MovieChat Forums > Prime (2005) Discussion > homage to woody allen, or rip off?

homage to woody allen, or rip off?

posted 14 years ago by mrceci
7 replies | jump to latest

in the scene when they're driving back from the hamptons, they're driving into manhattan, and their conversation is in the form of voice-over. the whole scene is like a replica of a scene in Woody Allen's Manhattan. I mean, i guess it could be an homage, since the whole movie is about showing the city off (magnolia cupcakes, Prune Restaurant, etc, etc) but the scenes are sooooo similar, that i cant help but think of it as a rip off. so, is it an homage to woody allen, or a complete act of plagiarism?

[–] johnmichael-2 14 years ago

I've watched Manhattan, and the movie didn't come to mind at all while watching "Prime." But that's probably because I didn't like Manhattan when I watched it, and I liked it even less after seeing Annie Hall and realizing Woody Allen was being praised for making the exact same movie twice and only switching the actors & character names. So I don't much care if it's an homage or a rip-off. All I know is I'd watch "Prime" 5 times over before seeing Manhattan again.

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[–] Ruemorgue10-672-822601 13 years ago

Good point. I just watched this on TV thinking it was a Woody Allen movie. Also, the gaping age difference between the romantic leads is not unlike Woody Allen's relationship with the 17 year old in Manhattan.

[–] olliemankz 9 years ago

I think I'd have to agree. I don't remember Manhattan so I can't speak to your comparing it to Annie Hall. I liked Allen's early stuff, like that and Play It Again but I have usually found the rest of his stuff to be whiningly stressful. This movie seemed much more upbeat and constructive. Even the psychoanalytic sessions made sense.

[–] she_got_savoir_faire 13 years ago

I also find some scenes and characters very similar to Woody's films: the jewish mother with strong religious traditions, the psychoanalitic moments, the car driving back to Manhattan, and specially the flashback moments at the end (very similar to Annie's Hall ending).

[–] ghettofever 12 years ago

How the hell are Manhattan + Annie Hall the same movie? Woody Allen neurotic okay. The film set in New York okay. Terrible relationships okay. Those are all signature Woody Allen films but other than that they are two completely different films. I saw Annie Hall first but for some strange reason Manhattan hit me more. Yes, I saw the homage to Woody Allen especially with the main character being neurotic. Also, when he recounts his backstory he kind find reminded me of a young Woody Allen.

[–] Gerdevil 12 years ago

Funny, as I was watching Prime, all I could think of is that it was Woody Allen-Lite.

[–] angelblueqt 9 years ago

Same.

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