyed me.

[Joe Kalicki]

I thought Interiors was pretty great, but mainly because the performance of the old lady was spectacular.

But I also thought Curse of the Jade Scorpion was hilarious.

[Ashwin Pande]

I thought Hollywood Ending was funny.

Stupid, but funny.

[(akaRyanHoffman)]

another thing:

When I saw Anything Else when it came out at the theaters, before I'd seen most of Woody's catalouge, I enjoyed it. But when I watched it again a few months ago? Eh. it was ok.

[Cactusakic]

There are several of his films that I feel are unfairly maligned, such as Celebrity, Curse Of The Jade Scorpion, Hollywood Ending and Everyone Says I Love You.

I enjoyed every one of those.
Granted, there don't even come close to touching his "Classic"works or even some of his more recent output, but I think they are entertaining all the same.

As Ryan has said several times, even bad Allen is really only mediocre.

There are also some really great ones that I feel get overlooked by a lot of people.
One of these, again as Ryan has pointed out on several occasions, is Deconstructing Harry but the one that I feel most deserves more recognition than it gets is Sweet And Lowdown.

[Cactusakic]

another thing:

When I saw Anything Else when it came out at the theaters, before I'd seen most of Woody's catalouge, I enjoyed it. But when I watched it again a few months ago? Eh. it was ok.

Cactus Confession:

Whatever Works will be the first Allen film I see in theaters (assuming it ever actually gets a UK theatrical release).

Somehow, I have just never gotten around to seeing any of his films on the big screen before.

[(akaRyanHoffman)]

One of these, again as Ryan has pointed out on several occasions, is Deconstructing Harry but the one that I feel most deserves more recognition than it gets is Sweet And Lowdown.

Sweet & Lowdown was one of his I think I'll enjoy more on multiple viewings. I really did enjoy it, but the last act left me wanting more than I got. I can't quite put my finger on what I wanted from it, either.

[(akaRyanHoffman)]

Cactus Confession:

Whatever Works will be the first Allen film I see in theaters (assuming it ever actually gets a UK theatrical release).

Somehow, I have just never gotten around to seeing any of his films on the big screen before.

Assuming the theaters around me get Whatever Works, it'll be the sixth one.

I saw Bullets Over Broadway, Everyone Says I Love You, Anything Else, Melinda & Melina and Match Point at the theater. I'm not sure why I missed Vicky Christina Barcelona at the theater.

[Cactusakic]

Assuming the theaters around me get Whatever Works, it'll be the sixth one.

I saw Bullets Over Broadway, Everyone Says I Love You, Anything Else, Melinda & Melina and Match Point at the theater. I'm not sure why I missed Vicky Christina Barcelona at the theater.

VCB didn't even get a cinema release over here.
At least, not a full one.
I'm sure some of the little, more independent theaters around the country got it, but nowhere near me.

I'm hoping that it's success will allow Whatever Works to at least get a one-week, one screen, one showing per night run at one of the two 10 screen theaters that are within walking distance from my house.

Otherwise it'll be wait for DVD time again.
Lame.

[Greygor]

I'm not a big Fan, in fact, I object, your honor! This thread is a travesty. It's a travesty of a mockery of a sham of a mockery of a travesty of two mockeries of a sham. :wink:

[shoelaceless]

I have just watched both Love And Death and Stardust Memories in this past week or so.
Thoroughly enjoyed both.

Awesome. I'm due for a rewatching of both.

[shoelaceless]

Cactus Confession:

Whatever Works will be the first Allen film I see in theaters (assuming it ever actually gets a UK theatrical release).

Somehow, I have just never gotten around to seeing any of his films on the big screen before.

I haven't seen any of his movies in theaters either. For years I just wasn't near any theaters that played them. The first one I had a chance to see was Vicky Christina, but for some reason I never got around to it.

[totalsellout]

deconstructing harry is my favorite woody movie, followed by annin hall.

i really liked VCB and sweet and lowdown, but without woody in the lead they don't feel like true woody allen movie.

quick side bar, is the character in sweet and low down real or fictional?

[Ashwin Pande]

My favorite Woody movie is probably Bananas. He may have gotten a lot smarter since, but it's the best screwball comedy he's done.

