Woody Allen feels he’s squandered his career
In a typically self-deprecating interview with The Times in London, Woody Allen reveals that he feels he’s pretty much wasted his career despite having total artistic freedom.
Out of 40 films I should have 30 masterpieces, eight noble failures and two embarrassments, but it hasn’t worked out that way.
Allen says he’s no Bergman, Fellini or Buñuel — and he’s right — but he seems to have forgotten some of the things he’s accomplished. Picking his favorite six of his films, Allen lists “Purple Rose of Cairo,” “Match Point,” “Bullets Over Broadway,” “Zelig,” “Husbands and Wives” and “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.”
That’s right. No “Manhattan.” No “Annie Hall.” No mid-career masterpieces “Hannah and Her Sisters” or “Crimes and Misdemeanors,” of which “Match Point” is merely an inferior shadow. And “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”? Come on, even Woody’s attempt at a musical, “Everyone Says I Love You,” is better.
Incidentally, my six favorite Woody Allen films are:
1. “Annie Hall”
2. “Hannah and Her Sisters”
3. “Radio Days”
4. “Manhattan”
5. “Zelig”
6. “Crimes and Misdemeanors”
— Dusty
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Comments
I’m with you on four of your picks for favorite Woody — “Annie Hall,” “Manhattan,” “Crimes and Misdemeanors” and “Hannah and Her Sisters.” I like “Zelig” a lot, but “Radio Days” never did much for me. My two — not that anyone’s asking, natch — would be “Purple Rose of Cairo” and “Broadway Danny Rose.”
I think “Crimes” was his last masterpiece. It’s a shame, but some of his films since then have just been downright embarrassing. I could barely hold my lunch for “Whatever Works,” and that’s coming from a Woody Allen/Larry David devotee.
It’s possible that Woody either 1) picked randomly because he is asked so often that he doesn’t care and doesn’t have favorites or 2) picked the productions that he personally enjoyed the most. He may enjoy the company of Cusack and Johansen or may have had some personally enjoyable experience writing or filming those particular films. Either way, he doesn’t sound particularly concerned about his critically acclaimed-ness as much as his own artistry, which, in my opinion, is exactly how an artist should perceive his own work.
For the record, I love Radio Days, Manhattan, Annie Hall, Bullets Over Broadway, Hannah & Her Sisters, Crimes & Misdemeanors, Husbands & Wives, Sleeper, and Sweet & Lowdown the most. S & L because I really like Django, mostly.
I really enjoyed Whatever Works. IT wasn’t a big movie, but it was pleasant and entertaining with a good message I thought (overall).
Deconstructing Harry is really darkly funny too.
Yeah, I liked “Deconstructing Harry,” too. Worst Woody Allen movie: tie between “Celebrity” and “Anything Else.”
I love Bullets, Radio Days, Crimes, Manhattan, Husbands and Wives, Love and Death…..I am probably leaving a favorite out.
Vicky was a nice movie, not one of his best. I think Purple Rose is overrated. Your list is a good one!