Best Woody Allen films

Undesired Walrus

Penultimate Amazing
Undesired Walrus
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Apr 10, 2007
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IMHO

  • Hannah and Her Sisters
  • Husbands and Wives
  • September
  • Crimes and Misdemeanors

Hannah and Her Sisters: The music, the hopeless cynicsm of life tinged with a uplifting optimism that we admit how pointless it all is.

Husbands and Wives: Brilliantly shot, some wonderful lines "I was never kissed but I was the kisser" and the complete lack of non-diagetic music makes it a winner.

September: Brutally depressing, but brilliantly acted with Mia Farrows best performance (IMHO)

Crimes and Misdemeanors: Funny, and arguably his most philosophical film to date. Really questions the issue of morality.

You will notice I have the Mia Farrow films, because I dislike Woody's Diane Keaton period. Shoot me!
 
My favorites:

1. What's Up Tiger Lily
2. Sleeper
3. Bananas

While they aren't as great in the production value department, I thought they were hysterical.

I *hated* Curse of the Jade Scorpion. Many of his films were good, but this is the one I found completely without redemption.
 
Miss Anthrope said:
My favorites:

1. What's Up Tiger Lily
2. Sleeper
3. Bananas

While they aren't as great in the production value department, I thought they were hysterical.

I *hated* Curse of the Jade Scorpion. Many of his films were good, but this is the one I found completely without redemption.
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Damn, I thought when I clicked on this thread that I would be the only one who knew about What's Up Tiger Lily. It was the forerunner to Mystery Science Theater 3000 and ROTFL funny.

Of his "serious" stuff I really like "Hannah and Her Sisters", mostly because he quotes e e cummings.
 
"Miles, eat your shisksa."
"Meet me back in my room with a whip and a prune danish."
"He didn't bring an assortment."
and
'it was sadistic necrophiliac beastiality, or a case of beating a dead horse."
 
I'm still pissed that Annie Hall (?!) took best picture for 1977 over that other movie...

what was it...

oh yeah..

STAR WARS
 
I thought Curse Of The Jade Scorpion was FN bril.... I can see where some folks wouldn't get it.


I think it aughta be adapted to the stage, where it would REALLY shine!
 
Small Town Jesus said:
3. Interiors - nah only kidding - Sleeper
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I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I rank Interiors in the Woody top tier.

Also:

Bananas
Sleeper
Annie Hall
Manhattan
Hannah and her Sisters
Crimes and Misdemeanors
Husbands and Wives

Many others in 2nd tier. Unfortunately, many more in bottom tier, including, I have to admit, many of the last 15 years that I didn't even bother to see (so take my judgement for what it's worth).

I've never seen September or Shadows and Fog, and I suspect they may be quite good. I'll have to see those soon.
 
Top Five Film Written and Directed by Woody Allen

1. Crimes and Misdemeanors
2. Radio Days
3. Hannah and Her Sisters
4. Love and Death
5. Bullets Over Broadway
 
WHAT?

Nobody remembers the classic "Everything you wanted to know about ..."???
 
Sleeper and Zelig still make me laugh out loud after dozens of viewings. :D
 
+Sleeper - great!

+The Purple Rose of Cairo - still makes me cry. Jeff Daniels is great in this

+Crimes and Misdemeanors - love this movie

+Hanna+Annie Hall+her Sisters - I liked these all

-(lighter touch) A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy - I loved this one too
 
No one wants to bring up Stardust Memories? I know it's not his very best, but it's funny and creative nonetheless.
 
I used to love Hannah and Her Sisters, but after I realized what he had done with it, justifying having affairs with close relatives of your spouse and putting Mia Farrow in the role of the spouse, it now just creeps me out.

However, I love Bananas because of the delicatessen scene. Only someone who has grown up in a deli can truly appreciate:
This is approximate--I haven't seen it for a long time:

"I'll have 265 corned beef sandwiches. One with lettuce and mustard, one on rye with a pickle, one on wheat toast with.....
 
LibraryLady said:
I used to love Hannah and Her Sisters, but after I realized what he had done with it, justifying having affairs with close relatives of your spouse and putting Mia Farrow in the role of the spouse, it now just creeps me out.

...
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Ah yes, plenty of those minefields in his movies. I've always loved Crimes and Misdemeanors, but then when I saw Match Point I had to wonder why he's ...
... telling the story of a family man who murders his annoying mistress and gets away with it for the 2nd time?!?

Sometime Woody just creeps me out.
 
LibraryLady said:
I used to love Hannah and Her Sisters, but after I realized what he had done with it, justifying having affairs with close relatives of your spouse and putting Mia Farrow in the role of the spouse, it now just creeps me out.
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Actually, the relationship with Soon-Yi didn't begin until several years after Hannah and Her Sisters was made. So unless he was having an affair with another one of Mia's relatives in the mid-80s (Prudence?), it's unlikely that he was trying to "justify" anything of the sort.

Over the years, Woody has continually warned viewers about equating his films and his personal life, but people just don't seem to listen...
 
Phillybee said:
-(lighter touch) A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy - I loved this one too
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Aye.

While that was fun, I more enjoyed Play It Again Sam and Bananas. He began to lose me with Manhattan, and when I saw Deconstructing Harry, I was lost completely.

DR
 
I would have to say that Annie Hall is probably the funniest movie of all time.


"I haven't been myself since I quit smoking."
- "You quit smoking? When?"
"Fifteen years ago."
 
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