Another favorite is Everything you always wanted to know about sex.

[Ashwin Pande]

"From this day on, the official language of San Marcos will be Swedish. Silence! In addition to that, all citizens will be required to change their underwear every half-hour. Underwear will be worn on the outside so we can check. Furthermore, all children under 16 years old are now... 16 years old!"

[Doug]

My ten favorite Woody Allen movies:

10. Love and Death
9. Take the Money and Run
8. Match Point
7. Manhattan Murder Mystery
6. Sleeper
5. Hannah and Her Sisters
4. Radio Days
3. Bananas
2. Annie Hall
1. Crimes & Misdermenors

I still haven't seen Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and from what I've heard about it it may crack my top ten.

[Dusto]

My ten favorite Woody Allen movies:

10. What's Up, Tiger Lily?
9. What's New, Pussycat?
8. Hannah & Her Sisters
7. Deconstructing Harry
6. Bullets Over Broadway
5. Crimes & Misdemeanors
4. Manhattan
3. The Purple Rose of Cairo
2. Match Point
1. Annie Hall

I did not care for Sleeper. Or Everyone Says I Love You. Or Celebrity, but mostly because it just felt like nothing I hadn't seen him do better elsewhere. And there are many of his movies I haven't seen.

[Doug]

"From this day on, the official language of San Marcos will be Swedish. Silence! In addition to that, all citizens will be required to change their underwear every half-hour. Underwear will be worn on the outside so we can check. Furthermore, all children under 16 years old are now... 16 years old!"

:lol:

The scene at the deli is great too.

[Greygor]

I always had a soft spot for Stardust Memories

"You can't control life. It doesn't wind up perfectly. Only-only art you can control. Art and masturbation. Two areas in which I am an absolute expert."

But if I had to list my favourites, in no particular order

Bananas
Sleeper
Love and Death
Manhattan
Broadway Danny Rose
Hannah and her Sisters
Crimes and Misdemeanour's
Radio Days
Manhattan Murder Mystery
Stardust Memories
Annie Hall

Disclaimer: I've not watched a Woody Allen film since 1996 so the list may well change, I really need to catch up.

[Blue Flash]

I love your list, although I haven't seen Zelig.

[PeterSparker]

I always had a soft spot for Stardust Memories

"You can't control life. It doesn't wind up perfectly. Only-only art you can control. Art and masturbation. Two areas in which I am an absolute expert."

But if I had to list my favourites, in no particular order

Bananas
Sleeper
Love and Death
Manhattan
Broadway Danny Rose
Hannah and her Sisters
Crimes and Misdemeanour's
Radio Days
Manhattan Murder Mystery
Stardust Memories
Annie Hall

Disclaimer: I've not watched a Woody Allen film since 1996 so the list may well change, I really need to catch up.


Finally someone mentions Broadway Danny Rose, which is probably my favorite. Allen at the top of his game, the movie is an absolute gem.


I'll say:


10. Mighty Aphrodite (So much fun)
9. Match Point (Excellent offering from the latest era)
8. Play It Again, Sam (Great movie. Tony Roberts is always the man, and Diane Keaton never looked prettier)
7. Bullets Over Broadway (Absolute gold, awesome cast)
6. Radio Days (Should probably rate higher, I love this movie. And Seth Green was perfect.)
5. Hannah and Her Sisters (Max Von Sydow, 'nuff said)
4. Crimes and Misdemeanors (As good as he gets)
3. Bananas (Over the top comedy and shtick, plus Howard Cossell owns the movie!)
2. Zelig (Forget Forrest Gump, Woody did it first, and funnier. A true accomplishment in filmaking and editing)
1. Broadway Danny Rose (Woody and Mia were never better)



I stuck to a strict "Top 10" list, but honestly, Annie Hall, Manhattan, Sweet and Lowdown, The Purple Rose of Cairo, Stardust Memories, Sleeper, Manhattan Murder Mystery, Scoop, and Vicky Cristina Barcelona are all favoites as well.



I don't wanna badmouth the kid, but he's a horrible, dishonest, immoral louse. And I say that with all due respect.

[Gregory]

My favorite Woody Allen movie (and possibly movie, period) is Love and Death.

