ghost of miles Posted December 4, 2004 Report Share Posted December 4, 2004 My favorite from the "early" period is SLEEPER (particularly the scene where Woody, disguising himself as a robot-servant, won't let go of the "orb" and also has to fend off a gigantic jello that's attacking him--also Rex the robotic dog--"Hello! I'm Rex! Woof, woof!"), MANHATTAN from the middle period, and either CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS or MANHATTAN MURDER MYSTERY from the later films. (Haven't seen many of the recent ones.) A friend of mine and I all but worshipped the three books--WITHOUT FEATHERS, SIDE EFFECTS, and GETTING EVEN--when we were in high school. Used to quote them all the time to each other. "Remembering Needleman" was a particular favorite, as were the ballet descriptions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patricia Posted December 5, 2004 Report Share Posted December 5, 2004 (edited) Since this is (I think) a jazz forum, I just want to say that I love his movie and soundtrack to Wild Man Blues (about his Dixieland jazz band and its tour of Europe; I can't believe no one has mentioned this one!) and the old classic jazz on films like Radio Days. I'd like to see/hear him play live, but it sounds a little pricey and the surroundings a bit stuffy. He's the first to admit he's no great clarinet player, but he enjoys playing, so more power to him! (I think he's named two of his kids after Satchmo & Bechet.) I was surprised that nobody had mentioned "Wild Man Blues", since I find this film facinating. Someone did mention that Allen is not the most brilliant clarinettist, though he clearly loves jazz, but the insight into his personality is interesting. Edited December 5, 2004 by patricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Late Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 (edited) Bringing this one back up. It doesn't look like anyone's mentioned The Purple Rose of Cairo. This one, and Stardust Memories, I believe are listed by Allen himself as his two personal favorites in Stig Bjorkman's biography/interview book. Don't forget Sweet and Low-Down, too. While Sean Penn may not be the most convincing looking guitarist, this one still has its moments. Nat Hentoff (and Ira Gitler?) is in it briefly. At one time, my brother and I had several lines memorized (or we thought we had them memorized) from Manhattan. Lessee, I won't get these verbatim, but they're something like ... "I was just about to throw you down on the lunar surface and commit interstellar perversion." "I was sitting here reading the newspaper. I always get stuck on the lingerie ads — I find them highly erotic." "You know a lot of geniuses. You should meet some stupid people once in a while." There are a ton more from this movie (e.g. The Academy of the Overrated.) And one from Stardust Memories: Allen (watching his edited movie): "What, what is that? That's the silliest thing I've ever seen." Producers: "It's Jazz Heaven." Also, though it's not an Allen film, has anyone seen The Front? Great early Allen in an acting role. Edited February 3, 2005 by Late Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LennyH Posted February 4, 2005 Report Share Posted February 4, 2005 It's great to see a Woody thread! I happen to be watching "Another Woman" right now. Woody helped get me into Jazz. I've seen all of Woody's movies at least once. The only ones I truly didn't enjoy were Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy and Anything Else (I even enjoyed Hollywood Ending much more than this one). But even when it comes to most of Woody's "lesser" films, I'd rather be watching his stuff than almost anything else. Great quotes above. I whipped out a great Woody quote the other night when it was appropriate for a situation. To Merill Streep: "My analyst warned me about you. But you were so beautiful that I got another analyst". Favorites: Hannah and Her Sisters (had to see this one 12 or 14 times) Manhattan Stardust Memories Annie Hall I'm hoping he returns to form with the next one (Will Ferrell is in it). It got some good reviews in Europe but there might have been some delays in releasing in the US (Not a good sign). Lenny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Late Posted February 4, 2005 Report Share Posted February 4, 2005 I'm hoping he returns to form with the next one (Will Ferrell is in it). Whoa — what's the title? How long has it been out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quincy Posted February 4, 2005 Report Share Posted February 4, 2005 I'm hoping he returns to form with the next one (Will Ferrell is in it). Whoa — what's the title? How long has it been out? Melinda and Melinda link to IMDB. Not a very promising write up on the site. Late, are you back from seeing Herbie? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted February 4, 2005 Report Share Posted February 4, 2005 I'm hoping he returns to form with the next one (Will Ferrell is in it). Whoa — what's the title? How long has it been out? The film 'Melinda and Melinda' has been out in France for three weeks. Woody Allen's films usually make it big over here but this one has been a boxoffice (and a critical) failure. Have not seen it. Woody Allen does not play in the film. