-Not many directors have made their mark on American cinema quite like Woody Allen. His flair for finding hilarity in ordinary life along with also pointing out the intricacies of human behavior have truly become his trademark. Likewise his eternal love affair with New York City along with his unrivaled stamina (he's written and directed one film virtually each year since making his debut as a filmmaker in the late 60s) have made him a cinematic landmark. Actors aspire to work with him, critics look forward to his movies and regardless of whatever advances films have made since he first appeared on the scene, Allen continues to stick to his traditional mode of filmmaking which has, and always will set him apart from any other director around. In celebration of an unprecedented legacy, here are 5 Woody Allen outings that may not have gone down as some of the master's greatest, but are some of my favorites and regadless of the type of "Allen" quality they give off, are still some of the most noteworthy films around.
1. Interiors (1978)
-One of Allen's most serious offerings from the 1970s, Interiors was not warmly received upon initial release but has since acquired a collection of admirers. The film's look very carefully measured with a variety of muted colors with only a handful of brightness sparsely scattered throughout the entire movie is exemplary. Moreover though, the film's main theme of how the divore of a long-time married couple affects their grown children was one that had, up to that point anyways, yet to be explored. Allen's treatment of the subject and the way he shapes the adult children characters help to make Interiors one of the most compelling examples of family drama in film history.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhphrzgPpaE
2. Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
-Allen's tribute to gangster pictures of the 30s as well as the great white way are both explored with great care in this fast-paced romp. A failed playwright is determined to bring his latest production to the stage himself but finds that his goal will be impossible to achieve unless he negotiates a deal with the mob. Full of lush cinematography, cracker-jack dialogue and great performances form the cast (especially Palminteri, Tilly and Weist who each received Oscar nominations for their work, with the latter winning), Bullets Over Broadway brought with it a resurgence for the director as well as an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BDr_9S5ZwU
3. Melinda and Melinda (2004)
-In full experimental mode, Allen got together one of his most diverse casts for one of his most daring latter day entries. The film tells the story of a fictional character named Melindaa hapless singleton who is presented through two separate stories (one comedic, the other dramatic). Its not an easy premise to take on as a viewer, but if your patience holds on throughout, the result as well as the overall experience is truly rewarding. Full of Allen's trademark dialogue and sensibility, Melinda and Melinda is truly one of the more curious footnotes in the director's illustrious career.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6IPioPX760
4. Scoop (2006)
-One of Allen's most celebrated, yet strangely still criminally underrated facets as a director has to do with his talents toward the area of magical realism. Nowhere is this more prevalent than in the comedy/mystery Scoop. A young American journalism student spending the summer in London encounters the ghost of a recently-dead reporter who informs her that a prominent citizen may be a notorious serial killer. From start to finish Scoop is brimming with laughs, mystery, and elements of farce and suspense. Featuring Allen himself in a hilarious role, Scoop is one of his hidden gems.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X31pBRzhqaw
5. Cassandra's Dream (2007)
-Family is family. Blood is blood. So states the tagline for this harshly-treated suspense drama from Allen. Two London brothers who are both struggling to rise above their current social status' beg their wealthy uncle to loan them large sums of money to clear their debts. In exchange for the loan, they must murder one of their uncle's associates. Unlike so many suspense yarns, Cassandra's Dream is very grounded in reality and boasts an assortment of interesting characters including the brothers' girlfriends, both of whom add intrigue to the film. In the end, Cassandra's dream represents family loyalty and the parameters that exist within.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iEQdTFb2Rw
No comments:
Post a Comment