[Joe Kalicki]

The only one I saw in the theater is Hollywood Ending.

My favorite is Deconstructing Harry.

[The Goddamn Schweitz!]

Favorites
1. Manhattan
2. Annie Hall
3. Take the Money and Run
4. Hannah and Her Sisters
5. Stardust Memories
6. Broadway Danny Rose
7. Love and Death
8. Zelig
9. Crimes and Misdemeanors (I've only seen once and should see again)
10. Play it Again Sam (does this count? He only wrote it and stared in it)

Not so much

1. Anything Else
2. Small Time Crooks
3. Curse of the Jade Scorpion
4. Hollywood Ending
5. Match Point

I know, everyone loved Match Point, but I really am not a fan when he does straight drama. Much rather get something light, but still deep. His newer work hasn't really impressed me all that much. Liked the comedy side of Melinda and Melinda but HATED the serious side (so that should actually be on the least favorites). Still haven't seen a few of his movies that I should, but one day I plan to.

Very excited for Whatever Works (clearly) and now that I live in L.A. I'll actually have a chance to see it! W00t!

[chazbot]

I saw Radio Days a week ago and it's become one of my favorites. It's not one of his thinky movies but it's well written, funny and sweet. Reminded me a lot of growing up with my own family. Great film.

I absolutely adore that movie. Might be my favorite of all I've seen.

EDIT: I definitely haven't seen enough to create any sort of definitive Top Ten, but out of those I've seen:
1. Radio Days
2. Manhattan
3. Sleeper
4. Crimes and Misdemeanors
5. Take the Money and Run
6. Stardust Memories
7. Manhattan Murder Mystery
8. Annie Hall
9. Match Point
10. Hollywood Ending

[RegHorsten]

I posted in this in the other Hoffman thread but since he made this a whole thread of its own here you go.


10. Sleeper
9. Celebrity
8. Radio Days
7. Alice
6. Another Woman
5. A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy
4. Crimes and Misdemeanors
3. Annie Hall
2. Manhattan
1. Hannah & Her Sisters

The Five Worst Woody Allen movie:

1. Interiors
2. Scoop
3. Small Time Crooks
4. Melinda and Melinda
5. The Curse of the Jade Scorpion

My five favorite performances in a Woody Allen movie:

1. Woody Allen/Diane Keaton in Manhattan
2. Sydney Pollack/Judy Davis in Hubands & Wives
3. Barbara Hershey/Max von Sydow/Michael Caine in Hannah & Her Sisters
4. Diane Keaton in Annie Hall
5. Alan Alda/Martin Landau in Crimes and Misdemeanors


I already took some slack for Celebrity but so what Ii like it?

[PeterSparker]

I posted in this in the other Hoffman thread but since he made this a whole thread of its own here you go.


10. Sleeper
9. Celebrity
8. Radio Days
7. Alice
6. Another Woman
5. A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy
4. Crimes and Misdemeanors
3. Annie Hall
2. Manhattan
1. Hannah & Her Sisters

The Five Worst Woody Allen movie:

1. Interiors
2. Scoop
3. Small Time Crooks
4. Melinda and Melinda
5. The Curse of the Jade Scorpion

My five favorite performances in a Woody Allen movie:

1. Woody Allen/Diane Keaton in Manhattan
2. Sydney Pollack/Judy Davis in Hubands & Wives
3. Barbara Hershey/Max von Sydow/Michael Caine in Hannah & Her Sisters
4. Diane Keaton in Annie Hall
5. Alan Alda/Martin Landau in Crimes and Misdemeanors


I already took some slack for Celebrity but so what Ii like it?

Yeah, I'd probably rather watch any of your "five worst", over Celebrity.

Well, maybe not Melinda and Melinda, but the rest for sure. :)

[The Goddamn Schweitz!]

Cactus Confession:

Whatever Works will be the first Allen film I see in theaters (assuming it ever actually gets a UK theatrical release).

Somehow, I have just never gotten around to seeing any of his films on the big screen before.


Yeah, I'd probably rather watch any of your "five worst", over Celebrity.

Well, maybe not Melinda and Melinda, but the rest for sure. :)

I haven't seen Celebrity. What makes it so bad?

