"Small Time Crooks" is maybe Woody Allen's best recent film. It's the best of his early goofy humor combined with his commentary on modern tastes in style and art. I usually end up laughing myself to tears when we rewatch it.
I have to forget his character when watching. Artists can often be real jerks. That doesn't mean they don't have a lot to offer.
That's something I've been pondering - how much we should engage with media that offers some real art and comedy but also, in many ways, promotes a dead culture.
Good question. I struggle with that. I think what I do is to take the good even if it's good in spite of the intentions of the creators, and avoid the bad. Most of what we watch in my family is older. The sickening smut and violence of modern movies is so repellent.
Before the publicly scandalous behavior, Allen was lauded by all as a madcap comedy writer/director. I've been intentionally avoiding supporting him financially by NOT watching his work.
That said, the movies you picked are two of his best comedies.
BTW, the 2003 remake of The In-laws doesn't hold a candle to the original. Gag. Speaking of Gag...
Zero Mostel & Co in Mel Brooks The Producers, 1967 is one of my top comedy picks. Sometimes, while I'm furiously scrubbing the bathtub, or loading the dishwasher I find myself humming, "Springtime for Hitler, In Germany."
Something is definitely "off" in my brain!! And no, I don't endorse the 2005 remake on that one either.
Yes, as beautiful as that famous Gershwin beginning to Manhattan is, pretty hard movie to watch considering what would happen later…
Personal scandal aside, I also obviously disagree with him on religious/philosophical matters, but at least he has the honesty to wrestle with his ideas and confront them, like in Crimes and Misdemeanors.
I am not sure what I think of Allen's personal life, but I am not totally convinced that Mia Farrow is Joan of Arc. (I have a standing belief that people marry their psychological-health-equal.)
That said, it was with a little bit of trepidation and a little bit of rebelliousness that a year or two ago I re-watched Allen's Zelig. And honestly it is brilliant satire and (except for being completely impolitic now) hilarious.
As for late night TV, I remember how my dearly departed mom would wistfully recall that watching the late night Jack Parr show was like going to a wonderful dinner party every night.
A wonderfully effective cure for the current anything-coming-out-of-Hollywood blues, is just about anything the-omni talented players living under the umbrella of the South Korean Entertainment Industry. Fire-up NetFlix or Viki, toss an imaginary dart at the plethora or selections available, then sit back and let your imagination sail away on winds of wonder.
Good place to get a jump start is with Hotel Del Luna. Discover the mega talent of IU, if you haven’t already.
Get re-Happy faster, move-on from current version Hollywood.
Thanks for the education! I thought you misremembered when you mentioned Julie Andrews in relation to My Fair Lady as I figured you meant Audrey Hepburn but I learned that Ms. Andrews starred in the stage version prior. It would be interesting to see the Julie Andrews version. I imagine it would be quite different.
Serpentine! Serpentine! I just love The In-Laws.
"Small Time Crooks" is maybe Woody Allen's best recent film. It's the best of his early goofy humor combined with his commentary on modern tastes in style and art. I usually end up laughing myself to tears when we rewatch it.
I have to forget his character when watching. Artists can often be real jerks. That doesn't mean they don't have a lot to offer.
That's something I've been pondering - how much we should engage with media that offers some real art and comedy but also, in many ways, promotes a dead culture.
Good question. I struggle with that. I think what I do is to take the good even if it's good in spite of the intentions of the creators, and avoid the bad. Most of what we watch in my family is older. The sickening smut and violence of modern movies is so repellent.
Before the publicly scandalous behavior, Allen was lauded by all as a madcap comedy writer/director. I've been intentionally avoiding supporting him financially by NOT watching his work.
That said, the movies you picked are two of his best comedies.
BTW, the 2003 remake of The In-laws doesn't hold a candle to the original. Gag. Speaking of Gag...
Zero Mostel & Co in Mel Brooks The Producers, 1967 is one of my top comedy picks. Sometimes, while I'm furiously scrubbing the bathtub, or loading the dishwasher I find myself humming, "Springtime for Hitler, In Germany."
Something is definitely "off" in my brain!! And no, I don't endorse the 2005 remake on that one either.
Yes, as beautiful as that famous Gershwin beginning to Manhattan is, pretty hard movie to watch considering what would happen later…
Personal scandal aside, I also obviously disagree with him on religious/philosophical matters, but at least he has the honesty to wrestle with his ideas and confront them, like in Crimes and Misdemeanors.
C & M is definitely my fav serious Allen film.
I am not sure what I think of Allen's personal life, but I am not totally convinced that Mia Farrow is Joan of Arc. (I have a standing belief that people marry their psychological-health-equal.)
That said, it was with a little bit of trepidation and a little bit of rebelliousness that a year or two ago I re-watched Allen's Zelig. And honestly it is brilliant satire and (except for being completely impolitic now) hilarious.
As for late night TV, I remember how my dearly departed mom would wistfully recall that watching the late night Jack Parr show was like going to a wonderful dinner party every night.
If you read Allen's book about the Mia Farrow accusations, you come away believing Allen did nothing wrong.
A wonderfully effective cure for the current anything-coming-out-of-Hollywood blues, is just about anything the-omni talented players living under the umbrella of the South Korean Entertainment Industry. Fire-up NetFlix or Viki, toss an imaginary dart at the plethora or selections available, then sit back and let your imagination sail away on winds of wonder.
Good place to get a jump start is with Hotel Del Luna. Discover the mega talent of IU, if you haven’t already.
Get re-Happy faster, move-on from current version Hollywood.
And here I’m still howling over Stepbrothers tonite! Thanks for the thought food, Adrian!
Great choices!
I became a fan after watching "What's up, Tiger Lily?" (1966)
Crazy overdubbed film about an egg-salad recipe.
Released 57 years ago...
Thanks for the education! I thought you misremembered when you mentioned Julie Andrews in relation to My Fair Lady as I figured you meant Audrey Hepburn but I learned that Ms. Andrews starred in the stage version prior. It would be interesting to see the Julie Andrews version. I imagine it would be quite different.