tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post924697930629692864..comments2024-03-28T15:35:21.498-05:00Comments on Althouse: Woody Allen's favorites of his own films are "The Purple Rose of Cairo," "Match Point," and "Husbands and Wives"...Ann Althousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01630636239933008807noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-12735819358340746902007-11-20T20:24:00.000-06:002007-11-20T20:24:00.000-06:00LOS,"Crimes and Misdemeanors (my personal favorite...LOS,<BR/><BR/>"<I>Crimes and Misdemeanors (my personal favorite)</I>"<BR/><BR/>Good grief! I must have been misunderestimating you all this time--that's mine, too, and a lot of other people's, I see.<BR/><BR/>But what's up with john? I clearly remember Allen in the movie; did I just dream that?Kirk Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05921711310191924997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-48708147148043326062007-11-18T19:03:00.000-06:002007-11-18T19:03:00.000-06:00Thanksgiving week wouldn't be Thanksgiving week wi...Thanksgiving week wouldn't be Thanksgiving week without watching Hannah and Her Sisters.reader_iamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17352836883752091339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-52329209128912040692007-11-18T09:07:00.000-06:002007-11-18T09:07:00.000-06:00John Stodder writes: "Just glancing at AFI's list ...John Stodder writes: "Just glancing at AFI's list of best comedies (where "Annie Hall" comes in at #4), you see movies of tremendous power that do much more than "kid" about a problem, including, "Dr. Strangelove," "Tootsie," "Duck Soup," "MASH," "The Graduate," "The Philadelphia Story," "The Apartment," "Adams Rib," "Born Yesterday," "Modern Times," "Harvey," "Sullivan's Travels," and "Moonstruck." I've skipped over the kinds of comedies he might be referring to, like "Blazing Saddles" and "Airplane!" but even there, you can't possibly call these movies inferior to even the greatest dramas. Allen should watch "Sullivan's Travels," actually. His whole confusion is explained there."<BR/><BR/>Remember that in "Hannah and Her Sisters," the Woody Allen character realizes that life is worth living by watching "Duck Soup."<BR/><BR/>And thanks for defending me, especially for using what is a defense to much of the criticism I get: This is a blog.Ann Althousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01630636239933008807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-55396874500513110512007-11-17T22:56:00.000-06:002007-11-17T22:56:00.000-06:00Unlike my usual practice, I posted a comment befor...Unlike my usual practice, I posted a comment before reading all the others. I realize now I walked into the middle of a LOS-storm. Yuk. What time do the janitors get here? <BR/><BR/>Apart from his fellatio fantasies, I thought this was a particularly stunning example of LOS as his most dense: <BR/><BR/><I>Ann: "'Eh. I think he's just unnerved that his 2 best films are among his earliest.' <BR/><BR/>LOS: According to who...you? He's written over 50 movies, directed over 40,..."</I><BR/><BR/>That "according to who...you?" is just so rich. LOS, you tool, did you happen to notice the <B>name</B> of this blog? This may stun you, but most of this blog's many readers come here precisely to find out what Ann thinks. You're a parasite on her audience. Which is fine -- so am I. But to witlessly challenge her right to express her own opinion on her own blog is indicative of the deeply confused person you are. <BR/><BR/>If this was any other blog--virtually any other but especially those written by your fellow hard-core leftists--your IP address would have been blocked ages ago. Ann is a bit more clever than others, though -- within reason, she lets idiots like you hang themselves.John Stodderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14185881995621265497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-4377766839862630442007-11-17T22:40:00.000-06:002007-11-17T22:40:00.000-06:00These are the films Allen has done between 1986 an...These are the films Allen has done between 1986 and 2005 that I liked. Most of them are comedies, but I really, really liked "Crimes and Misdemeanors." <BR/><BR/>Match Point (2005)<BR/>Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993)<BR/>Husbands and Wives (1992)<BR/>Alice (1990)<BR/>Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989)<BR/>New York Stories (1989)<BR/>Radio Days (1987)<BR/>Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)John Stodderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14185881995621265497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-4827092387199123362007-11-17T22:36:00.000-06:002007-11-17T22:36:00.000-06:00The LA Times' feature on this book used a very rev...The LA Times' feature on this book used a very revealing