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Late Posted February 4, 2005 Report Share Posted February 4, 2005 Late, are you back from seeing Herbie? Yes! Did you go? I really enjoyed the show. (Had to stay up late afterward to grade ENG 105 papers, though.) I'll try to post some thoughts tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quincy Posted February 4, 2005 Report Share Posted February 4, 2005 Late, are you back from seeing Herbie? Yes! Did you go? I really enjoyed the show. (Had to stay up late afterward to grade ENG 105 papers, though.) I'll try to post some thoughts tomorrow. Yes indeed! Good to see that it sold out too. I have no idea what that strange (almost) whiskey flask shaped instrument was that Brecker played alone on stage, but that sure was a surprising part of the show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank m Posted February 4, 2005 Report Share Posted February 4, 2005 Could some of you Allen Mavens remind me of the movie in which the following scene occurs?? 5 or 6 guys are carrying another one on a cross horrizontally along a street filled with parked cars. They pass a parking spot and begin to back into it, Another group carrying a different guy on a cross noses into the spot ahead of the backing up group.They drop the guys on the crosses and fight. The product of a weird and inscrutable mind. I don't know what it means, but I love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Late Posted February 5, 2005 Report Share Posted February 5, 2005 Frank, I can't place that scene, but it sounds like an earlier Allen film. Bananas maybe? That was one of Sylvester Stallone's first roles (though not the first). (Maybe easy) trivia: • In which Allen film did Sharon Stone have her film debut? • What was the last Allen film Tony Roberts was in? • How many Allen films has David Ogden Stiers been in? • Who was worse in their respective Allen film role — Madonna or Demi Moore? Quincy, I think Brecker was playing a modified EWI (electronic wind instrument). Wanna post your thoughts on the show in the New Directions thread? Maybe you had a different take than I did ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quincy Posted February 5, 2005 Report Share Posted February 5, 2005 Quincy, I think Brecker was playing a modified EWI (electronic wind instrument). Wanna post your thoughts on the show in the New Directions thread? Maybe you had a different take than I did ... Ah yes, I discovered the name of that creature after reading your review. I may add a little over at the thread, I just have feelings of inadequacy as a reviewer. This Woody thread has been terrific as I have "aged" a good number of his classic movies. By aged I mean like wine, I haven't seen many of them in 7 to 10 years, so as I've been watching them anew they have been wonderful, as there are some great scenes that I've forgotten. I hadn't seen Broadway Danny Rose since Seinfeld had come into being. So seeing Sandy Baron as the storyteller (who on Seinfeld played Jack down in FL - the friend & rival of Jerry's father in the retirement condo) was an added bonus. Some of the movies I still have scences memorized, but there have been so many good/great ones that seem like almost new next time I see them again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfred Posted December 1, 2005 Report Share Posted December 1, 2005 Happy birthday, Woody!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted December 1, 2005 Report Share Posted December 1, 2005 belatedly - that scene was from Bananas - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceH Posted December 2, 2005 Report Share Posted December 2, 2005 Sharon Stone had her film debut in Stardust Memories. David Ogden Stiers has been in approximately one million Allen films. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Berger Posted December 2, 2005 Report Share Posted December 2, 2005 What's the one where's they go into the future. That is priceless. Sleeper. This is one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. Especially when the doctors are shocked that his character won't eat deep fried fat. Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free For All Posted December 2, 2005 Report Share Posted December 2, 2005 What's the one where's they go into the future. That is priceless. Sleeper. This is one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. Especially when the doctors are shocked that his character won't eat deep fried fat. Guy And when they find the VW bug and it starts right up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sal Posted December 2, 2005 Report Share Posted December 2, 2005 After seeing about 5 Woody Allen movies, aside from "Annie Hall" I really didn't get what all the fuss was about. However, I finally saw "Manhatten" a couple weeks back, and I am now convinced of his genius. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Posted December 2, 2005 Report Share Posted December 2, 2005 • What was the last Allen film Tony Roberts was in? I'm pretty sure that Tony Roberts' last Woody film was "Radio Days." He has a very small role as the host of a game show on which Dianne Weist appears. I don't think he did any Woody films after that appearence... