Subtle, ironic, intelligent, touching, funny and fantastically talented - this is how Woody Allen's fans know this. Despite everything, this director, screenwriter and actor steadily shoots a picture a year, and almost everyone becomes an event in the world of cinema. About which films of Woody Allen it makes sense to pay special attention to, will tell the material below.
Material Content:
A small biography of Woody Allen
The director's original name is Allan Stewart Konigsberg. He was born into an emigrant family, in New York, in 1935. His paternal ancestors came to the United States from Lithuania, and on the maternal side - from Austria.
Back in school, the young Allan Stewart felt a literary gift and began to try the power of his pen. His humorous notes in the school newspaper were successful and became the first source of income for the future master. That's when Allan Stewart takes on another name - Heywood Allen (Heywood Allen). From him comes the pseudonym Woody Allen (Woody Allen).
With further studies after school, Allen did not work out, and he earned his living by writing sketches and scripts to order, fiction for the New York weekly. At the same time, he flashed in various humorous television shows in the role of the ridiculous "neurotic botanist." His acting film debut took place in 1965 in the comedy of Clive Donner "What's New, Pussy?"
However, Allen becomes truly famous a year later, when he declares himself as a playwright with the play "Do not drink this water." In the same year, he tries himself not only as a screenwriter, playwright and actor, but also at the director’s console, removing the spy comedy tape “What happened, tiger lily?” Starting from this moment, the filmography of Woody Allen grows like a snowball, and already in 1977 the director becomes the owner of several Oscars.
Unfortunately, his personal life is by no means as successful as his professional career. Fatal for him is an unofficial marriage with actress and former model Mia Ferrow. By this time, Woody Allen had two divorces, and Mia had one unsuccessful marriage. The spouses had three of their own and two adopted children. Among the latter was the Korean girl Song-Yi. The twelve-year relationship between Allen and Ferrow ended in 1992 with a huge scandal and allegations of sexual abuse of Mia's other daughter, young Dylan.
An investigation into these circumstances was conducted by two independent clinics - New York State Child Welfare and Child Sexual Abuse Clinic. As a result, Woody Allen was acquitted. And in 1997, he married Song-Yi, with whom he lives happily ever since.
List of the best films of the director
Making a list of the best Woody Allen films is a tricky business. Almost all of his paintings, starting with the legendary work "Annie Hall" in 1977, can be called masterpieces of "author's cinema." In a cinematic environment, Allen is called the founder of a whole trend - intellectual comedy. On the one hand, his films touch upon very complex psychological and social topics. On the other hand, even through the most serious plot, an ironic smile is visible in them.
In various ratings, the following are most often called among the best films of the director.
"Annie Hall" (1977).
This romantic comedy was a turning point for Allen himself. It was in her that the director’s unique style “got through”, which managed to combine soulful drama and subtle humor. The plot focuses on the difficult ups and downs of a stand-up comedian with paranoid inclinations and a young singer. Starring Allen shot himself and his then beloved Diane Keaton. The film is so full of wit and many cultural references that many famous film critics call it a painting with great historical and aesthetic significance.
“Hannah and Her Sisters” (1986).
Many find in this melodrama something Chekhov’s in terms of heightened feelings and relationships. There are three sisters in downtown Manhattan. The husband of one of them is suddenly addicted to another sister, and around this, Allen builds an eccentric and very charming story that reveals various aspects of the life of the New York intelligentsia. The cast involved in the film is truly starry - apart from Allen himself, these are Diane Keaton, and Michael Kane, and Barbara Hershey, and the legendary Diane Uist.
Crimes and Misconduct (1989).
A very curious reminiscence of the Russian genius novel “Crime and Punishment”. An extremely harsh and even cruel story about whether it is possible to continue a normal life by committing a murder. According to Dostoevsky, it’s impossible. Woody Allen explores modern American society and answers: as much as possible. A successful person, an ophthalmologist, with the help of a killer, kills a mistress who threatens to reveal their relationship to his wife and destroy his beautiful and comfortable life. And finds ways to come to terms with his conscience. To fall on his knees and repent "I killed" he absolutely does not intend to.
Shadows and Fog (1991).
Gloomy thriller noir, made in black and white format. Vigilante, coroners, prostitutes, clowns, swallowers, searches for the killer maniac, mirrors, puffs of smoke - and all this in the foggy, deliberately stylized scenery of a small American town. The star cast is awesome: John Malkovich, Jodie Foster, Madonna, Mia Farrow, John Cusack. And Woody Allen in the title role.
“Husbands and Wives” (1992).
The master himself considers this film to be one of the best. It is shot in a style that gently and unobtrusively imitates mockie-mars, with inserts-interviews of characters and “long” frames without mounting glues. Two couples have been friends of families for many years, but suddenly one of them breaks up.Surprisingly, this event is reflected in the second family, where long-term contradictions and conflicts are aggravated. Having led his heroes in a circle, Allen leads them to the starting point, but with the opposite sign.
The Mysterious Murder in Manhattan (1993).
