Woody Allen is mediocre and makes miserable films: Woody Allen
12-19-05, 03:01 AM
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Woody Allen is mediocre and makes miserable films: Woody Allen
Source: http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/1....oyvmkdg6.html
In his trademark pessimistic style, US cinema legend Woody Allen said he is a "mediocre" director of "miserable work". "I've disappointed myself most of the time," the New Yorker told BBC television, rejecting claims he is a film artist.
In London for the world premiere of his new film "Match Point", set in the British capital, Allen said: "People think I'm an intellectual because I wear glasses and they think I'm an artist because my films lose money".
Allen's movies have often been better received in Europe than in America but he said he was grateful for any US acclaim as it would have overlooked his "glaring faults and miserable work".
"I'm one of the smallest money making Academy Award winners in history," the 70-year-old said, referring to his Oscars for "Annie Hall" in 1977 and "Hannah and Her Sisters" in 1986.
"My relationship with the American audience is exactly the same as it has always been: they never came to see my films, and they don't come now.
"I've often said that the only thing standing between me and greatness is me," he mused.
Summing up his giant filmography as "mediocre", Allen said "Match Point", "Husbands and Wives" (1992) and "The Purple Rose of Cairo" (1985) were "three films of mine that are good films. Those are good films by anybody's standards".
Allen claimed he had led a pretty dull, middle-class life.
"I was married a couple of times. I'm not a dope addict, I don't drink. I'm not really a neurotic," he said.
He touched on his love of playing the clarinet.
"I'm a terrible clarinet player. But I play with my heart. I don't have a great ear for music," he said.
"It thrills me and it amazes me" that people turn up to watch his band, he said.
In London for the world premiere of his new film "Match Point", set in the British capital, Allen said: "People think I'm an intellectual because I wear glasses and they think I'm an artist because my films lose money".
Allen's movies have often been better received in Europe than in America but he said he was grateful for any US acclaim as it would have overlooked his "glaring faults and miserable work".
"I'm one of the smallest money making Academy Award winners in history," the 70-year-old said, referring to his Oscars for "Annie Hall" in 1977 and "Hannah and Her Sisters" in 1986.
"My relationship with the American audience is exactly the same as it has always been: they never came to see my films, and they don't come now.
"I've often said that the only thing standing between me and greatness is me," he mused.
Summing up his giant filmography as "mediocre", Allen said "Match Point", "Husbands and Wives" (1992) and "The Purple Rose of Cairo" (1985) were "three films of mine that are good films. Those are good films by anybody's standards".
Allen claimed he had led a pretty dull, middle-class life.
"I was married a couple of times. I'm not a dope addict, I don't drink. I'm not really a neurotic," he said.
He touched on his love of playing the clarinet.
"I'm a terrible clarinet player. But I play with my heart. I don't have a great ear for music," he said.
"It thrills me and it amazes me" that people turn up to watch his band, he said.
12-19-05, 03:57 AM
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Self-deprecation and neurotic whining is funny, in small doses; something Woody should have learned at some point, but apparently never did. That being said, I am interested in seeing Match Point after the reviews I've read.
12-19-05, 06:40 AM
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I haven't wanted to watch any of his shit since the 70's and the only reason i saw his 70's stuff was because I was a kid and didn't know any better. So I guess I would agree with him. 
Anyway, Mach Point has my interest. But that's because of Scarlett Johansen....
Anyway, Mach Point has my interest. But that's because of Scarlett Johansen....
12-19-05, 08:36 AM
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He's made plenty of great films, but because they don't feature elves or "bullet time" they're way off the radar of the crowd on this forum.
If you watch Wild Man Blues, in particular the scene towards the end where Allen is talking to his parents, it becomes clear where his self-deprecation comes from.
If you watch Wild Man Blues, in particular the scene towards the end where Allen is talking to his parents, it becomes clear where his self-deprecation comes from.
12-19-05, 09:03 AM
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Originally Posted by Groucho
He's made plenty of great films, but because they don't feature elves or "bullet time" they're way off the radar of the crowd on this forum.
NOTE TO SELF...it's ok not to like something because it's not your cup of tea....
12-19-05, 09:15 AM
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I am extremely glad the thread title came from a Woody quote...I would have had to come in here guns blazing! I like his self depricating style, but have to say, without a doubt, he's one of my top 10 filmmakers of all time. Even his disappointing movies have many great moments and the word on Match Point has me salivating... Surprised by the movies he lists as "good"...sure, they were good, but his resume includes some that are truly GREAT.
MATT
MATT
12-19-05, 10:23 AM
#9
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Originally Posted by Groucho
He's made plenty of great films, but because they don't feature elves or "bullet time" they're way off the radar of the crowd on this forum.
