Click on the headline to link to a Wikipedia entry for Woody Allen’s Take The Money And Run.
DVD Review
Take The Money And Run, Woody Allen, 1969
This is an early film of comedian /actor/director Woody Allen starring himself in the lead as Virgil Starkwell, a bungling wannabe bank robber whose hijinks land him in prisons, in bed with a lovely girl and the halls of academia as an expert on crime. In this film we can see the outlines of Woody’s seemingly endless love affair with early black and white crime and film noir classics. There is a little more use of sight gags here than in his later films but through it all Woody is still the funny bumbling New York Jewish kid that a long series of films will explore in greater detail. The use of an old time newsreel announcer to describe and set the framework of the film and detail the action is an interesting twist. Not the best Woody Allen film but a good look at the niche that he created for himself in American urban comedy/ social commentary cinema.
Showing posts with label social satire. Show all posts
Showing posts with label social satire. Show all posts
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Out In Woody Allen’s Be-Bop New York City- “Manhattan”-A Film Review
Click on the headline to link to a Wikipedia entry for Woody Allen’s Manhattan.
DVD Review
Manhattan, Woody Allen, Mariel Hemingway, 1979
In his own off-hand, low-key way Woody Allen, the quintessential New Yorker, has created a nice spoof/send up/valentine to his beloved city. If one were to name the person who represented the essence of middle/high brow New York in the 1970’s and 80’s the name Woody Allen would top most lists. The theme, as usual in an Allen film, is about the endlessly tangled interpersonal relationships among and between the upwardly mobile, or at least wannabe upward mobile, intellectual set in 1970’s New York. An added twist, given later developments in Allen’s personal life, is his tangled romance with a teenaged Waspish type (played by Hemingway), a type that he is seemingly fatally attracted to. Some of the wit may seem dated as it relates to 1970’s New York; some of Allen’s physical mannerisms seem very familiar and for those who have seen his later work the theme has been done better but here is Allen in his city. This is one of the reasons why New York, and no other, is the cultural capital of America. Beat him if you can.
DVD Review
Manhattan, Woody Allen, Mariel Hemingway, 1979
In his own off-hand, low-key way Woody Allen, the quintessential New Yorker, has created a nice spoof/send up/valentine to his beloved city. If one were to name the person who represented the essence of middle/high brow New York in the 1970’s and 80’s the name Woody Allen would top most lists. The theme, as usual in an Allen film, is about the endlessly tangled interpersonal relationships among and between the upwardly mobile, or at least wannabe upward mobile, intellectual set in 1970’s New York. An added twist, given later developments in Allen’s personal life, is his tangled romance with a teenaged Waspish type (played by Hemingway), a type that he is seemingly fatally attracted to. Some of the wit may seem dated as it relates to 1970’s New York; some of Allen’s physical mannerisms seem very familiar and for those who have seen his later work the theme has been done better but here is Allen in his city. This is one of the reasons why New York, and no other, is the cultural capital of America. Beat him if you can.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
When Woody Allen Went South- South Manhattan- “Manhattan Murder Mystery”
Click on the headline to link to a Wikipedia entry for Woody Allen’s Manhattan Murder Mystery.
Manhattan Murder Mystery, Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, 1993
Woody Allen has spent his career paying homage to various genres that have influenced him since childhood. Or he just plain liked. Here he tips his hat to the amateur sleuth murder mystery. The plot centers on the mysteriously doings of his apartment building neighbors. Spurred on by his wife (played by Diane Keaton) and pal (played by Alan Alda) he gets caught up the mystery more to save his marriage than anything else. This movie reminds me mostly of Alfred Hitchcock’s famous Rear Window from the 1950’s in its plot line but with a 1990’s sensibility. But as always not to worry there is plenty of social commentary/ humor of the well –know Allen type. Do you absolutely need to see this movie? No, you absolutely need to see Annie Hall or Manhattan films that he made in his prime. But this one is okay if you need a little funny sardonic entertainment.