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalo Posted December 3, 2005 Report Share Posted December 3, 2005 (edited) In my teens and twenties I loved Woody. And I must have seen Sleeper at least 10, if not 20 times. I still consider it one of the best Science Fiction films of all time. But as the years have passed and the "early, funny films" (as he put it himself) have been far outpaced by the later unfunny or trying-but-not-succeeding-at-being-funny films, I've come to the conclusion that he's the George Lewis of cinema and the Ingmar Bergman of the clarinet despite all of his strenuous attempts at being the reverse. I predict that he'll be remembered for those few "early, funny films." Edited December 3, 2005 by Kalo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patricia Posted December 3, 2005 Report Share Posted December 3, 2005 After seeing about 5 Woody Allen movies, aside from "Annie Hall" I really didn't get what all the fuss was about. However, I finally saw "Manhatten" a couple weeks back, and I am now convinced of his genius. I'm lukewarm about "Manhatten", but love "Bullets Over Broadway" and especially, "Manhatten Murder Mystery". The best thing, IMO, about Allen's films is the dialogue. His people talk the way that people actually talk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Posted December 3, 2005 Report Share Posted December 3, 2005 After seeing about 5 Woody Allen movies, aside from "Annie Hall" I really didn't get what all the fuss was about. However, I finally saw "Manhatten" a couple weeks back, and I am now convinced of his genius. I'm lukewarm about "Manhatten", but love "Bullets Over Broadway" and especially, "Manhatten Murder Mystery". The best thing, IMO, about Allen's films is the dialogue. His people talk the way that people actually talk. That's because his actors are not given a script per se, but rather an outline of each scene and are told to simply wing it. The problem with this approach is that far too many of his actors start talking like him! I was a die-hard Woody fan in my teens and twenties as well. My favorites were (and remain): "Bananas," "Sleeper," "Love and Death," "Annie Hall," "Manhattan," "Stardust Memories," "Broadway Danny Rose," "Zelig," "The Purple Rose of Cairo," "Hannah and Her Sisters," "Radio Days," "Crimes and Misdemeanors," "Husbands and Wives," "Manhattan Murder Mystery," and "Bullets Over Broadway." I've hated virtually everything Woody's done since "Mighty Aphrodite," the first time I ever found myself wondering, "Where the hell is he going with this?" Since then, he's repeated himself over and over again. Each one of his recent films simply recycling ideas he did better in the past. "Small Time Crooks?" What's the point? He already did a "crime film" when he did "Take The Money and Run!" "Anything Else?" That one rips off "Annie Hall" AND "Broadway Danny Rose!" I've actually stopped seeing his films in the theater completely (the last one I saw was "Jade Scorpion") and have given up on seeing his films on video as well (I've still never seen "Hollywood Ending"). My disappointment is probably in direct proportion to my former fandom: I loved his stuff SO MUCH in the 80s and early 90s that I've grown disgusted with his fading talent. I was never turned off by the Soon-Yi scandal, but lousy movies are another matter entirely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertrand Posted December 3, 2005 Report Share Posted December 3, 2005 (edited) In which Allen film is there a scene where he's about to be shot by a firing squad and jumps over the wall, only to find another firing squad on the other side about to execute a guy? It might be Casino Royale, in which he has a farily small role. I remember liking 'Love And Death', but I haven't seen it in years. Bertrand. Edited December 3, 2005 by bertrand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjobbe Posted December 3, 2005 Report Share Posted December 3, 2005 ...? It might be Casino Royale, in which he has a farily small role... it is Casino Royal .... needless to say that this was censored in Germany with some cut-outs when the Berlin Wall broke and some scenes in the "interesting" Film Auctioning. On TV they still show this crippled version even now. (not sure about the German DVD though as I have the UK one that is complete but missing german sync at those scenes...) Cheers, Tjobbe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfred Posted December 3, 2005 Report Share Posted December 3, 2005 ... I predict that he'll be remembered for those few "early, funny films." He'll be remembered for his versatile work. The early comedies are only one chapter (and definitely not the best, IMO). Besides of his two crap movies from recent years (Small time crooks, Hollywood ending) there are so many gems. Another woman (1988) is his most underestimated film! No comedy, great film! What about Melinda & Melinda from last year? Did anyone see this movie in the states at all?!! Match Point will be his next masterwork (I trust in critics this time -_- ). You have a lot to discover! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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