quote from the book that gets to the heart of everything good and bad about Allen: <BR/><BR/><I>"There's no question that comedy is harder to do than serious stuff. There's also no question in my mind that comedy is less valuable than serious stuff. It has less of an impact, and I think for a good reason," Allen told Lax in 1972, during the filming of "Sleeper." "When comedy approaches a problem, it kids it but it doesn't resolve it. Drama works through it in a more emotionally fulfilling way. I don't want to sound brutal, but there's something immature, something second-rate in terms of satisfaction when comedy is compared to drama. And it will always be that way. It will never have the stature of 'Death of a Salesman' or 'A Streetcar Named Desire' or 'A Long Day's Journey.' None of it, not the best of it."</I><BR/><BR/>Easier, yet more valuable? That's the sound of someone with other voices in his head, confusing him about what's impressive vs. what's important.<BR/><BR/>The serious flaw in his perspective is he disregards the role of quality. Does a weepy domestic made-for-TV movie have more impact, by virtue of its genre, than a great comedy like "Groundhog Day?" Obviously not. <BR/><BR/>Just glancing at AFI's list of best comedies (where "Annie Hall" comes in at #4), you see movies of tremendous power that do much more than "kid" about a problem, including, "Dr. Strangelove," "Tootsie," "Duck Soup," "MASH," "The Graduate," "The Philadelphia Story," "The Apartment," "Adams Rib," "Born Yesterday," "Modern Times," "Harvey," "Sullivan's Travels," and "Moonstruck." I've skipped over the kinds of comedies he might be referring to, like "Blazing Saddles" and "Airplane!" but even there, you can't possibly call these movies inferior to even the greatest dramas. <BR/><BR/>Allen should watch "Sullivan's Travels," actually. His whole confusion is explained there.John Stodderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14185881995621265497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-43215828753318225812007-11-17T22:29:00.000-06:002007-11-17T22:29:00.000-06:00"LOS is there any deviant behavior you won't defen..."LOS is there any deviant behavior you won't defend?"<BR/><BR/>Yes, homosexuality. He hates gays and thinks that implying that people are gay is the worst insult in the world.Palladianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01105490715666718993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-10678608896771616942007-11-17T22:28:00.000-06:002007-11-17T22:28:00.000-06:00Judy Davis and Gena Rowlands were wonderful in All...Judy Davis and Gena Rowlands were wonderful in Allen's films. Davis is a scary ball of nerves in "Husbands and Wives".<BR/><BR/>I've always hated Allen's pre-Annie Hall films.Palladianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01105490715666718993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-65125727882381919372007-11-17T21:35:00.000-06:002007-11-17T21:35:00.000-06:00LOS:We are given three choices in interpreting All...LOS:<BR/><BR/>We are given three choices in interpreting Allen's actions:<BR/><BR/>1) He entered into a sexual relationship with the daughter of his long-time girlfriend, 35 years younger than him, who he helped raise from the age of 10 to 22. This makes him at best a cad, and arguably sick.<BR/><BR/>2) Allen had a longterm relationship with Farrow in which he ignored all of her children except the three they shared (1 biological, 2 adopted). This makes him at least a cad.<BR/><BR/>3 Allen had a long-term relationship with Farrow, in which he took no part in raising any of her children, including his own. This makes him at best a cad, and arguably sick.Gahriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16795449308207016641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-39580408864574047902007-11-17T21:15:00.000-06:002007-11-17T21:15:00.000-06:00Trooper nails it with his quotes and fake quotes. ...Trooper nails it with his quotes and fake quotes. Hilarious.<BR/><BR/>LOS claims to like Woody Allen movies, but doesn't even get Trooper's asides. I suspect he knows Woody Allen is <I>supposed</I> to be liked because he's a lefty intellectual. But he couldn't possibly get the point in his movies.