tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post2092861305410113879..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Woody Allen's best six moviesBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-23243136222127778702013-01-12T10:25:02.267-08:002013-01-12T10:25:02.267-08:00Woody Allen took years to grow on me, but now I ad...Woody Allen took years to grow on me, but now I adore several of his films but yes he went through a major slump for quite some time.<br /><br />Of the six he listed, only one would make my top 5 and it actually is one the battles between my first and second choice and that is THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO.<br /><br />The others listed are either overrated (BULLETS OVER BROADWAY) or mildly successful (ZELIG) or good but not spectacular work (MATCH POINT and VICKY CHRISTINA BARCELONA).<br /><br />My list of his best would be:<br />#1-The Purple Rose of Cairo<br />#2-Hannah and her Sisters<br />#3-Radio Days<br />#4-Annie Hall<br />#5-Crimes and Misdemeanors<br />#6-Love & Death<br />#7-Stardust Memories<br />#8-Sleeper<br />#9-Midnight in Paris<br />#10-InteriorsAnthony: The Theatre & Film Buffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00101140682755929574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-91878958659368259112012-02-28T15:18:56.057-08:002012-02-28T15:18:56.057-08:00I wonder how many of the posts from now on will in...I wonder how many of the posts from now on will include Midnight in Paris? - it's definitely shot into my top six, along with:<br /><br />Radio Days<br />Crimes and Misdemeanours<br />Sweet and Lowdown<br />Annie Hall<br />Manhattan<br /><br />My honourable mentions have to include:<br /><br />Broadway Danny Rose<br />Deconstructing Harry <br />Play it again Sam &<br />Hannah and her Sisters<br /><br />...all of which should also really be in my top six too!<br /><br />I really feel that Midnight in Paris is a major return to form, noting that there appears to be very few votes for the films made between 2000 and 2007!Steve Burtonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-51099399494877859692012-02-10T09:17:26.244-08:002012-02-10T09:17:26.244-08:00It is unwise to put a uniform gauge on Woody Allen...It is unwise to put a uniform gauge on Woody Allen movies. He is/was a prolific film maker who made movies based on his sudden urges. How many of us are creatively endowed to do the same in other walks of life (over which we claim lordship)?<br />Movie making must obviously involve many more external variables (outside of film maker's control) than say painting or photography. So it is not possible to produce a consistent product. When Woody Allen ranks his movies, he is probably only ranking those over which he felt he had greater creative control.<br />He is a great mind who makes entertaining films and characters. Every work of his deserves multiple viewings (and unsurprisingly, feel even more satisfying). Though some of us may not have enjoyed some of his works, none of his attempts are frivolous. As somebody put it before, his works may best be categorized as good or great.Mandeephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11876934127968042458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-63153766769938459112011-05-10T15:33:09.549-07:002011-05-10T15:33:09.549-07:00Woody's top twelve, in order:
Excellent:
Anni...Woody's top twelve, in order:<br /><br />Excellent:<br />Annie Hall (1977)<br />Love and Death (1975) <br />Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) [or ahead of Love and Death]<br />Interiors (1978)<br />Sleeper (1973)<br /><br />Very Good:<br />Play It Again, Sam (1972)<br />Manhattan (1979)<br />Radio Days (1987)<br />Husbands and Wives (1992)<br /><br />Good (top three only):<br />Take the Money and Run (1969)<br />Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989)<br />Bananas (1971)Paul Guaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-45986549063197597662010-07-30T00:08:10.563-07:002010-07-30T00:08:10.563-07:00Annie Hall is an awesome movie!iAnnie Hall is an awesome movie!iEric Schiffer Fanhttp://people.famouswhy.com/eric_schiffer/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-30854055793557656402010-07-20T11:30:15.972-07:002010-07-20T11:30:15.972-07:00First Team:
