Best Woody Allen films

[Undesired Walrus]

IMHO


Hannah and Her Sisters
Husbands and Wives
September
Crimes and Misdemeanors


Hannah and Her Sisters: The music, the hopeless cynicsm of life tinged with a uplifting optimism that we admit how pointless it all is.

Husbands and Wives: Brilliantly shot, some wonderful lines "I was never kissed but I was the kisser" and the complete lack of non-diagetic music makes it a winner.

September: Brutally depressing, but brilliantly acted with Mia Farrows best performance (IMHO)

Crimes and Misdemeanors: Funny, and arguably his most philosophical film to date. Really questions the issue of morality.

You will notice I have the Mia Farrow films, because I dislike Woody's Diane Keaton period. Shoot me!

[Miss Anthrope]

My favorites:

1. What's Up Tiger Lily
2. Sleeper
3. Bananas

While they aren't as great in the production value department, I thought they were hysterical.

I *hated* Curse of the Jade Scorpion. Many of his films were good, but this is the one I found completely without redemption.

[Tricky]

My favorites:

1. What's Up Tiger Lily
2. Sleeper
3. Bananas

While they aren't as great in the production value department, I thought they were hysterical.

I *hated* Curse of the Jade Scorpion. Many of his films were good, but this is the one I found completely without redemption.
Damn, I thought when I clicked on this thread that I would be the only one who knew about What's Up Tiger Lily. It was the forerunner to Mystery Science Theater 3000 and ROTFL funny.

Of his "serious" stuff I really like "Hannah and Her Sisters", mostly because he quotes e e cummings.

[webfusion]

Take The Money and Run

What is a "gub" ?

Janet Margolin --- an absolute doll.
http://www.nndb.com/people/251/000063062/janet-margolin-sized.jpg

[Small Town Jesus]

1. Love and Death
2. Broadway Danny Rose
3. Interiors - nah only kidding - Sleeper

[Jeff Corey]

"Miles, eat your shisksa."
"Meet me back in my room with a whip and a prune danish."
"He didn't bring an assortment."
and
'it was sadistic necrophiliac beastiality, or a case of beating a dead horse."

[alfaniner]

I'm still pissed that Annie Hall (?!) took best picture for 1977 over that other movie...

what was it...

oh yeah..

STAR WARS

[ClintonHammond]

I thought Curse Of The Jade Scorpion was FN bril.... I can see where some folks wouldn't get it.


I think it aughta be adapted to the stage, where it would REALLY shine!

[hgc]

3. Interiors - nah only kidding - Sleeper


I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I rank Interiors in the Woody top tier.

Also:

Bananas
Sleeper
Annie Hall
Manhattan
Hannah and her Sisters
Crimes and Misdemeanors
Husbands and Wives

Many others in 2nd tier. Unfortunately, many more in bottom tier, including, I have to admit, many of the last 15 years that I didn't even bother to see (so take my judgement for what it's worth).

I've never seen September or Shadows and Fog, and I suspect they may be quite good. I'll have to see those soon.

[Steven Howard]

Top Five Film Written and Directed by Woody Allen

1. Crimes and Misdemeanors
2. Radio Days
3. Hannah and Her Sisters
4. Love and Death
5. Bullets Over Broadway

[balrog666]

What?

[balrog666]

WHAT?

Nobody remembers the classic "Everything you wanted to know about ..."???

[fishbait]

Sleeper and Zelig still make me laugh out loud after dozens of viewings. :D

[Phillybee]

+Sleeper - great!

+The Purple Rose of Cairo - still makes me cry. Jeff Daniels is great in this

+Crimes and Misdemeanors - love this movie

+Hanna+Annie Hall+her Sisters - I liked these all

-(lighter touch) A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy - I loved this one too

[hgc]

No one wants to bring up Stardust Memories? I know it's not his very best, but it's funny and creative nonetheless.

[LibraryLady]

I used to love Hannah and Her Sisters, but after I realized what he had done with it, justifying having affairs with close relatives of your spouse and putting Mia Farrow in the role of the spouse, it now just creeps me out.

However, I love Bananas because of the delicatessen scene. Only someone who has grown up in a deli can truly appreciate:
This is approximate--I haven't seen it for a long time:

"I'll have 265 corned beef sandwiches. One with lettuce and mustard, one on rye with a pickle, one on wheat toast with.....

[hgc]

I used to love Hannah and Her Sisters, but after I realized what he had done with it, justifying having affairs with close relatives of your spouse and putting Mia Farrow in the role of the spouse, it now just creeps me out.

...


Ah yes, plenty of those minefields in his movies. I've always loved Crimes and Misdemeanors, but then when I saw Match Point I had to wonder why he's ...... telling the story of a family man who murders his annoying mistress and gets away with it for the 2nd time?!?
Sometime Woody just creeps me out.

[clerihew80]

I used to love Hannah and Her Sisters, but after I realized what he had done with it, justifying having affairs with close relatives of your spouse and putting Mia Farrow in the role of the spouse, it now just creeps me out.
Actually, the relationship with Soon-Yi didn't begin until several years after Hannah and Her Sisters was made. So unless he was having an affair with another one of Mia's relatives in the mid-80s (Prudence?), it's unlikely that he was trying to "justify" anything of the sort.