Originally Posted by Giantrobo
You say that like it's a bad thing. Guess what, Bullet time, CGI, SFX, and other things considered crack cocaine for the unwashed masses are ok. Contrary to what you may think, liking or disliking Woody Allen movies doesn't make anyone better or worse than anyone else.
NOTE TO SELF...it's ok not to like something because it's not your cup of tea....
NOTE TO SELF...it's ok not to like something because it's not your cup of tea....
The fact that you relate it to crack cocaine should tell you something. Where I come from, crack is actually considered bad for you. And the people who can't get enough of it are typically uneducated, brain-dead losers. And the people that prefer a fine cognac instead are typically well-adjusted, well-bred, intellectuals.
12-19-05, 11:03 AM
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Originally Posted by Giantrobo
I haven't wanted to watch any of his shit since the 70's and the only reason i saw his 70's stuff was because I was a kid and didn't know any better. So I guess I would agree with him.
12-19-05, 11:49 AM
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I always liked him. I admit i haven't seen a ton of his stuff. Mighty Aphrodite is one of my favorite films of all time, so is Annie Hall. He is definitly an acquired taste though. I know I never wanted to see anything of his when i was growing since my mom always talked about how much she disliked him. Thankfully a friend made me sit through Annie Hall or i probably would have never figured out that i liked him so much.
12-19-05, 11:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Giantrobo
You say that like it's a bad thing. Guess what, Bullet time, CGI, SFX, and other things considered crack cocaine for the unwashed masses are ok. Contrary to what you may think, liking or disliking Woody Allen movies doesn't make anyone better or worse than anyone else.
NOTE TO SELF...it's ok not to like something because it's not your cup of tea....
NOTE TO SELF...it's ok not to like something because it's not your cup of tea....
well said and with that said, his movies suck.
12-19-05, 01:10 PM
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Crimes is one of the 5 movies I can give ***** to. Annie Hall, Purple Rose of Cairo, and the very underrated Sweet and Lowdown getting ****1/2, most of his 70's comedies (Bananas, Love and Death, Sleeper) at **** with Zelig, Radio Days, Broadway Danny Rose and Manhattan there to, ***1/2 for Hannah and her Sisters, Celebrity, Everyone Says I Love you, Bullets over Broadway, and Small Time Crooks (got so much better with repeat viewings), *** for Melinda and Melinda, Deconstructing Harry, Mighty Aphrodite, Interiors, and Everything you Wanted to Know about Sex, **1/2 for the rest of them probably and probably my lowest ** for Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy.
12-19-05, 01:11 PM
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Also, my old email address that I had since middle school is [email protected].
12-19-05, 01:26 PM
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Originally Posted by jeffkjoe
Yeah, why do studios keep financing his films if he makes such little money with them?
12-19-05, 02:15 PM
#19
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I haven't wanted to watch any of his shit since the 70's
12-19-05, 02:35 PM
#20
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Sweet and Lowdown was a great little film with amazing performances... even though he borrowed the main theme of the film from Fellini's La Strada.
It's actually kinda fun to try and find a Fellini or Bergman influence or reference in his films.
It's actually kinda fun to try and find a Fellini or Bergman influence or reference in his films.
12-19-05, 03:20 PM
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Originally Posted by ChrisKnudsen
Crimes is one of the 5 movies I can give ***** to. Annie Hall, Purple Rose of Cairo, and the very underrated Sweet and Lowdown getting ****1/2, most of his 70's comedies (Bananas, Love and Death, Sleeper) at **** with Zelig, Radio Days, Broadway Danny Rose and Manhattan there to, ***1/2 for Hannah and her Sisters, Celebrity, Everyone Says I Love you, Bullets over Broadway, and Small Time Crooks (got so much better with repeat viewings), *** for Melinda and Melinda, Deconstructing Harry, Mighty Aphrodite, Interiors, and Everything you Wanted to Know about Sex, **1/2 for the rest of them probably and probably my lowest ** for Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy.
12-19-05, 04:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Numanoid
That depends on what your definition of "better" is.
The fact that you relate it to crack cocaine should tell you something. Where I come from, crack is actually considered bad for you. And the people who can't get enough of it are typically uneducated, brain-dead losers. And the people that prefer a fine cognac instead are typically well-adjusted, well-bred, intellectuals.
12-19-05, 04:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Sierra Disc
A shame, you've missed some great movies like "Hannah and Her Sisters," "Sweet And Lowdown," "Deconstructing Harry," "Husbands and Wives," "Crimes and Misdemeanors," ... he's had some garbage ("Anything Else" might be the worst movie he's ever made) but is almost always at least worth a rental in my book.
No I didn't. I've seen some of those on tv and cable and they just didn't do it for me.
I guess I'll go back to my gutter and drink malt liqour while eating cheetos and watchin' wrasslin'.