Crimes And Misdemeanors
Hannah And Her...First Team:<br />Crimes And Misdemeanors<br />Hannah And Her Sisters<br />Manhattan<br />Annie Hall<br />Love And Death<br />Broadway Danny Rose<br /><br />Bench:<br />Bullets Over Broadway<br />The Purple Rose Of Cairo<br />Radio Days<br />Sweet ANd LowdownCristonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-18522320410579513512010-07-18T14:33:05.336-07:002010-07-18T14:33:05.336-07:00Broadway Danny Rose in a walk.Broadway Danny Rose in a walk.itzik basmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04819878847328122792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-60532575465936545322010-07-11T08:50:15.791-07:002010-07-11T08:50:15.791-07:00Sleeper ('73)
Love and Death ('75)
Annie H...Sleeper ('73)<br />Love and Death ('75)<br />Annie Hall ('77)<br />(As good a back to back to back as any writer/director has had.)<br />Manhattan ('79)<br />Broadway Danny Rose('84)<br />Hannah And Her Sisters('86)<br />(If only it had ended two minutes earlier with the Michael Caine voice-over and not the tacked on happy ending that even Woody has disowned.)scottmcnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-14312196447077283322010-07-10T10:49:43.659-07:002010-07-10T10:49:43.659-07:00I did love Woody's films but that was so two o...I did love Woody's films but that was so two or three decades ago. I don't dismiss them entirely, but at least for now I don't have much desire to revisit them. I think the decision he made in his personal life got to be too much even for me- too egocentric. As I've gotten older that does influence how I perceive an artist, and Woody's films do very much mirror his personality.<br /><br />Back in the day some of my favorites were:<br /><br />Stardust Memories<br />Annie Hall<br />Manhattan<br />Crimes and Misdeanors<br />Hannah and her Sisters<br />SleeperRaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-89688998027825167202010-07-10T00:18:48.863-07:002010-07-10T00:18:48.863-07:00Oh, I just remembered, What's New Pussycat and...Oh, I just remembered, <i>What's New Pussycat</i> and <i>What's Up Tigerlilly</i>.Dr. Leo Marvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07669626692363827776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-84415559093042367222010-07-10T00:15:40.866-07:002010-07-10T00:15:40.866-07:00So late to the party I must be writing this to mys...So late to the party I must be writing this to myself. Oh well.... My list, which I made after reading the first line of the post, is identical to Ken's. And the only one I'd add to his honorable mention list is <i>Play it Again Sam</i>.Dr. Leo Marvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07669626692363827776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-87765489599729847992010-07-09T11:32:29.455-07:002010-07-09T11:32:29.455-07:00I forgot to say this: Zelig. While other people (S...I forgot to say this: Zelig. While other people (Siskel, for one I remember) tried to squeeze all sorts of sociological significance out of this one, I thought it was more like the old days of Take The Money and Run and What's Up Tiger Lily...Zelig in a Yankees uniform or disrupting a Hitler speech...silly fun that was a relief after Interiors and Stardust Memories.Harwood Benjaminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08508486137518340960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-63366067073500765622010-07-09T11:26:46.105-07:002010-07-09T11:26:46.105-07:00I'm one of those people who the Woodman mocked...I'm one of those people who the Woodman mocked in Stardust Memories because I fondly recall only "the funny ones" he used to make.<br />(Take The Money & Run, Bananas, Sleeper, Love and Death, What's Up Tiger Lily, Parts of Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex) They may not have been the best "movies," but when his movies stopped being "Woody Allen" comedies, no one stepped up to consistently filled the voidHarwood Benjaminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08508486137518340960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-57527767233540050862010-07-09T04:33:07.201-07:002010-07-09T04:33:07.201-07:00Agree with most of what you say, Ken. Longtime Woo...Agree with most of what you say, Ken. Longtime Woody fan here since childhood, and his films "grew up" at the same pace I did, so it was a great lifetime experience to mature as a fan along with his works.