I just don't get Woody Allen....

[DVad3r]

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone

Originally posted by: DVad3r
Total peon, I consider myself to be pretty well versed when it comes to movies but if you asked me to name you a movie with him I'd pull a blank. I don't get his acting style, his jokes, his looks. Don't see anything special in what he does/presents himself.

You can't be "well versed when it comes to movies" if you aren't familiar with Annie Hall or Manhattan. Even if you don't like them, they are historically significant films that most critics agree are modern classics.

And if you want something truly groundbreaking check out some early Polanski films, that's what I call "genius".

Or even Kieslowski.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krzysztof_Kie%C5%9Blowski

l2film

woody allen = overated peon

 

[SSSnail]

Mother + daughter = genius in my book.

 

[DVad3r]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
He's painful, but I'd rather pummel my testicles with a hammer than watch anything Bill Murray has been in since Ghostbusters. He has a cult following but IMO the movies he's in all suck terribly bloated horse balls.

Umm Lost in Translation was one of the most bad ass movies of all time, and the other one he was in was good also, where he was a womanizer and paid visits to all his ex's, flowers something it was called.

He's not good for all roles, just select, unfortunetely Hollywood doesn't care about that.

 

[RaistlinZ]

I agree with the OP. Eccentric =/= genius.

 

[midwestfisherman]

He's an idiot!

 

[EvilYoda]

He's a brilliant writer and director - I can't stand most of his recent work with him as the actor though.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: QED
I think a long time ago some elite (but eccentric) NY socialite once saw a Woodie Allen movie and actually liked it, and told their friends about it at their swanky A-list cocktail parties in the Hamptons. Not wanting to seem unhip or offend their host, they professed to loving the movie as well--some even called Allen a comedic genius-- even though they had never seen it. Pretty soon this talk spread across the most desirable cocktail parties across the urban landscape--particularly New York. Allen became the greatest movie director with a resume of movies a mile long almost noone has every actually seen, much less enjoyed.

It helps Allen that his supposed movie genius dovetails nicely with NYC's infatuation with itself. If Woodie Allen was some mormon from Utah and made the same exact craptastic movies, he'd be laughed out of Hollywood.

I'd bet that this scenario is VERY close to exactly how Woody Allen became popular for making otherwise very mediocre movies.

 

[sandorski]

I love his movies. He started more zany(Take the Money and Run and Everything You Wanted to Know About Sex but Was Afraid to Ask), but eventually became the more one Act kinda guy of the last couple decades, but I always laugh. His schtick, as it was for his Standup, has always been the stereotypical insecure Jew. His constant rambling on about little insignificant things I just find funny.

Radio Days is my favorite, just a great movie.

 

[preslove]

All his good movies came out in the 70's.

If you don't like Annie Hall, then you suck and have no taste.

 

[Wuffsunie]

I agree with the OP, Allen is so over-rated it makes my brain hurt.

I've seen very little of his stuff. Not Manhattan or Annie Hall. Saw Sleeper, thought that was okay. Had some amusing bits. The ending of Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex But Were Afraid to Ask was quite funny the one time I saw it, mostly for being so insanely over the top. I mean, I had to give it that for the sheer WTF factor of the hunting and trapping of the giant boob. Looking over his BIO on IMDB, that's about it.

Mostly I know him from his media appearances where his manner and voice just grate on me like a rusty file. He just strikes me as very irritating. Probably the biggest thing I find annoying about him is how he seems to let (especially in the last few decades) Little Woody make all or most of his decisions. For me, the man's libido overshadows all he does, and for a man like that... gah!

 

[Born2bwire]

Originally posted by: preslove
All his good movies came out in the 70's.

If you don't like Annie Hall, then you suck and have no taste.

I agree, the stuff I have seen of his that was really good all came out in the 70's. For me, a lot of it is about the writing, the dialogue that is funny. I have seen a few of his more recent stuff and they are just so-so.

C'mon, What's Up Tiger Lily was pretty funny.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: preslove
All his good movies came out in the 70's.

If you don't like Annie Hall, then you suck and have no taste.

Disagree. Broadway Danny Rose is one of my very favorites, and Zelig was great too. Among the more serious ones, I thought Match Point was quite good for what it was.

 

[91TTZ]

I don't like him at all. His schtick is horribly annoying and not at all funny. His only claim to fame is that he's a Jewish guy in Hollywood that acts extremely Jewish.

 

[zinfamous]

I'm not surprised.

Your humorless naivetee has been on full display in this forums.

Woody Allen rocks.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ
I don't like him at all. His schtick is horribly annoying and not at all funny. His only claim to fame is that he's a Jewish guy in Hollywood that acts extremely Jewish.

He's not really part of the Hollywood system, and his films aren't shot there.

What do you mean he "acts extremely Jewish"?

 

[zinfamous]

Annie Hall and Manhattan are masterpieces.

Bullets over Broadway, Manhattan Murder Mystery, Mighty Aphrodite, a bit newer and also great.

Match Point and Vicky Cristina Barcelona are a complete departure from his normal schtick and both are fantastic. (even if you're a mouth-breathing collar popper and don't "get" the film, there is something wrong with you if you can't enjoy Scarlett Johansen and Penelope Cruz in VCB)

GF and I just watched "Love and Death," and it's absolutely hilarious. Very reminiscent of Monty Python type humor, and doesn't really require the type of bookish background that most of his humor does.

 

[Dumac]

I love how everyone calls him overrated when only a handfew of people say he is good.

I've always liked Woody Allen (grew up watching his movies as a kid), but most of the people I know wouldn't agree. I don't find him in any way overrated.

 

[Oil]

Take the Money and Run and Bananas are my two most favorite Woody Allen films.

 

[arrfep]

Don't you mean Woody Hallen?

 

[LS21]

cuz hes old and that means we're supposed to respect him

 

[thomsbrain]

I love Woody Allen, though I don't think he's a god or anything. And some of his movies have been dogs, but he's also done some great ones. To each his own.

 

[DVad3r]

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone

Originally posted by: 91TTZ
I don't like him at all. His schtick is horribly annoying and not at all funny. His only claim to fame is that he's a Jewish guy in Hollywood that acts extremely Jewish.

He's not really part of the Hollywood system, and his films aren't shot there.

What do you mean he "acts extremely Jewish"?

I'd like to make a genuine thought out comment in response to your statement but I am afraid of being banned, so I will contain myself.

 

[IGBT]

..he likes to grow wives.

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: DVad3r

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone

Originally posted by: 91TTZ
I don't like him at all. His schtick is horribly annoying and not at all funny. His only claim to fame is that he's a Jewish guy in Hollywood that acts extremely Jewish.

He's not really part of the Hollywood system, and his films aren't shot there.

What do you mean he "acts extremely Jewish"?

I'd like to make a genuine thought out comment in response to your statement but I am afraid of being banned, so I will contain myself.

c'mon, do it. This forum needs more of your Nazi opinions.

 

[grrl]

Originally posted by: Dumac
I love how everyone calls him overrated when only a handfew of people say he is good.

I've always liked Woody Allen (grew up watching his movies as a kid), but most of the people I know wouldn't agree. I don't find him in any way overrated.

I agree. Someone like Tarantino is much more overrated than Woody Allen.


I like Allen's earlier stuff better, but I found it harder to like his movies after he started dating his daughter. There is something very pathetic (and creepy) about the man.