December 1, 2005

Woody at 70.

Woody Allen Woody Allen turns 70 today and just after midnight last night, which would have been late afternoon or early evening for most of you reading, 3sat launched a series of Allen's films that'll be broadcast over the next couple of days with Georg Stefan Troller's relaxed profile and interview. To see him and to listen to him, and he's looking and sounding pretty sharp for 70, is to be reminded how often profiles in print are tweaked according to the writer's expectations. Which are, naturally, that Woody Allen is at least something like the characters he's portrayed in his own films, characters which, after all, he's created himself and with whom he often shares a few of life's plot points. But as he answers questions with stone-cold sobriety, utterly untainted by any romantic notion whatsoever, you realize - again - that he's actually a whole lot smarter than anyone he's ever played.

At any rate, it's a shame round-number birthday profiles aren't a tradition in US papers. It would have been nice to see something in the New York Times. Regardless, turning elsewhere, first, the UK:

  • David Thomson in the Independent: "He retains a wistful notion that men (and women) with knowledge, reason, sensitivity and responsibility might yet be revealed as the inescapable core of society. In other words - and in the context of American film, this is shocking - he presents characters like ourselves."

  • The Guardian goes for a travel piece, and why not. From New York, Donald Hiscock writes, "to pound the streets of the city in the footsteps of Woody Allen is thoroughly recommended."

  • The Times doesn't mention the birthday but does report that Woody'll be shooting a third film in London.

The German-language papers go with the big overviews:

Update: The Reeler picks select quotes from reports on the discussion with Woody Allen that preceded a screening of Match Point at the Walter Reade on Monday.

Update, 12/2: Mick LaSalle in the San Francisco Chronicle: "Two points: 1) If he stopped making movies right now, he'd be remembered as one of the greatest screen comedians and one of the greatest writer-directors in American cinema history. 2) He's not stopping." Thanks, Craig!



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Posted by dwhudson at December 1, 2005 5:46 AM

Comments

The San Francisco Chronicle's Mick La Salle has a big piece today on Woody.

A fairly comprehensive overview, and he ranks all his films in terms of greatness, and below. Although I disagree with him that "Anything Else" and "Everyone Says I Love You" are "garbage." (Seriously flawed, yes, but not as bad as some have argued.)
C

Posted by: Craig P at December 1, 2005 1:37 PM

If you're unwilling to run off with Everyone Says I Love You on its own terms, then... well, then you must be in a pretty rotten mood.

I had a wonderful time watching it.

Posted by: David Hudson at December 2, 2005 1:16 AM

I, too, have always considered Everyone Says I Love You to be a swell time at the cinema. Although the conga line number at the funeral parlor is an ectomorphic dud, the movie has many entrancing moments.

When I first saw it on the big screen in Austin, TX nearly a decade ago, how well I remember the little waves of nervous laughter among the women in the audience when Julia Roberts made her sincere speech in praise of Woody Allen's "astonishing sexual technique." Although Julia won her Oscar for Erin Brockovich, she earned it for this one scene with Woody.

Posted by: N.P. Thompson at December 2, 2005 2:48 PM

I admit, when I first saw Everyone Says... I was a little disappointed. Whether it was mood or just not being a big musical fan (although one of my favorite movies of all time is a musical, Singin' in the Rain), or what... but the second time I saw it I really changed my (pardon the expression) tune. It's still a little awkward at times, and, although I agree with NP about Julia Roberts' surprising performance, there was something a little off about believing she and Woody would couple in any way... Still, a delightful film in many ways, and one I'm actually surprised LaSalle would call "garbage," since he usually has a preference for classic films, older films, musicals, too, and seems to otherwise love Woody's work. A bit harsh.

And then I'm one of the few brave souls to give Anything Else a decent review (certainly not a rave) on GreenCine. Though it does seem further proof for those who suspect Woody of having a recent misogynist streak (suspicions Match Point, apparently, doesn't appear to allay)...

Anyway, I'd reserve the word "garbage" in film reviews for some real refuse more deserving of one's wrath, say, Are We There Yet, or xXx...

C

Posted by: Craig P at December 2, 2005 3:09 PM

Gents, it's undoubtedly true that Woody isn't every woman's dreamboat, but I have met a few women who do find him attractive and one who even fessed up to fantasizing about him.

Just saying.

Posted by: David Hudson at December 3, 2005 3:48 PM