<br /><br />You mention that Woody coulda/shoulda picked Manhattan for his "best" list. Here's the thing I don't understand about Woody's insight into his own films, that one in particular.<br /><br />Woody has noted in more than one source (his semi-authorized biography by Eric Lax, for one) that he was so unsatisfied with Manhattan upon completion that he offered the studio, UA, to do his next two films for free if they burned the negative. But UA had such faith that they declined the offer.<br /><br />It astounds me why he had such little faith in that film.<br /><br />Regarding the lists, though, Husbands & Wives is still one of my faves. The shakey-cam never bothered me, even though that style is nauseating in other films. And I thought Match Point would have been perfect if it hadn't been a remake of half of Crimes & Misd.Michael in Vancouvernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-92166416291364047522010-07-08T19:27:02.701-07:002010-07-08T19:27:02.701-07:00yes, i like many of the same y'all have listed...yes, i like many of the same y'all have listed, but my favorite is "radio days". <br /><br />sadly, i read mia's book, believed every word and now gag at the thought of him.normadesmondhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17325110017442011627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-4161851249668996982010-07-08T16:32:18.464-07:002010-07-08T16:32:18.464-07:00Take The Money And Run
Bananas
Play It Again, Sam
...Take The Money And Run<br />Bananas<br />Play It Again, Sam<br />Annie Hall<br />Manhattan<br />Hannah and Her SistersKirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155991693956178030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-65966887158960165672010-07-08T16:16:16.442-07:002010-07-08T16:16:16.442-07:00Fun subject.
Take a look at "Manhattan Mur...Fun subject. <br /><br />Take a look at "Manhattan Murder Mystery" again. It it the most purely charming film he's ever made. Totally enjoyable.<br /><br />Also, "Zelig." I loved it when it came out and it holds up remarkably well in story and technique. Plus, it's nice after what feels like decades of phoned-in movies, to recall one with some ambition.<br /><br />And, come on Woody: "Annie Hall" is tops!Cybermonikernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-25448664167036480802010-07-08T16:14:05.978-07:002010-07-08T16:14:05.978-07:00Fun subject.
Take a look at "Manhattan Mur...Fun subject. <br /><br />Take a look at "Manhattan Murder Mystery" again. It it the most purely charming film he's ever made. Totally enjoyable.<br /><br />Also, "Zelig." I loved it when it came out and saw it again recently. It holds up in story and technique. Plus, it's nice after what feels like decades of phoned-in movies, to see one with some ambition.<br /><br />And, come on Woody: "Annie Hall" is tops!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-53209341379304110562010-07-08T15:56:18.257-07:002010-07-08T15:56:18.257-07:00According to USA Today, upon Hanna
& Her Siste...According to USA Today, upon Hanna<br />& Her Sisters original release, a movement was afoot to try to make Allen's script the first screenplay to be nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.Tim Tiptonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14307239245126745855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-22754872718777632032010-07-08T13:46:46.792-07:002010-07-08T13:46:46.792-07:00There's just something about seeing the words ...There's just something about seeing the words Woody Allen and best movies in the same sentence that strikes me as oxymoronic.Emmett Flatusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-40257670641654656272010-07-08T09:12:53.818-07:002010-07-08T09:12:53.818-07:00Tallulah Morehead said...
"Tom said...