<BR/><BR/>I loved his early stuff. His stand-up material was so great. I quit watching Woody Allen when the story came out about dating his girlfriend's daughter. I simply cannot watch his work without thinking <I>God, whatta creep</I>. I don't care what he thinks or says or films. And you can't quote his funny lines anymore; the name casts the words in a negative light, however funny they were.KCFleminghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00124201866124646626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-43972258505516122042007-11-17T21:01:00.000-06:002007-11-17T21:01:00.000-06:00These are the films Allen has done between 1986 an...These are the films Allen has done between 1986 and 2005<BR/><BR/>Match Point (2005) <BR/>Melinda and Melinda (2004) <BR/>Anything Else (2003)<BR/>Hollywood Ending (2002) <BR/>The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (2001)<BR/>Small Time Crooks (2000)<BR/>Sweet and Lowdown (1999) <BR/> Celebrity (1998) <BR/>Deconstructing Harry (1997) <BR/>Count Mercury Goes to the Suburbs (1997) <BR/>Everyone Says I Love You (1996) <BR/>Mighty Aphrodite (1995) <BR/>Bullets Over Broadway (1994) <BR/>Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993) <BR/>Husbands and Wives (1992) <BR/>Shadows and Fog (1992) <BR/>Alice (1990) <BR/>Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) <BR/>New York Stories (1989) <BR/>Somebody or The Rise and Fall of Philosophy (1989) <BR/>Another Woman (1988) <BR/>September (1987) <BR/>Radio Days (1987) <BR/>Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)Gedaliyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08414106662981462086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-35358011131794052412007-11-17T20:53:00.000-06:002007-11-17T20:53:00.000-06:00Trooper York said..."Where the "wit" comes in is h...Trooper York said..."Where the "wit" comes in is how the reader interprets the post within the context of the discussion on the thread at the time."<BR/><BR/>You mean "other people's wit."<BR/><BR/>Not yours.Luckyoldsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11489310035114843752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-26304694919504599582007-11-17T20:51:00.000-06:002007-11-17T20:51:00.000-06:00Ann,When you say his "2 best films are among his e...Ann,<BR/>When you say his "2 best films are among his earliest"...which ones?<BR/><BR/>These were done between 1986 and 2005:<BR/><BR/>Match Point<BR/>Small Time Crooks<BR/>Deconstructing Harry<BR/>Mighty Aphrodite<BR/>Bullets Over Broadway<BR/>Husbands and Wives<BR/>New York Stories<BR/>Hannah and Her SistersLuckyoldsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11489310035114843752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-83783358288103692032007-11-17T20:48:00.000-06:002007-11-17T20:48:00.000-06:00I want to mention one other Allen film that is a m...I want to mention one other Allen film that is a masterpiece, and that is "Hannah and Her Sisters." The score alone is spectacular, and the deeply funny script along with the performances of a marvelous ensemble cast (Lloyd Nolan, Maureen O'Sullivan, Michael Caine, Max von Sydow, Diana Wiest, Barbara Hershey, Mia Farrow, Judy Kavner, Carrie Fisher among others) make for a terrific piece of entertainment, and one that simply does not diminish in quality over time. The movie is as fresh, as relevant and as funny as it was 20 years ago, and that is a rare thing indeed for any movie. <BR/><BR/>That is one (and a main) reason why Allen is so great...most of his work (especially since Annie Hall) is timeless and will be enjoyed for many generations to come. <BR/><BR/>How many directors have produced such a large body of work that is watched by one generation to the next with undiminished enjoyment? How many directors also wrote every one of their pictures? Not many, I'm sure.<BR/><BR/>If you haven't seen the picture, do so. You won't be disappointed.Gedaliyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08414106662981462086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-46336457075061467712007-11-17T20:20:00.000-06:002007-11-17T20:20:00.000-06:00Luckyoldson said: "'Eh. I think he's just unnerved...Luckyoldson said: "'Eh. I think he's just unnerved that his 2 best films are among his earliest.' According to who...you? He's written over 50 movies, directed over 40, and many are just as highly regarded by people who have followed his career..."<BR/><BR/>Look, I've been following his whole career and have seen more than 30 of his movies, as they came out, often on opening day, and I've watched some of them many times. I've also read his books and listened repeatedly to the recordings of his old stand up routines. I've read the reviews of nearly all of his movies when they came out and I've read about him repeatly over the years. My opinion is based on all that observation.Ann Althousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01630636239933008807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-13805020791902159542007-11-17T19:56:00.000-06:002007-11-17T19:56:00.000-06:00"The statement:"Jeffrey,Why the obsession with Rom..."The statement:<BR/>"Jeffrey,Why the obsession with Roman Polanski? Jealous?"<BR/><BR/>"Irony or hypocrisy?"