Woody Allen's greatest movies... - Husbands and Wives (1992) Discussion

[–] thatsweetbird 18 years ago

While I respect Woody fans to like whichever ones they like most, I have to greatly concur personally with your picks.

I would add in the jokeless "Another Woman" and "Interiors", as well. Dramas like the "A" story in "Crimes". And I would say "Sleeper", "Take The Money And Run", and "Play It Again Sam" are very much the funniest films that I have ever seen. They are amazingly rewatchable for comedies, and for what they attempt, I don't think they could be much better. Also, "Stardust Memories" is similarly good, in my mind, to "Annie" and "Manhattan".

But "Crimes" and "H&W" are , to me, unarguably great, masterpieces really.

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[–] mrs-dalloway-1 17 years ago

"I AGREE!" Because, Woody Allen is too good to have one favorite. And if you do, you haven't seen enough. Allen is probably the best writer of the twentieth century (for the screen!) I mean, he is so witty and irreverent that it's just a sin to say he's not funny. He is fantastic. I have yet to see "H&W" Is it good? That's why I was looking through here, and by the looks of it I shall rent it as soon as possible!

September is also very underestimated.

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[–] ilpohirvonen 12 years ago

I like Allen as much as the next person but saying he is the best screenwriter of the 20th century is just absurd. What about Billy Wilder & I.A.L Diamond? Krzysztof Piesiewicz? Jean-Luc Godard? Francois Truffaut? Akira Kurosawa? Ingmar Bergman?!? A great deal of directors wrote their own scripts. Yet, I still consider Allen a remarkable writer and a director as well. Husbands and Wives is something really special. Manhattan, Hannah and Her Sisters, Zelig, The Purple Rose of Cairo, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Husbands and Wives are definitely his best films. At least in my opinion. Another Woman and Annie Hall are great too. Interiors is terrible. Zelig might just be THE film by Allen.

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[–] thatsweetbird 18 years ago

Husbands and Wives
Crimes and Misdemeanors
Interiors
Hannah and Her Sisters
Another Woman
Sleeper
Annie Hall
Deconstructing Harry
Stardust Memories
Manhattan
Take The Money and Run
Play it Again Sam
Bullets Over Broadway
Love and Death
Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy
Bananas
Alice
September
Everyone Says I Love You
Purple Rose of Cairo
Manhattan Murder Mystery
Zelig
Radio Days
Mighty Aphrodite
Shadows and Fog
Sweet and Lowdown
Everything You Always Wanted...
Broadway Danny Rose
Celebrity
Curse of the Jade Scorpion
Anything Else
Small Time Crooks
Hollywood Ending

Have not seen yet Melinda and Match Point yet.

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[–] michaelm6772000 18 years ago

I found these intriguing and respectful lists but a bit inaccurate on the top five I am afraid agree with all but Deconstruting Harry.

It just goes every where and in my opinion nowhere. Although it is very good it is a confused looking Woody. I might keep your list and include the brilliant Bullets over Broadway. This movie with the amazing Dianne Wiest and a young Mary Louise Patterson is a true gem.

I know most won't agree but I love this movie.
Then go with Radio Days. Brilliant

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[–] thatsweetbird 18 years ago

I think maybe you refer to Mary Louise Parker as Cusack's girlfriend in Bullets?

I was much more impressed with Harry after watching it again. I saw how it had some of the good raw qualities of Husbands and Wives.

The mini-story with the wife killer is a bit rambling. But the mini-stories with Demi Moore and Richard Benjamin are very funny. The Demi one particularly to someone with an appreciation of jewish(or religous) zealoutry.

The movie may seem course and harsh(especially in language and the sex scene with Benjamin) compared to movies like Hannah or Annie, but if you can get past that...

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[–] YellowManReanimated 18 years ago

My personal favourites would go something like this:

1. Crimes & Misdemeanours
2. Annie Hall
3. Manhattan
4. The Purple Rose Of Cairo
5. Deconstructing Harry
6. Love & Death

There are many other Allen movies that I loved, Hannah & Her Sisters in particular, but for me these six stand-out as truly complete and astonishing pieces of work.

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[–] DarthVSith 18 years ago

1. Crimes and misdemeanours
2. all you ever wanted to know about sex but were afriad to ask
3. Match point
4. Annie hall
5. Husbands and wives
6. Manhattan
7. Anything else
8. Purple rose of cario
9. take the money and run
10. broadway danny rose

i cant stop....he is the greatest writer /director film has ever been blessed with.

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[–] chrisjoncole 18 years ago

How about Zelig? The original mockumentary. It's incredible.

