MovieChat Forums > Zelig (1983) Discussion > how great is woody allen?

how great is woody allen?

posted 18 years ago by huntley_haverstock
36 replies | jump to latest

I finally saw this whole film yesterday, I had just seen the first half hour last week when TCM dedicated a whole night to him. If it weren't for the odd content of the story, and the site of both Woody and Mia in the film, I would have fully believed this was a real documentary. Allen is truely a master of cinema. I've seen about sixteen or so of his films, and I always want to see more. Thankfully the independant video rental place in my area has a whole section dedicated to him so I can always find his movies to rent. It's funny though, I never want to run out of his movies to see, so I've been pacing myself for about a year out of fear that I would run out of films to discover. my top 5 would have to be:

5. Broadway Danny Rose
4. Stardust Memories
3. Annie Hall
2. Manhattan
1. Crimes and Misdemeanors

All the others I've seen are very close seconds to these, but these for me are my very favorite.

What about anyone else? Post your favorites.

[–] VIsraWratS 18 years ago

Well my all time favorite has to be "Love and Death". If you have yet to see it check it out. You will defiantly not be disappointed. I actually consider it to be one of the all time greatest movies out there. Have you seen it?

[–] huntley_haverstock 18 years ago

I have seen about half of "Love and Death," it was on TCM a couple of weeks back. From what I saw it was great, but since I haven't seen the whole thing I can't really count it yet.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] Petronius Arbiter II 18 years ago

For sheer knock-your-socks-off humor, I'd probably go with "Sleeper."

"I don't deduce, I observe."

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] catastrophe-waitress22 18 years ago

Ah, Woody, how I love thee. My five favorite Woody Allen movies are as follows (it was hard to order 'em, and I'm bound to change my mind within five minutes or less):

5. Sleeper
4. Manhattan
3. Play It Again, Sam (not directed by Woody but he wrote it and starred in it, so I'm assuming it counts.)
2. Zelig
1. Annie Hall

[–] interiorday 18 years ago

Well I'll pick five but I can't favor one over another so won't put them in any order except alphabetical: Sleeper, Annie Hall, Zelig, Radio Days, and Purple Rose of Cairo.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] verzetsbakker 18 years ago

You certainly have an odd grasp of the alphabet.

[–] jack_bryan 14 years ago

LOL!

[–] cyarwood 14 years ago

All great selections. But you cannot leave out "Bananas".

[–] rygel_da_16th 18 years ago

1. Annie Hall
2. Manhattan
3. Stardust Memories
4. Interiors
5. Hannah and Her Sisters

"Maybe because I don't say say *beep* up things like that to people?"

[–] lilydarko 18 years ago

I've been in love with Woody's works for more than 5 years (I'm 18), and I just saw Zelig, and love it.

My favourite Woody Allen's movies:

1.Annie Hall
2.Manhattan
3.Crimes and Misdemeanors
4.Hannah and her sisters
5.Stardust memories or The purple rose of Cairo? Too hard to choose between one of these two, please don't force me to do so...

He is my favourite director I believe...

[–] friend_of_harry_lime 18 years ago

Can’t let this go by without adding my top Woody films (subject to daily (hourly?) revision):

Honorable Mentions: Purple Rose of Cairo, Manhattan Murder Mystery, Sleeper

5. Love and Death: the more you know about Russian literature and history, the funnier this film is.

4. Sweet and Lowdown: Funny and poignant, with amazing acting from all involved, wonderful music, and a cameo by Django Reinhardt to boot.

3. Deconstructing Harry: Underrated, but has some of his best lines ever. The episode in hell with Billy Crystal is a spot on classic. Then watch Bergman’s Wild Strawberries as a chaser.

2. Stardust Memories: Simply a beautiful film to look at. True Art.

1. Manhattan: Woody’s answer to God. “I may be just a human being, but I can also make one of these.”

How great is Allen? Is there another American filmmaker from the last forty odd years who has produced so many films with such consistency and creativity? It’s a short list. Scorsese certainly, and John Sayles had the potential to make the list, as do the Coen Brothers. There are others as well, but Allen is a treasure.

My 2¢.

[–] wigger_slayer 18 years ago

it shows what you can do when you are a total psychotic

--
Only living to die

[–] clockwork_orange2001 18 years ago

1. Annie Hall
2. Crimes and Misdemeanors
3. Hannah and her Sisters
4. Play It Again, Sam
5. Manhattan

Other favs of Woody Allen: Sweet & Lowdown, Interiors, Love and Death, The Purple Rose of Cairo.

"I think that silent films got a lot more things right than talkies." --Stanley Kubrick

[–] Kenneth_B_actually 18 years ago

I´m very fond of all his films. My favorite is Manhattan, I think. And Play it again Sam has to be the funniest movie of all time. Zelig is a masterpiece...I love the authentic look of it.
I believe Woody´s character has a line in one of his films "Ingmar Bergman is the only living genius in cinema today". No, that´s Mr.Woody Allen.

[–] knifeintheeye 18 years ago

1. Take the Money and Run--alltime funniest movie
2. Hannah and her Sisters
3. Love and Death
4. Annie Hall
5. Purple Rose of Cairo

2-5 are in no order. But Take the Money and Run, is my fav.

Honourable mention to Crimes and Misdemeanors, and the tv movie Don't Drink the Water (it's just a great laugh out loud movie).

[–] verzetsbakker 18 years ago

Well, Bergman is still alive.

[–] circus14 18 years ago

well, there might be room for more than one geniuses

[–] circus14 18 years ago

Zelig
Bullets Over Broadway
The Purple Rose of Cairo
Shadows and Fog
Bananas