Manhattan Murder Mystery, Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, 1993
Woody Allen has spent his career paying homage to various genres that have influenced him since childhood. Or he just plain liked. Here he tips his hat to the amateur sleuth murder mystery. The plot centers on the mysteriously doings of his apartment building neighbors. Spurred on by his wife (played by Diane Keaton) and pal (played by Alan Alda) he gets caught up the mystery more to save his marriage than anything else. This movie reminds me mostly of Alfred Hitchcock’s famous Rear Window from the 1950’s in its plot line but with a 1990’s sensibility. But as always not to worry there is plenty of social commentary/ humor of the well –know Allen type. Do you absolutely need to see this movie? No, you absolutely need to see Annie Hall or Manhattan films that he made in his prime. But this one is okay if you need a little funny sardonic entertainment.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Casablanca Redux, Not – Woody Allen’s “Play It Again Sam”
Click on the headline to link to a Wikipedia entry for Woody Allen’s Play It Again, Sam
Play It Again, Sam, Woody Allen, 1972
Here is another early Woody Allen social commentary heavily dependent on his long time love affair with film noir and its characters, in this case the legendary romantic figure Humphrey Bogart. Now this may be a film that seems dated compared to today’s new sensibilities around the “woman’ question.” It is not clear that it would be politically correct to ask advice of the legendary Bogart on the woman question today. Bogie, except in the case of Lauren Bacall, was rough on his lady friends (or for the politically incorrect “dames”). But not to worry Woody is the same old bungling ball of nerves and anxieties as he is in most of his films. The real surprise here is that such a cerebral actor/ comedian/ director uses so many sight gags in his repertoire. Does the woman question get resolved here for poor Woody? Well watch the film and find out. You will be glad you did.
Play It Again, Sam, Woody Allen, 1972
Here is another early Woody Allen social commentary heavily dependent on his long time love affair with film noir and its characters, in this case the legendary romantic figure Humphrey Bogart. Now this may be a film that seems dated compared to today’s new sensibilities around the “woman’ question.” It is not clear that it would be politically correct to ask advice of the legendary Bogart on the woman question today. Bogie, except in the case of Lauren Bacall, was rough on his lady friends (or for the politically incorrect “dames”). But not to worry Woody is the same old bungling ball of nerves and anxieties as he is in most of his films. The real surprise here is that such a cerebral actor/ comedian/ director uses so many sight gags in his repertoire. Does the woman question get resolved here for poor Woody? Well watch the film and find out. You will be glad you did.
When Woody Allen Ruled The Social Satire (And Adult Angst) Night- “Annie Hall”
Click on the headline to link to a Wikipedia entry for Woody Allen’s film classic Annie Hall
Annie Hall, starring Diane Keaton, Woody Allen, 1977
Hey, haven’t I already reviewed this movie. No, sorry that was Manhattan another in the line of very witty Woody Allen movies. But the point is this it is the same subject that Woody addressed there even though chronologically Annie Hall came first by a couple of years and received the lion’s share of kudos and awards. As virtually always Allen is intent upon commenting on New York life and its intellectual trends and the ups and downs of relationships, mainly with women. Here he adds a flourish by contrasting old New York (in the 1970’s) to up and coming California as the cultural mecca of the American empire. And, as should be the case, New York wins. Add to that the perennial issue of Woody’s struggle with ‘interpersonal’ relationships and his angst-driven desire to understand the modern world and you have a very fine social commentary of the times. Needless to say Woody’s love interest Annie Hall (as played by his then paramour Diane Keaton) keeps him hopping. As does an ensemble cast that works well together as foils for his ironic and savage humor. The only surprise in revisiting this film recently is how well Keaton plays her role as an up and coming torch singer. Of course, I have always been a sucker for torch singers but that is another matter. Some of the humor may seem dated and very 1970’s New Yorkish. Some of Woody’s mannerism and use of sight gags may seem like old news. But this is a film to watch or re-watch if you have seen it before.
Annie Hall, starring Diane Keaton, Woody Allen, 1977
Hey, haven’t I already reviewed this movie. No, sorry that was Manhattan another in the line of very witty Woody Allen movies. But the point is this it is the same subject that Woody addressed there even though chronologically Annie Hall came first by a couple of years and received the lion’s share of kudos and awards. As virtually always Allen is intent upon commenting on New York life and its intellectual trends and the ups and downs of relationships, mainly with women. Here he adds a flourish by contrasting old New York (in the 1970’s) to up and coming California as the cultural mecca of the American empire. And, as should be the case, New York wins. Add to that the perennial issue of Woody’s struggle with ‘interpersonal’ relationships and his angst-driven desire to understand the modern world and you have a very fine social commentary of the times. Needless to say Woody’s love interest Annie Hall (as played by his then paramour Diane Keaton) keeps him hopping. As does an ensemble cast that works well together as foils for his ironic and savage humor. The only surprise in revisiting this film recently is how well Keaton plays her role as an up and coming torch singer. Of course, I have always been a sucker for torch singers but that is another matter. Some of the humor may seem dated and very 1970’s New Yorkish. Some of Woody’s mannerism and use of sight gags may seem like old news. But this is a film to watch or re-watch if you have seen it before.
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