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[–] Emma_Bovary 18 years ago

Woody´s best films?Hmm tough one!Of course I love ALL of his movies but if pressed I´d point out these:
- Annie Hall
- Everyone Says I Love You
- Deconstructing Harry
- Matchpoint
- Manhattan
The one I least liked, however, is Celebrity -- of course,I´m not saying that´s a bad movie (Heaven forbid! ;)) but not as good as Woody´s other masterpieces.
What can I say - Woody, we love ya! :)

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[–] Chwelve 18 years ago

I'm glad someone else adores "Everyone Says I Love You" as much as I do! My all-time personal favourites would probably go as follows (unranked):

"Hannah and Her Sisters" (tied with only a few others for probably my favourite film ever)
"Love and Death" (probably the funniest movie I know--although that honor could also go to "Duck Soup," for me)
"The Purple Rose of Cairo" (simply lovely, I think Woody may have been on to something listing this as a favourite)
"Everyone Says I Love You" (I just love this movie, even if it doesn't get as much hype as some of his others)
"Crimes and Misdemeanors" (very, very consistently, rivetingly entertaining for a movie investigating such difficult issues)

I don't think those are necessarily his best works--I also own and adore "Annie Hall" and "Manhattan," obvious classics and complete works of genius--but those are the ones that always strike me the most powerfully and most personally, for whatever reason (again, this is in NO way meant to demean his other work; I've seen the majority of his films, and, with only a few exceptions, I love almost every one of them). Other great runners up would be:

"Match Point"
"Stardust Memories"
"Sleeper"
"Zelig"

...and probably a bunch more.

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[–] wingsndollrdraft 17 years ago

Of all I have seen:

1. Manhattan
2. Hannah and Her Sisters
3. Alice (sorely underrated!)
4. Annie Hall
5. Husbands and Wives
6. Crimes and Misdemeanors
7. Interiors
8. Purple Rose of Cairo
9. Radio Days
10. Broadway Danny Rose
11. Small Time Crooks (another underrated comic masterpiece, even if it does have Michael Rappaport in it)
12. Sleeper / Play It Again Sam / Love and Death
13. Manhattan Murder Mystery
14. Deconstructing Harry
15. Stardust Memories
16. Mighty Aphrodite
17. Bullets Over Broadway
18. Sweet and Lowdown
19. Match Point

I've also seen Melinda and Melinda and thought it was complete crap, so I'm not even rating it.

www.myspace.com/neveranaysayer
www.flickr.com/photos/neveranaysayer

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[–] raderpat 8 years ago

I think Match Point is his all time best movie. It's also his favorite of his own movies.

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[–] janzuland 18 years ago

Personal top 5 (I've not seen all His movies but I'm going to):

1. Annie Hall
2. Manhattan
3. Purple Rose Of Cairo
4. Crimes & Misdemeanors
5. The Curse Of Jade Scorpion (No one would agree with me on this one but I just love it)

"The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me."

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] jickweez-1 18 years ago

Wow, another Jade Scorpion fan. Even the ick-inducing Helen Hunt shined in this production. The quirky style and lack of taking itself seriously made this movie endearing and hilarious. Look for a young Charlize Theron in a wonderful (and funny) cameo. Oh, and here's my meager opinion on Woody's top 10:

1. C&M (masterpiece, perfect, one of the greatest films of all time)
2. Hannah (ditto)
3. Bullets (funny and deep)
4. Bananas (just plain funny)
5. Love and Death (some of the most profoundly hilarious lines ever written)
6. MMM (Angelica Huston is a tour-de-force)
7. H&W (Judy Davis is a tour-de-force)
8. Small-Time Crooks (loved the chemistry between Allen and Ulman - and "May")
9. Purple Rose (brilliant and beautiful)
10. Jade Scorpion (goofy fun)

Not a fan of Annie Hall or Manhattan. Don't know why but these two just didn't speak to me as well as Allen's other movies.

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[–] adamillinois79 18 years ago

1. Annie Hall
2. Deconstructing Harry
3. Manhattan
4. Crimes and Misdemeanors
5. A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy

Runners up include: Bananas, Stardust Memories, Manhattan Murder Mystery, Bullets over Broadway, and the Curse of the Jade Scorpion.

There are several of his films that I haven't seen, though, including some that I've heard are very good.

