I'd say, hesitantly, Play It Again Sam because it's not too episodic. Hannah and Her Sisters I have a sneaky admiration for but wish Allen hadn't been in it. Manhattan is a curate's egg, you're fooled into thinking it's a masterpiece, when in actual fact it is supreme self indulgence with great artistic direction (very French). Love and Death is easily his funniest but is very episodic, it's my favourite, but surely can't be his best...?
Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ March 27 2010, 5:57 PM GMTManhattan is a curate's egg, you're fooled into thinking it's a masterpiece, when in actual fact it is supreme self indulgence with great artistic direction (very French).
That sentence caused me to experience an embolism at far too close a range for comfort.
Broadway Danny Rose - prob my favourite but hard to call. When I was at film school a fine arts post grad on the course with me had a very dismissive attitude to him - so I made him watch it and his entire attitude changed. I fancy I might have another viewing of Mighty Aphrodite - only sen it once but remember enjoying it immensely.
Yep, Broadway Danny Rose has shifted to become my favourite of his 70s-80s films. It oozes charm, warmth, and is still as beautiful to look at as Manhattan, even minus the latter's more iconic backdrops.
I have to share in the hate of Manhattan, I just fail to see how it's so universally loved. His funniest film is 'Love and Death', I also love 'Sleeper', 'Take The Money and Run' and 'Play it Again Sam. His best film has to be Annie Hall though, It's the only time I think he gets the blend of comedy and drama correct. Honorable mention to Match Point, a really good film with a cracking twist at the end, easily the best of his more recent stuff. I've yet to see Broadway Danny Rose, so maybe that will change my opinion, but currently it's Annie Hall.
The Purple Rose of Cairo gets my vote for its laughs, heart and a bittersweet beauty.
I can understand not loving Manhattan, or disagreeing with its popularity. But do you really actually 'hate' it??
Small Time Crooks was quite enjoyable.
Quote: Badge @ March 28 2010, 6:51 PM GMTThe Purple Rose of Cairo gets my vote for its laughs, heart and a bittersweet beauty.
I like that film but it is dementedly miserablist.
I do like the early comedies. When he finished with therapy he seemed happy to live with being an asshole and that killed his comedy mojo.
He reminds me of Neal Simon, who I find almost as funny.
Quote: zooo @ March 28 2010, 7:04 PM GMTI can understand not loving Manhattan, or disagreeing with its popularity. But do you really actually 'hate' it??
I don't hate it no, I do intensely dislike it though, and I'll admit the fact it is so popular only increases my dislike for it. I think it represents the worst of Woody. It's self-indulgent, with a story we've seen umpteen times before and since in Woody's films, and most importantly, I didn't find it funny. I'm watching Manhattan Murder Mystery at the moment, now this is some funny stuff.
Purple Rose of Cairo is great too if my memory is correct, though isn't the ending quite cruel?
I might have a go sometime at the many later films I've ignored, BDR, PROC, MMM etc. but I hated Radio Days. Ever since the fairly decent HAHS I've always thought he's tried to hard to prove himself as a serious film maker and he can be pretentious. I prefer it when he was sending all pretention up in his earlier films.
Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ March 28 2010, 8:10 PM GMTEver since the fairly decent HAHS I've always thought he's tried to hard to prove himself as a serious film maker and he can be pretentious. I prefer it when he was sending all pretention up in his earlier films.
I tend to agree with this.
Quote: Mickeza @ March 28 2010, 7:57 PM GMTPurple Rose of Cairo is great too if my memory is correct, though isn't the ending quite cruel?
**SPOILER ALERT**
I don't think the ending is cruel; more that it is realistic (in a film that completely toys with what is real and what isn't). To me it says dreams and fantasies will always live on no matter how shit your life is.
Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ March 27 2010, 5:57 PM GMTI'd say, hesitantly, Play It Again Sam because it's not too episodic.
I watched this again recently and although there is still much that I like it did seem really really slow. Get on with it, guys! I thought.
Quote: Badge @ March 28 2010, 8:44 PM GMTI don't think the ending is cruel; more that it is realistic (in a film that completely toys with what is real and what isn't). To me it says dreams and fantasies will always live on no matter how shit your life is.
***SPOILER***
Agree with Badge re: bittersweet rather than cruel although it is a very fine distinction within the film. The great irony in TPROC is that the heroine's opening stasis is of escaping reality through the fantasy world of movies; has that fantasy world become real and offer her the potential of true love; but she rejects it for the real world (mainly because she was played upon by the real-life movie star), and yet when reality inevitably fails, she returns to escapism at the closing stasis.
Either she never learned her journey's lesson or she discovered that her opening compromise (between Escapism and the resulting conflict with reality) was the solution that had worked best for her. The first is tragic, the second is more pragmatic. Either way, I feel enormous empathy for the heroine. It never fails to make me hold back the tears for her. Despite the fact that we see she is clearly happy again, sat in the cinema.
Personally, I don't think there are enough sad endings in films, happy endings don't make so much an impression on me as the truly tragic tale.
Quote: SlagA @ March 28 2010, 9:03 PM GMTPersonally, I don't think there are enough sad endings in films, happy endings don't make so much an impression on me as the truly tragic tale.
Hey could you go to Hollywood and tell the idiot mogules that please! Some studios seem to have banned anything but the happiest of endings for their movies, but they are so wrong in their thinking.
Now you've got me thinking of doing a Top Ten Tragic Endings or Tragic Films. Hmmm, The Brothers Karamazov would definitely be in it, I can't think of a film that's moved me more, off the top of my head.
Quote: SlagA @ March 28 2010, 9:03 PM GMT***SPOILER***
Agree with Badge re: bittersweet rather than cruel although it is a very fine distinction within the film. The great irony in TPROC is that the heroine's opening stasis is of escaping reality through the fantasy world of movies; has that fantasy world become real and offer her the potential of true love; but she rejects it for the real world (mainly because she was played upon by the real-life movie star), and yet when reality inevitably fails, she returns to escapism at the closing stasis.
Either she never learned her journey's lesson or she discovered that her opening compromise (between Escapism and the resulting conflict with reality) was the solution that had worked best for her. The first is tragic, the second is more pragmatic. Either way, I feel enormous empathy for the heroine. It never fails to make me hold back the tears for her. Despite the fact that we see she is clearly happy again, sat in the cinema.
Personally, I don't think there are enough sad endings in films, happy endings don't make so much an impression on me as the truly tragic tale.
I don't think Woody Allen himself could have given a better account of the ending, top class stuff. I'll admit to never actually analyzing the film before, but it does all make theoretical sense now. On the theme of top class stuff, I finished watching Manhattan Murder Mystery, hilarious film, ""Claustrophobia and a dead body - this is a neurotic's jackpot!" I really wish Woody would just do more fun films like this one, but who am I to lecture to the master. I guess I'll just have to try and write them myself 