<BR/><BR/>Jeff -just more LOS-ism; ad hominem attacks unworthy of response.rcoceanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17102201338319611538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-82871772520398663812007-11-17T19:44:00.000-06:002007-11-17T19:44:00.000-06:00Where the "wit" comes in is how the reader interpr...Where the "wit" comes in is how the reader interprets the post within the context of the discussion on the thread at the time. So I understand that you can only follow it half of the time.Trooper Yorkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01978703998566102194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-9868933860906559072007-11-17T19:37:00.000-06:002007-11-17T19:37:00.000-06:00"Why not just stay away from Woody Allen films, et..."Why not just stay away from Woody Allen films, etc.?"<BR/><BR/>I do... mostly. I "got" Annie Hall though :-). I also enjoyed Bannanas, Whats Up Tiger Lilly, and Sleeper. Actually, I have gotten some enjoyment from quite a few of his early movies. Its when he started taking himself too seriously (as did his audience) and thought he was important that I got turned off. Plus, his morality leaves me cold.zzRonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12619433409918784377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-31018655155774660762007-11-17T19:25:00.000-06:002007-11-17T19:25:00.000-06:00Gahrie,You think Woody Allen is "sick?"Gahrie,<BR/>You think Woody Allen is "sick?"Luckyoldsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11489310035114843752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-60113684398803123062007-11-17T19:24:00.000-06:002007-11-17T19:24:00.000-06:00john said..."LOS invariably wants someone to fella...john said..."LOS invariably wants someone to fellate him."<BR/><BR/>Sorry, I've already got a date with my lovely wife.<BR/><BR/>Maybe Jeffrey or Trooper could take you up on that offer.Luckyoldsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11489310035114843752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-86102621719435968292007-11-17T19:23:00.000-06:002007-11-17T19:23:00.000-06:00john says: "By the way, the quote from Love and De...john says: "By the way, the quote from Love and Death was in refrence to Woody Allen, the subject of this thread."<BR/><BR/>I realize the quote is from his film, but how is it "prophetic?"Luckyoldsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11489310035114843752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-9131724468574613592007-11-17T19:20:00.001-06:002007-11-17T19:20:00.001-06:00I got my haircut today and my lipstick lesbian hai...I got my haircut today and my lipstick lesbian hair burner is 8 months pregnant. Her partner is some Wall Street biggie. Its pretty interesting, everyone in the salon knows, but you can tell it is no big deal. Sometimes when I am in these situations I always wonder how people in other parts of the country would respond. <BR/><BR/><BR/>Secondly, I am looking for a new computer. Any suggestions? My max if around $2000.00. Not sure if I should get a Mac or not? Thoughts? I want something fast, where I can download lots of music, videos etc without it getting slow. Also, not sure if I should get a desktop or laptop. I don't go to cafes or anywhere outside so don't know if it makes sense to get a labtop. I do like the thought of not having a bunch of wires though. Any recommendations would be appreciated or sites where I should go and look. Thanks,Titustkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05006586664730659823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-25351127696719137252007-11-17T19:20:00.000-06:002007-11-17T19:20:00.000-06:00zz,Why not just stay away from Woody Allen films, ...zz,<BR/>Why not just stay away from Woody Allen films, etc.?<BR/><BR/>Art is subjective.<BR/><BR/>You don't think his work is "important"...so be it.Luckyoldsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11489310035114843752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-11529761878452338032007-11-17T19:18:00.000-06:002007-11-17T19:18:00.000-06:00Jesus LOS, can't get a date tonight? There's got ...Jesus LOS, can't get a date tonight? There's got to be a corollary to Godwins rule here: after 10 posts, LOS invariably wants someone to fellate him.<BR/><BR/>By the way, the quote from Love and Death was in refrence to Woody Allen, the subject of this thread.johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08344824510190345160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-28177409004073049372007-11-17T19:15:00.000-06:002007-11-17T19:15:00.000-06:00LOS:My bad. I didn't realize sending e-mails to a ...LOS:<BR/><BR/>My bad. <BR/><BR/>I didn't realize sending e-mails to a 16 year old boy was comparable to drugging and raping a 13 year old girl.<BR/><BR/>And again...I'm not defending Foley. I think he's sick. I just think Stubbs, Allen and Polanski are sick also.<BR/><BR/>It's called consistency and morality. You ought to try them sometimes.Gahriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16795449308207016641noreply@blogger.com