From October 2010 to October 2011 I revisited each film from writer, director, and actor Woody Allen in preparation for 2011 – the 40th anniversary of the release of what is considered by many to be Allen’s first film, Bananas. Of course he did release a few films prior, but it was Bananas that was the first to begin the yearly string of releases that came to be known as the quintessential Woody Allen film.
Allen has for years been one of my top five favorite directors, and looking back at his long career (one film per year for 40 years) it’s really quite astounding. Sure, it’s true that most of the time Allen doesn’t branch out nearly as much as other filmmakers. But there is a particular and familiar universe that he has created and lives in 99% of the time, and it’s a style all his own, a world where he invites you into every year – to meet new characters, and the stories they have to tell.
My reviewing skills are admittedly not very strong, and the famous quote from Truman Capote – “it isn’t writing at all – it’s typing” – is never more prevalent than with these short reviews, but none the less this was very fun for me to revisit all these movies again over the past months – and exciting to share at least a few of my basic thoughts to the world (ha!) on one of my top five favorite filmmakers. The timing couldn’t be more fitting as well not only because of the 40th anniversary of Bananas, but because that year saw the release, surprisingly enough, of Allen’s biggest financial success in the United States – Midnight in Paris. These are in order of release, beginning with 1971’s Bananas and ending with 2011’s Midnight in Paris.
Woody Allen
A Ghostlife Retrospective
Zelig
It’s quite interesting to me when I look up the box office numbers on this movie and see that it made upon its release in 1983 today’s equivalent of about $26 million. It just seems unfathomable to me that such a film could even be released, never mind making a fair amount of cash. Just goes to show how popular Woody Allen was back in the day that something like this could even do relatively well. It’s great it did because it’s such a unique film, and a great one at that. Zelig is a “mockumentary” about fictional character Leonard Zelig, played by Allen, who is the world’s first human chameleon – able to transform his appearance to that of anyone who surrounds him. The film takes place in the 1920’s and thus it’s filmed in the style of newsreels from that time, which helps convey the fact that Zelig became a celebrity due to his unique ability. With the use of bluescreen technology, they convincingly have Zelig hanging out with Calvin Coolidge, Adolf Hitler, Charles Lindbergh, Babe Ruth and Josephine Baker, just to name a few. Zelig is 28 years old now and the effects are still incredibly impressive. In fact if one didn’t know who Woody or Mia Farrow (who plays a doctor researching his “condition”) were, I could see one being possibly fooled by the effects, although probably not by the story. I haven’t seen this movie too many times, as it’s more of an amusement than a great movie with great performances, but it is definitely worth seeing for its unique story and style.
B+
1983