...Tallulah Morehead said...<br /><br /> "Tom said...<br /> I've often wondered i[f]n Woody Allen is the Shakespeare of our time,"<br /><br /> Boy, you certainly have a low opinion of Shakespeare.<br /><br /><br />YES...WS is greatly overrated.Tom Clendening - General Manager, KSER Foundationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02060796626687186682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-537954815379146902010-07-08T06:58:52.553-07:002010-07-08T06:58:52.553-07:00Woody Allen is one of my favorite filmmakers. Here...Woody Allen is one of my favorite filmmakers. Here's my list of his five best films:<br /><br />MANHATTAN <br />(Probably the most beautiful film I've ever seen. Every time I watch it I have a smile on my face from beginning to end)<br /><br />ZELIG<br />(An intellectual and technical exercise, but one which is exceedingly well done. Whenever I see a clip from the dreadful "Forrest Gump" my estimation of "Zelig" goes up even more)<br /><br />HANNAH AND HER SISTERS<br />(My second favorite film of all time ("Rear Window" is my absolute fave). I watch it at least once a year (usually around Thanksgiving) and it continues to boggle my mind by just how good it is)<br /><br />CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS<br />(Great film that explores complex ideas about morality without feeling didactic and preachy. It also has two of the funniest jokes I've ever heard in a movie: the first one is Woody's reaction to his wife's reaction to his sister's recent disastrous date ("What explanation could I give you that would possibly satisfy you?); the other is when Woody mentions to Mia Farrow that he cribbed most of his love letters to her from James Joyce ("You were probably wondering why all the references to Dublin"))<br /><br />HUSBANDS AND WIVES<br />(I think this is an underrated masterpiece, shaky camera work and all. I just watched it again about a month ago and it's still brilliant, especially Sydney Pollack's performance)<br /><br />-------------------<br /><br />Other films of his that I like quite a bit but which don't quite make the cut.<br /><br />"Annie Hall" used to be a favorite but the older I get the more I think the second half of the film (especially after they go to L.A.) just doesn't work that well.<br /><br />"Purple Rose of Cairo" is pretty great, but I find that I have no desire to ever go back and revisit it.<br /><br />"Broadway Danny Rose" was an average film that had a great, great ending. The last ten minutes of the film almost saved the rest of the movie. "Manhattan Murder Mystery," on the other hand, was a perfectly good film up until its final ten or fifteen minutes at which point it just fell apart for me.<br /><br />"Mighty Aphrodite" almost works. There's just this tinge of bitterness that runs through it and most of his post-Mia work that I find unfortunate.<br /><br />"Take the Money and Run" is one of the funniest films I've seen. But the story isn't strong and my interest almost always wanes after about 45 minutes or so.<br /><br />"Another Woman" was probably my favorite of Woody's "serious" films, but it still feels a bit too derivative of Bergman.<br /><br />I also think it's interesting to view his failures (when a great artist fails, they fail big). For my money his three worst films are "September," "Everyone Says I Love You," and "Deconstructing Harry."Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690751692093581750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-20059188396189683912010-07-08T06:06:38.266-07:002010-07-08T06:06:38.266-07:00Crimes & Misdomeanors
Hannah & Her Sisters...Crimes & Misdomeanors<br />Hannah & Her Sisters<br />Purple Rose of Cairo<br />Take The Money & Run<br />Everyone Says I Love You <br />Annie Hall<br /><br />and "Manhattan" for the great B&W cinematographyBob Harlownoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-2528724216114370192010-07-08T04:02:50.124-07:002010-07-08T04:02:50.124-07:00I'll say Annie Hall, Hannah & Her Sisters ...I'll say Annie Hall, Hannah & Her Sisters and Crimes and Misdemeanors are in the cannon, so I'll only do two:<br /><br />Manhattan Murder Mystery - If I recall correctly (IIRC), this was a subplot of the original Annie Hall? Great to see Woody, Brickman and Keaton doing great work. Funny and brisk. Loved it.<br /><br />Everyone Says I Love You - The film as a whole is so-so, but the scene with Allen and Goldie Hawn on the river bank at the end is just... I dare you to put that against anything ever preserved on film and say that it's not in the top ten moments.Kendallnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-28160576286734074162010-07-08T03:20:29.728-07:002010-07-08T03:20:29.728-07:00Love and Death
Play It Again Sam
Bullets Over Broa...Love and Death<br />Play It Again Sam<br />Bullets Over Broadway. <br />Annie Hall<br />Sleeper<br />Manhattan<br />Vicky Christina Barcelona is not entirely unwatchable due to it's one awesome redeeming feature - Penelope Cruz and Scarlett Johannson snogging. <br />Yes, I know I'm shallow.Macnoreply@blogger.com