From October 2010 to October 2011 I revisited each film from writer, director, and actor Woody Allen in preparation for 2011 – the 40th anniversary of the release of what is considered by many to be Allen’s first film, Bananas. Of course he did release a few films prior, but it was Bananas that was the first to begin the yearly string of releases that came to be known as the quintessential Woody Allen film.
Allen has for years been one of my top five favorite directors, and looking back at his long career (one film per year for 40 years) it’s really quite astounding. Sure, it’s true that most of the time Allen doesn’t branch out nearly as much as other filmmakers. But there is a particular and familiar universe that he has created and lives in 99% of the time, and it’s a style all his own, a world where he invites you into every year – to meet new characters, and the stories they have to tell.
My reviewing skills are admittedly not very strong, and the famous quote from Truman Capote – “it isn’t writing at all – it’s typing” – is never more prevalent than with these short reviews, but none the less this was very fun for me to revisit all these movies again over the past months – and exciting to share at least a few of my basic thoughts to the world (ha!) on one of my top five favorite filmmakers. The timing couldn’t be more fitting as well not only because of the 40th anniversary of Bananas, but because that year saw the release, surprisingly enough, of Allen’s biggest financial success in the United States – Midnight in Paris. These are in order of release, beginning with 1971’s Bananas and ending with 2011’s Midnight in Paris.
Woody Allen
A Ghostlife Retrospective
Another Woman
It’s hard to go wrong when a movie has Martha Plimpton in it, and uses the beautiful composition 3 Gymnopedies : Gymnopedie No 1 (written by Erik Satie), but this film did have to make Allen devotees worry a bit upon its release. Not because of its quality, but because it was his second drama in a row – when he had only made 3 dramas total of the 20 films he had released at that time. Luckily it’s a good film, yet one of his least remembered movies, despite a great performance from Gina Rowlands about a woman going through a mid-life crisis. She ends up finding ways to work through it, guided by her overhearing the psychiatrist who lives next door helping another woman going through her own crisis – who that threatens her life. It’s not as heavy as it sounds, and unlike many dramas, Allen knows to keep it short. Clocking in at 80 minutes, it’s the perfect amount of time to show a glimpse into this woman’s life – and is a strong element to what makes this movie a success.
B+
1988