I wrote a piece about Woody Allen about a year ago but due to technical issues I managed to lose it so I have rehashed it from memory and added a bit more after being prompted by 'Woody Allen a Documentary' being shown on BBC1. I first saw this documentary in a very cool North London cinema, in a room of people who shared my passion for Allen and his work. This was a great and rare thing. Not many of my peers know who Allen is or what films he is responsible for. My mum isn't a fan so I grew up not knowing who he was and I feel a little let down by English and Drama teachers for not bringing him to my attention sooner.
My first encounter with Woody Allen was in the film "Antz" where he played the typical Woody Allen character (read neurotic) but as an ant. I wasn't aware of who Woody Allen was at the time, and wouldn't be aware for quite a few years, but I liked the character and I liked the film.I eventually 'found' Allen when I became very interested in stand up comedy and films and started researching 'the best ones' and his name was everywhere.
I love stand up comedy and Allen’s stand up is amongst the greatest. From quick one liners such as ‘I'm very proud of my gold pocket watch. My Grandfather, on his deathbed, sold me this watch’. To rambling stories that build joke after joke to a hilarious end. Such as the famous ‘Moose’ joke below.
Then there are his films, the vast majority of which I could watch over and over again. His early films are silly, funny and full of physical humour as well as laden with jokes. Bananas is a story about a bumbling New York Jew (you might notice a recurring theme with this one) who somehow ends up running a South American country after a revolution. In Sleeper the main character goes in to an operation in the current day and wakes up a couple of thousand years in the future and has to hide dressed as a robot whist trying to get back to his own time. "Everything you want to know about sex* but where to afraid to ask" covers 7 segments based on a book by David Reuben in Allen's typical humour including sex from the point of view from the sperm. Whilst these are good films my favourite of Allen's funny and slapstick movies is "Take The Money and Run". Filmed in a mockumentry style, something that was relatively new and unused at the time, it follows the exploits of Virgil possibly the worst criminal of all time. It looks back in to his youth and numerous stints in jail and is endlessly quotable with lines such as "Food on the chain gang is scarce and not very nourishing. The men get one hot meal a day: a bowl of steam". As well as great interview scenes with Virgil's disguised parents and one of the most well known scenes from the film, the bank heist.
Although there a number of great slapsticks and silly films, Allen's best work both critically and personally are the thought provoking films that make you reflect on human nature, or side with one character or another's views. His masterpiece (a word often over used but not chosen lightly in this instance, but a choice of word that Allen would disagree with), is Annie Hall. The film tops the list of greatest films on a number of lists, and without too much thought, tops mine. I could watch this film on repeat until I died. It's effortlessly charming and although it was released in 1977 it is still a relevant portrayal of modern relationships. This film, as with a lot of Woody's, has helped me form a lot of my opinions and out look of life. The film opens with some of the best script ever, "There's an old joke. Two elderly women are at the Catskill Mountain resort, and one of 'em says: Boy the food at this place is terrible." The other one says " Yeah I know and such small portions". The monologue continues to discuss other thoughts on life such as " I would never want to be a member of a club that would have me as a member". The film, at the time, stepped out of Allen's comfort zone and this film should be the bench mark for any romantic films. It goes on to look in-depth at the relationship between Alvy Singer ( a bumbling New York Jewish comedian) and Annie Hall a pretty and ditsy fun loving women, and analyses the reason for their break-up. The film isn't all serious and Allen shows his unquestionable talent for mixing the serious with the silly, and can handle a sad story with a lightness and realistic charm. The film is, whilst touching, also contains a number of great jokes such as 'My grammy never gave gifts, you know. She was too busy getting raped by Cossacks'.Or a very funny scene with cocaine. I've included a couple of my favourite scenes below for you.
There are other great films by Allen, and im sure I could lecture on these all day, but 'Manhattan' is another brilliant movie that pitches the romantic perfectly. Another talent of Allen's is the ability to, more often than not, gets the best out of the actors. Most Hollywood actors wants to work with Allen, and that is no small part to his directing ability, allowing the actors the freedom to run with and change the script, by trusting them the actors repay Allen by giving outstanding performances which have won a number of academy awards.
Woody Allen has made around one film per year since the 1960's, and as well as critical and box office hits, there have been a number of films that haven't been, lets say, as successful. Films such as 'Cassandra's Dream', 'Melinda and Melinda', 'Curse of the Jade Scorpion', and 'Whatever Works' might not be the most popular movies made, but they all have something positive about them and are often better than a lot of films that have been less criticised, although IMDB does rate them an average 6.5+ a lot of forums and reviews have been less kind. Curse of the Jade Scorpion is pretty funny, Cassandra's dream is tense, although some of the drama is undermined by some poor acting on occasions (some strange accents). Melinda and Melinda is another provoking film that shows two sides and views to the same story, and is one film for me personally, where Will Ferell is actually quite likeable. And Whatever Works, with Larry David, is a bit awkward and clunky at times, but is again funny, and makes you think. Not to mention, it has also has given me one of my mottos that I like to live by, 'Whatever Works'. One of my favourite things about Allen is that the next film is only just around the corner, and after times of unsuccessful films another very good film appears. Match Point, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Midnight in Paris and many more have all been described as 'return to form' films. He's had more 'return to forms' than most writers and directors could ever dream about having
The one thing a lot of people say about Allen is the controversy over his married life. He married his ex-partner's (Mia Farrow) adopted daughter Soon -Yi Preven. Now it sounds pretty bad however you dress it up, but I think it needs to be known that he didn't live with Farrow and Soon-Yi, Allen lived across the park and never had a father type of relationship with her. Not only is what happened legal but they have been together for over 20 years and that must count for something. Whatever you think of the story it shouldn't affect your views on his work. It does however lead to some incredible scenes in 'Husbands and Wives' which continued filming a few days after Mia had found out about the affair and includes a passionate break up scene by the two characters played by Allen and Farrow.
No other person, or at least celebrity has had an affect on my view of the world. There is something that he continues to say that just resonates with me and something that I just get with out any effort. His jokes and films are as relevant today as when they where filmed, and haven't seemed to age. If I was half as talented as he is I would be a happy man, or at the very least, far wealthier.
I have only touched on a few of Allen's movies and as I type "Blue Jasmine" has just had it's american release and to good reviews and a quick look at IMDB shows that he has already started filming his next one. At this rate it is going to take me a long time to get through the backlog but it will be fun. In the mean time I will leave you with a joke from Annie Hall....
There are other great films by Allen, and im sure I could lecture on these all day, but 'Manhattan' is another brilliant movie that pitches the romantic perfectly. Another talent of Allen's is the ability to, more often than not, gets the best out of the actors. Most Hollywood actors wants to work with Allen, and that is no small part to his directing ability, allowing the actors the freedom to run with and change the script, by trusting them the actors repay Allen by giving outstanding performances which have won a number of academy awards.