[PeterSparker]

I haven't seen Celebrity. What makes it so bad?

Well I found Kenneth Branagh to be the worst "Woody" character to date, and just generally didn't find it funny. The celeb cameos weren't particularly good performances, and like Deconstructing Harry it was a bit more of a vulgar Woddy Allen movie. Which I think worked in Deconstructing Harry and Husband and Wives, just didn't in Celebrity imo.

Not a horrible picture, there are some good moments, but I was sincere that I'd rather watch those others over it. Who knows though I haven't seen it since it came out, maybe I'd cut it some more slack on a second veiwing. I just remember not caring for it at all at the time.

[The Goddamn Schweitz!]

A lot of people don't seem to enjoy Celebrity. Hmm. If I see it I see it I suppose.

Completely forgot about Husbands and Wives. That one was really good too. I guess it would be in my top ten, but more towards the bottom of that list.

[Dusto]

I haven't seen Celebrity. What makes it so bad?

As PeterSparker says, Brannagh wasn't good in it. He was doing a bad Woody Allen impression instead of acting. Also, too much of it felt recycled from previous films. The "polymorphously perverse" bit from Annie Hall is rehashed, for instance. It wasn't horrible, but I just felt like it was a waste of time.

[Taxman]

Take the Money and Run would end up in my top ten and Stardust Memories would probably be a cellar dweller.

Allen had two good performances in films he did not direct; The Front and Play it Again Sam.

[Adrian B AWESOME]

I can't help but smile when I think about Woody's work in the 80s. Hannah, Radio, Zelig, Broadway, Purple Rose, Stardust, Crimes...I mean, heck to even have one or two of those in a repatoire would be ridiculous, but to have 6 utterly fantastic films in a DECADE is craziness...and even though Midsummer and September are weaker films, I personally like Another Woman quite a bit.

[Adrian B AWESOME]

A lot of people don't seem to enjoy Celebrity. Hmm. If I see it I see it I suppose.

Completely forgot about Husbands and Wives. That one was really good too. I guess it would be in my top ten, but more towards the bottom of that list.

A lot of people (not here) seem to forget how solid Allen was in the 90s. Mahatten Muder Mystery, Sweet & Lowdown, Deconstructing Harry, Bullets over Broadway, Husbands and Wives, Mighty Aphrodite and even Everyone Says I Love You are all great films that people seem to forget about and say Woody Allen hasn't done anything significant in 20 years...

And though his 00s are a bit less consistent, Match Point and VCB are fantastic and I personally have a soft spot for Small Time Crooks and Anything Else.

[Joe Kalicki]

I don't know if Stardust Memories is so great. It's the closest Woody's gotten to a straight parody.

I wasn't a fan of Vicky Cristina Barcelona, although I enjoyed the sentiment, and I thought Small Time Crooks was awful after the comedy first half. Hollywood Ending was funny, Curse of the Jade Scorpion I thought was hilarious.

[Doug]

The talk of Branagh in Celebrity started me thinking.

What is your favorite "Woody" character not played by Woody?

John Cusack in Bullets Over Broadway
Seth Green in Radio Days

I really enjoy Match Point, but I can't point to one character and say he or she is the "Woody" character. Maybe Matthew Goode, but I can't say for sure.

Also I haven't seen VCB yet, I have the DVD at home. Maybe I'll watch it this weekend.

[Tom Burgos]

The talk of Branagh in Celebrity started me thinking.

What is your favorite "Woody" character not played by Woody?


Sarah Jessica Parker in Miami Rhapsody
John Cusack in BOB

[Cactusakic]

What is your favorite "Woody" character not played by Woody?

John Cusack in Bullets Over Broadway

Without a doubt.

Although, credit where it's due, Johansson actually does a pretty good turn as a Woody character in Scoop, which is quite bizarre to watch in the scenes she shares with Allen himself.

[Dusto]

I really enjoy Match Point, but I can't point to one character and say he or she is the "Woody" character. Maybe Matthew Goode, but I can't say for sure.

I think that's probably one of the things that elevated Match Point. He's out of his comfort zone. Out of Manhattan, no stand in for himself, etc.

[Doug]

Without a doubt.