In this picture, Woody Allen again gives vent to his black humorous nature. The plot revolves around the sudden death of an old woman - a neighbor of a completely prosperous couple. Noting that the husband of the deceased is not too saddened by the incident, the couple suspects him of murder and begins his own investigation. The game of adults in a detective story could become very comical. But here there is corporate humor, "Allen" - with special jokes for scholars ("When I listen to Wagner for too long, I want to capture Poland") and many postmodern references.
Match Point (2005).
After the release of this picture, some critics sighed: "the old man repeats." Indeed, in Match Point, Allen again addresses the topic covered in Crimes and Offenses. Here she is revealed through the image of a poor young man, a former tennis player, seeking to gain a foothold in the society of British aristocrats. Everything is used - hypocrisy, rubbing into trust, marriage of convenience. The case is complicated by a powerful sexual desire "on the side" and betrayal. The result is a bloody reprisal against a mistress and her elderly neighbor, performed as yet another “wink” to Dostoevsky. Cast - Jonathan Rhys, Scarlett Johansson, Emily Mortimer, Mutty Goode.
Midnight in Paris (2011).
One of Allen's best works of recent years with an impressive train of international awards. Defining its genre is difficult. The master seems to refuse to obey the mainstream and creates an absolutely free mix of comedy, melodrama, fantasy and postmodern. An American couple arrives on a honeymoon in Paris. The young husband is an inspired romantic, and his wife is American-pragmatic. Having escaped for the evening from a circle of endless cafe-chantans, boutiques and tourist attractions, her husband walks alone at night in Paris at night and suddenly falls into the past.
Recently, Woody Allen has been working a lot in Europe, where he seems to be opening a second “breath”. All films of this period are original, full of subtexts, hidden meanings and intellectual game.
Films where Woody Allen acts as a screenwriter
Woody Allen writes scripts for all of his films. He gravitates to literary work from an early age, and therefore all of his paintings are partly “literary”, filled with reminiscences and specific theatrical drama.
More than once Allen's tapes received prestigious awards for the best script.
His work for the following films was especially noted:
- Oscars - “Annie Hall” and “Hannah and Her Sisters”;
- British BAFTA Prizes - “Annie Hall”, “Manhattan”, “Hannah and Her Sisters”, “Broadway Danny Rose”, “Purple Rose of Cairo”, “Husbands and Wives”.
- Golden Globe awards - Cairo's Purple Rose, Midnight in Paris, Wicca Cristina Barcelona.
Allen scripts for the films Interiors, Zelig, Crimes and Misconducts, Radio Days, and Match Point were nominated for various prestigious prizes.
What films did Woody Allen play in
Allen loves the acting profession, acting in his own projects a lot and with pleasure, often writing roles for himself in the script.
You can see the master in many films:
- In his youth, he played in the films "Sleeping", "Annie Hall", "Manhattan."
- Having entered the notorious middle age, he starred in “Memories of Stardust,” “Zelig,” “Hannah and Her Sisters.”
- In “Crimes and Offenses,” having crossed the fifty-year milestone, he played a documentary director.
- In “Husbands and Wives” he has the role of an elderly writer-professor, confused by the charm of a young student, but at the last moment resisted the temptation.
- In the 90s, Allen shows himself very well in very different roles in Shadows and Fogs, Mysterious Murder in Manhattan.
- In the 2000s, already an old man, he plays in “Little Fraudsters”, “Something Else”, “Sensations”, “Roman Adventures”.
Occasionally, Woody Allen acts as an actor in other people's films: for example, in the debut directorial work of Frenchwoman Sophie Lelouch “Paris-Manhattan” (2012).
New filmmaker projects
Despite his considerable age (82 years), Woody Allen works energetically, assertively and does not lose inspiration. Only in 2016, he managed to release two projects - a full-length picture "Savor"presented at the Cannes Film Festival and mini-series “The crisis in six scenes”. The series format for Allen, apparently, was "not fit", and the rating of this film was low. However, his exit proves that the master is still ready for experiments.
Woody Allen's drama was released in 2017 Wheel of Miracles with Kate Winslet and James Belushi. For Winslet, the work in this tape was a breakthrough and brought victory in the category "Actress of the Year" at the Hollywood Film Festival. And also in 2017 and 2018, the cameraman work of Vittorio Storaro was awarded with awards, giving the next Allen masterpiece a luxurious visual range.
The last Woody Allen film “Rainy Day in New York” (2018) is a romantic comedy with a strong cast: Jude Law, El Fanning, Rebecca Hall. The camera is again commanded by Vittorio Storaro, promising the viewer aesthetic pleasure.
Unfortunately, a whirlwind of sexual scandals has recently been circulating around the name of Woody Allen, initiated by the social movement #MeToo, which spoiled the reputation and career of many movie stars. Actors engaged in Rainy Day in New York have already publicly regretted agreeing to work with Allen.
It is hoped that despite the pressure, the film will still be released on wide screens. And the name of Woody Allen will already remain inscribed in golden letters in the history of world cinema.