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[–] justinl_1 18 years ago

Manhattan
Stardust Memories
Husbands and Wives
Annie Hall
Hannah and Her Sisters

(Close 2nds)
Crimes and Misdemeanors
Match point
The Purple Rose of Cairo

"Yeah well, the Jerk Store called, they're running out of you!" - George Costanza

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[–] eewilson 18 years ago

I'll admit, I haven't seen enough. But my top three=
Annie Hall
Manhattan
Love & Death

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[–] hoeyblowseph 18 years ago

I have to say I was a little disappointed by Husbands and Wives. Not that I didnt like it, it just didnt keep my attention like so many other woody films.
Its tone was a little too inconsistant for me, like wavering between September and the documentary style things like take the money and run. I didnt really understand how those styles complemented each other. ah well, I still enjoyed it.
But back to top 5 lists:
1: Purple Rose of Cairo: my favorite movie. devastatingly good. its so easy to watch, so light, and then the ending just kills you and stays with you for ever.
2: Crimes and Misdemeanors: both main plots are great and work well together. every scene just works. has a lot in it, but doesnt overwhelm you with things to focus on (like H&W)
3: Hannah

Then in no particular order:
Bananas
Annie Hall
Manhattan
Zelig
Interiors

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[–] devonglide-1 18 years ago

I think you picked some great ones, but I think this list deserves consideration too,

1)Husbands and Wives
2)Crimes and Misdemeanors
3)Manhattan
4)Annie Hall
5)Match Point
6)Sweet and Lowdown
7)Take the Money and Run
8)Zelig
9)September
10) Everyone Says I Love You

or, according to imdb members.

1)(8.20) - Annie Hall (1977)
2)(8.00) - Manhattan (1979)
3)(7.90) - Match Point (2005)
4)(7.89) - Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989)
5)(7.70) - Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
6)(7.49) - Love and Death (1975)
7)(7.49) - Zelig (1983)
8)(7.40) - Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
9)(7.40) - The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)
10)(7.39) - Play It Again, Sam (1972)

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[–] el1sdf 18 years ago

1. Stardust Memories
2. Hannah and Her Sisters
3. Crimes and Misdemeanors
4. Annie Hall
5. Bullets Over Broadway
6. Husbands and Wives
7. Manhattan
8. Purple Rose of Cairo
9. Mighty Aphrodite
10. Sweet and Lowdown

i like these ones too:

Manhattan Murder Mystery
Small Time Crooks
Curse of the Jade Scorpion
Deconstructing Harry

the 'early, funny films' are alright but all those above are better.

the other dramas are hit and miss

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[–] cosbyshowfan 18 years ago

Crimes and Misdemeanors
Annie Hall
Husbands and Wives
Deconstucting Harry
Love and Death

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[–] HisisFlick 18 years ago

in sort of an order but not really...

annie hall
manhattan
crimes and misdemeanors
sweet and lowdown
sleeper
love & death
take the money and run
stardust memories
broadway dann rose
match point

i could go on and on with the rest of his movies. even his lesser films are better than so much of what's out there.

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[–] rpedigo 17 years ago

That's funny...those are actually my 6 favorite as well. I totally agree 100% with you on this. I know a lot of people don't care for Deconstructing Harry too much but I truly consider it among his best. Just curious if you were to add a couple more what you would choose. If I were to add two more I'd add Stardust Memories, and (probably will get disagreement on this)...Anything Else. At first I thought Jason's Biggs performance to be kind of a cheap Woody knock-off but after a few viewings I think this is quite a gem overall.

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[–] podwilliams 17 years ago

In chronological order, my top 10 would have to be*:

Play It Again, Sam
Sleeper
Love And Death
Annie Hall
Manhattan
Stardust Memories
The Purple Rose of Cairo
Hannah And Her Sisters
Radio Days
Crimes and Misdemeanors

I only wish I could've squeezed in underrated gems like Bullets Over Broadway, A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy and Broadway Danny Rose, but certainly not the insufferable Husbands And Wives. I very nearly lost the will to live when I forced myself to sit through it - an experience redeemed only by my fantasy that each of the protagonists, one by one, comes to a sticky end... under various motor vehicles. As for the execrable Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex, why anyone would rank such a dire film among their favourites is a mystery to me.

*I've not seen Interiors, which I'm told I'd like. As for the rest of his output, I pretty much lost interest after Mighty Aphrodite (enjoyable as that was).

The lion and the calf shall lie down together, but the calf won't get much sleep.

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[–] yearspew 17 years ago

Crimes and Misdemeanors
Annie Hall
Hannah and Her Sisters
Bullets Over Broadway
Radio Days
Husbands and Wives
Manhattan
Match Point

"What the hell are you running here? A radio station or a rehab clinic?"

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