Friday, March 4, 2011

Way to Go, Woody

Even the most mediocre Woody Allen movies are better than most. We find them all entertaining, funny and at times suspenseful. My favorites are the wry and tender (and amusing and poignant and sarcastic) Hannah & Her Sisters, the excellent Annie Hall, the Purple Rose of Cairo, Radio Days, Deconstructing Harry, and Melinda & Melinda. Oh, and Match Point.

I'll always have a soft spot for NY Stories, a trilogy of segments from three directors (Allen's was the best, the entire movie was rather dull). We saw it on our first real date after meeting initially for lunch the week before. We were in love by the end of the night.

Some of the middling ones (IMO) that are still great to watch include Midnight Summer's Sex Comedy, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Alice, Everybody Says I Love You, Shadows & Fog, Stardust Memories, and Broadway Danny Rose.

The only one I couldn't watch because of hand-held jerky camera movements was Husbands & Wives. His earlier ones are just too silly but sometimes in a silly mood they're a hoot, especially Sleeper, or Take the Money and Run, or Bananas. The only real bore, to me, is Interiors.

Last night we watched You Will Meet a Tall, Dark, Stranger. While not top drawer, it was a fun way to pass the evening. The cast was excellent. It was interesting.

Footnote: Excy's 90-yr-old dad, 'Be,' has been in the hospital since Sunday -- he had fallen last Wednesday and the pain was getting intolerable. This Thursday he had a pacemaker put in and after stabilizing him some more, today they performed hip surgery, as he had fractured it in the fall. Excy will go out in a few days when they take him to a rehab facility, and I'll follow when I can help him out and cook and freeze some meals....

7 comments:

Arkansas Patti said...

Sending only good thoughts to your father-in- law and family. That use to be much worse than it is today. My mother had a hip fracture at 86,had surgery, rehab and was scooting around with a walker quite happily for many years.
He is in my prayers for a quick recovery.

Sally Wessely said...

I'm sorry to hear about your father-in-law. I hope his recovery time is short and complete.

e said...

Sorry to hear of Be's misfortune. Wishing you all well.

Joe Jubinville said...

There are very few Woody Allen film that I've disliked, and many of them are pantheon.

You left out one of his best, though: "Manhattan Murder Mystery." Keaton and Allen together again. Keaton's comedic game is flawless. Relaxed and assured, the story has all of Allen's touchstones, cinematic send-ups, and invention, only better. A joy.

“Cozy” might be a good way to describe the movie. There's an intimacy about it that's very appealing. Allen is always good with ensemble, and with Alan Alda and Angelica Huston in on it, the film has the atmosphere of a bunch of old friends getting together for a lark, but an inspired one, that somehow includes the viewer. The movie has no special conceits or innovation, just a rattling good story, terribly funny, and put together like a great piece of jazz.

The Curse Of The Jade Scorpion is diverting too.

Sorry about you FIL. Best wishes...

Cheeseboy said...

I've never seen a Woody Allen movie. It;s time I Netflix one.

Traci Marie Wolf said...

Believe it or not, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger was my first Woody Allen movie. Alex is a fan but so far we haven't gotten to them on our blockbuster queue. Alex had just been intubated and to get my mind off of things my aunt took me out, and I picked this movie because of Alex.

I'm sorry about your FIL he is so blessed to have you too. Karma will be good to you. :-)

Mrs. Tuna said...

I have to say I won't watch Woody Allen after he left Mia for his step daughter. Too much of a creeper to me.