Over the years, Woody has continually warned viewers about equating his films and his personal life, but people just don't seem to listen...

[Darth Rotor]

-(lighter touch) A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy - I loved this one too
Aye.

While that was fun, I more enjoyed Play It Again Sam and Bananas. He began to lose me with Manhattan, and when I saw Deconstructing Harry, I was lost completely.

DR

[Loss Leader]

I would have to say that Annie Hall is probably the funniest movie of all time.


"I haven't been myself since I quit smoking."
- "You quit smoking? When?"
"Fifteen years ago."

[brooklyn44]

"Annie Hall," we need the eggs.
"Radio Days," beautiful Carmen Miranda moment, beautiful evocation of Radio City Music Hall.
"Bananas," Howard Cosell's play-by-play,
"Crimes and Misdemeanors" and "Hannah, etc."

[hgc]

I have to include one not normally classified as "a Woody film," since it's directed by Herbert Ross. Play it Again, Sam was written by Woody, based on his own play, and he does some of his best physical comedy in it.

[fuelair]

My favorites:

1. What's Up Tiger Lily
2. Sleeper
3. Bananas

While they aren't as great in the production value department, I thought they were hysterical.

I *hated* Curse of the Jade Scorpion. Many of his films were good, but this is the one I found completely without redemption.
My end of the faves also!!

[veggie doll]

Hannah and her Sisters, definitely. My younger sister was named Hannah because of this film. :)

[Juliette]

I have to include one not normally classified as "a Woody film," since it's directed by Herbert Ross. Play it Again, Sam was written by Woody, based on his own play, and he does some of his best physical comedy in it.

How funny! I had forgotten about film until just now, and yes, it was great.

It is too difficult to pick a favorite. I have liked every one of them.

Reading this thread, I suddenly remebered a great scene in Annie Hall. The screen is split in half, and Woody is on one side of the screen talking to his shrink. Annie is shown on the other side, talking to her shrink. They both are being asked how often they have sex.

Woody: "Never!!! Maybe 2 . . . 3 times a week."

Annie: "Constantly!!! Maybe 2 . . . 3 times a week."

[aries]

OK, here's my list

Manhattan
September
Husbands & Wives
Hannah and her Sisters
Interiors

Strong Mention:
Radio Days
Annie Hall
Everything about Harry. (It's the movie where Woody plays a man who is alone in an apartment and the whole movie plays out in the apartment. I think he has imaginery friends? as well).

Favorite Qoute: "I think I hear a ringing for my ears".

[hgc]

Upon the death of Bergman, I'll add about Interiors that it appears to be Woody saying, "I think I'll make a Bergman film all my own." He did a great job of it.

from Favorite Quotes, Bananas edition: "Would you like some coffee? Are you hungry? I could open a can of ribs if you want."

[Ove]

Radio Days




-because he is not in it himself except as narrator. :) I can't STAND his acting.

[Slothrop]

I can't STAND his acting.

Couldn't disagree more. His early stand-up is fantastic, and the latter-era movies where people like Kenneth Branagh and Will Ferrell play the "Woody"-parts show quite clearly that nobody delivers his particular brand of comedy like he does. And to get On Topic, Crimes and Misdemeanors is clearly his best movie. "If it beeeends, it's funny.. If it breaks, it's not funny."

[Hindmost]

A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy
Stardust Memories
Annie Hall
Hannah and her Sisters
Melinda and Melinda
Manhattan

Have to add a whole group. I still like others, but the above are my favorites.

glenn

[Pardalis]

Zelig is the only one I like. :boxedin:

[ConspiRaider]

Only his early stuff. And only the funny stuff - actually funny.

1. Sleeper
2. Everthing You Always Wanted To Know About Sex
3. Play It Again, Sam

Annie Hall is notable in my life as the very first movie I ever walked out on. Appallingly bad. UNfunny. And yet hyped into an Oscar. Reminds me of American Beauty (not an Allen flick). Terrible movie, hyped into an Oscar. Hype, Hyper, Hypest.

[Ove]

Couldn't disagree more. His early stand-up is fantastic, and the latter-era movies where people like Kenneth Branagh and Will Ferrell play the "Woody"-parts show quite clearly that nobody delivers his particular brand of comedy like he does. And to get On Topic, Crimes and Misdemeanors is clearly his best movie. "If it beeeends, it's funny.. If it breaks, it's not funny."

Have to disagree here. Mind you i am not speaking about his acting abilities just stating that I don't like him :) . His typical caracter -the bumbling fool - is simply painfull for me to watch so i avoid it... Which leaves, as i said, "Radio Days".

[Lensman]

OK, I'll probably be totally caned for this, but I don't like Woody Allen - he's unfunny & somewhat pathetic, his films are boring, neurotic drivel.

[Jeff Corey]

OK, I'll probably be totally caned for this, but I don't like Woody Allen - he's unfunny & somewhat pathetic, his films are boring, neurotic drivel.
Meet me in my room in five minutes.
With a whip and a prune danish.
This is a case of sadistic, beastial necrophilia.
Miles, eat your shicksa.
That's a big chicken.
Then they say,"Jeet?", "No. Jew?"

I guess you are from East Cornpone South GA.

[grayman]

I like Sleeper and Bananas. But Zelig I enjoy just for the techniques he uses to place himself in old film footage. The scene with him behind Hitler? Classic.