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I've never liked his films. It isn't that I don't "get" them, it's that I don't think that they are interesting, funny, or entertaining.
And it's so much better when he doesn't appear in his films. I can't stand it when directors appear in their own films (unless it's Hitchock, who was the only director who pulled it off and only b/c his appearances were usually funny and random cameos).
I could care less about his personal life. That's nobody's business but his.
I like Take the Money and Run when I was a kid. But later I realized it was full of recycled jokes from other movies, such as Life of Brian and others.
I love Woody Allen--certainly not every film, but most of them.
Having grown up around a lot NYC Jews, I think he captures the culture brilliantly and hlilariously. Sometimes it's not so much that a scene is especially funny, but it's brilliant just because he captures the nuances so well.
I like most of his films, and put a handful among my all time favorites. Annie Hall, Manhattan, Stardust Memories, Hannah and he Sisters, Small Time Crooks, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Take the Money and Run, Zelig, Broadway Danny Rose...these are all great ones. He is probably the best writer/director for portraying the NYC spirit, at least during a certain period of history.
On the other hand, were I Jewish I might not be very happy, since I think as a rule he portrays jews in a somewhat mocking fashion. He never really addresses the real issues of Judaism in our culture...and his personal life is a mess, but that is nothing surprising.
Loved it! I ended up buying it. The literary caricatures were fun, and the cinematography enchanting.
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Originally Posted by Marie1249
I love Woody Allen--certainly not every film, but most of them.
Having grown up around a lot NYC Jews, I think he captures the culture brilliantly and hlilariously. Sometimes it's not so much that a scene is especially funny, but it's brilliant just because he captures the nuances so well.
Yes. For some people the NYC Jewish thing is obnoxious bickering, or perhaps boring intellectual BS, but for me it is familiar, nostalgic banter.
I just watched "Radio Days" for the first time last night. It was charming.
Its musical theme reminded me a bit of "Sweet and Lowdown."
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He never really addresses the real issues of Judaism in our culture...
Yes, perhaps his culture clash stuff is a bit superficial (remember in Annie Hall when Alvy meets the WASP family?) but it is effective seeing Woody Allen dressed as a Hasidic Jew (that's exactly how the anti-semetic grandmother sees him.)
And statements like this have some power: "My ‘grammy’ never gave gifts. She was too busy getting raped by Cossacks.”
Or this exchange: "What do you mean?!?! How can you not feel guilty??? My rabbi used to say we're all guilty in the eyes of god."
"Do you believe in god?"
"No ... but I feel guilty about it."
The thing is, there are religious Jews, and secular Jews. It's complicated.
Last edited by BlueWillowPlate; 05-13-2012 at 04:37 AM..
Annie Hall and Hannah and Her Sisters are 2 of the best movies I've ever seen. I thought Manhattan was reaching into the well one too many times and it didn't really make sense that Woody was dating a high school girl (although in retrospect it makes a great deal of sense). I liked what they were trying to do with the homage to 40s movies but the script was bad.
I like Take the Money and Run when I was a kid. But later I realized it was full of recycled jokes from other movies, such as Life of Brian and others.
Take The Money and Run was made 10 years before Life of Brian.
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