Although, credit where it's due, Johansson actually does a pretty good turn as a Woody character in Scoop, which is quite bizarre to watch in the scenes she shares with Allen himself.

I was actually going to mention Scoop (not a bad movie, but not great either), but I didn't because Woody was actually in it.

[Joe Kalicki]

I just got done watching A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy.

I thought it was brilliant, and it's now one of my favorite Woody movies.

[Taxman]

I can't help but smile when I think about Woody's work in the 80s. Hannah, Radio, Zelig, Broadway, Purple Rose, Stardust, Crimes...I mean, heck to even have one or two of those in a repatoire would be ridiculous, but to have 6 utterly fantastic films in a DECADE is craziness...and even though Midsummer and September are weaker films, I personally like Another Woman quite a bit.

A lot of people (not here) seem to forget how solid Allen was in the 90s. Mahatten Muder Mystery, Sweet & Lowdown, Deconstructing Harry, Bullets over Broadway, Husbands and Wives, Mighty Aphrodite and even Everyone Says I Love You are all great films that people seem to forget about and say Woody Allen hasn't done anything significant in 20 years...

And though his 00s are a bit less consistent, Match Point and VCB are fantastic and I personally have a soft spot for Small Time Crooks and Anything Else.I can't imagine there will ever be a director with a body of work to rival Woody Allen, ever again. Sure, there may be ten or twenty guys whose top five or top ten films are significantly better, but few of them have come close to putting out the number of films Woody has.

And anyone who has directed a comparable number of films, did so with the bulk of their career coming decades before Allen's.
The talk of Branagh in Celebrity started me thinking.

I really liked Chazz Palminteri in Bullets Over Broadway.

[Blue Flash]

I can't imagine there will ever be a director with a body of work to rival Woody Allen, ever again. Sure, there may be ten or twenty guys whose top five or top ten films are significantly better, but few of them have come close to putting out the number of films Woody has.

And anyone who has directed a comparable number of films, did so with the bulk of their career coming decades before Allen's.

I really liked Chazz Palminteri in Bullets Over Broadway.

Takeshi Miike has made something like forty-odd films since 1992 and his fan-base would tell you almost none of them are anything less than great.

[(akaRyanHoffman)]

Takeshi Miike has made something like forty-odd films since 1992 and his fan-base would tell you almost none of them are anything less than great.

Oh, Jesus. Miike wishes his movies were half as enjoyable or have half the depth that Woody's movies do.

I mean: sure, they have some memorable images, but how many of them are worth going out of the way for?

[shoelaceless]

I would like Woody Allen's movies, but why do they always have to have that nervous fella in them?

[Adrian B AWESOME]

I don't know if Stardust Memories is so great. It's the closest Woody's gotten to a straight parody.

I wasn't a fan of Vicky Cristina Barcelona, although I enjoyed the sentiment, and I thought Small Time Crooks was awful after the comedy first half. Hollywood Ending was funny, Curse of the Jade Scorpion I thought was hilarious.

According to the production notes, Woody feels that Stardust Memories is the first film he directed that came out almost exactly as he envisioned...so take that for what it's worth.

[Adrian B AWESOME]

I would like Woody Allen's movies, but why do they always have to have that nervous fella in them?

Yeah, what's his deal? Is he some kind of pervert or something?

[Joe Kalicki]

According to the production notes, Woody feels that Stardust Memories is the first film he directed that came out almost exactly as he envisioned...so take that for what it's worth.

Well, it's probably pretty easy to do when you just envision 8 1/2.

[PeterSparker]

Woody is being interviewed on NPR's Fresh Air right now about his new movie. (interestingly it was originally written for Zero Mostel but then he set the script aside after he passed away, and just dusted it off recently)

[Doug]

Woody is being interviewed on NPR's Fresh Air right now about his new movie. (interestingly it was originally written for Zero Mostel but then he set the script aside after he passed away, and just dusted it off recently)

That would explain why this movie is set in NYC when his most recent films have been set in Europe. If this is an old script that makes sense. Especially since his next movie is set in London again.

[Taxman]

Takeshi Miike has made something like forty-odd films since 1992 and his fan-base would tell you almost none of them are anything less than great.I hear Stephen Sommers has quite the fan-base.