Woody Allen’s Top 5 Films
Lazy Sunday – a weekly column where I discuss my favorite lazy day indulgences – movies, television shows, books and music.
Well, Woody Allen’s top 5 films according to me. How’s that for a misleading title?
Since I wrote about the Woody Allen exhibit on Monday I figured I’d spend this Lazy Sunday sharing my favorite films of his. I’ll start with my favorite (no, it’s not Annie Hall) and then share the rest in no particular order.
I’ve always been more into comedy than drama but there’s just something about this movie that I absolutely love. Which is not to say it’s a 100% dramatic…but it’s pretty serious. The film consists of two main storylines – one about a doctor (Martin Landau) dealing with an inconvenient mistress (Angelica Huston) and the other about a documentary filmaker (Woody Allen) falling in love with a producer (Mia Farrow). The film deals with both love and betrayal and…well…the perfect crime. It is an absolutely amazing film.
This is the film that started it all for me. I heard about the famous “Don’t speak” scene and wanted to see for myself why it was so memorable. As soon as I watched the movie I got it. This hilarious story about an earnest playwright watching his beloved piece evolve into something he never wanted is a hilarious take on showbiz in the early 20th century. With a well deserved Oscar winning performance by Dianne Wiest (fun fact: this was her second Oscar win for a role in a Woody Allen film. The first was for Hannah and Her Sisters.) this film is a wonderful, hilarious glimpse into the Jazz Age.
Now I’m sure you’ve heard about Crimes and Misdemeanors and Bullets Over Broadway but have you heard of Zelig? For some reason this one is rarely mentioned in discussions of Woody Allen’s best films. Perhaps it’s because it’s a bit unusual. It’s filmed as a documentary about an early 20th Century phenom named Leonard Zelig. Mr. Zelig is a man who has a psychosis where he takes on the personality and appearance of those around him. If the subject matter were true this film would be on constant rotation on PBS.
Doesn’t this picture alone make you want to see it? The plot where a health food store owner is cryogenically frozen and wakes up 200 years in the future is a zany one but it really works. Many hijinks ensue including the scene above where Woody Allen is posing as a robot. Add a hilarious performance by Diane Keaton and this one is a must see.
This one may not be my favorite but how could I leave it off the list? Annie Hall. Alvy Singer. I luff you. I lurve you. ‘Nuff said.
Honorable Mentions:
What are your favorite Woody Allen flicks?