Why Has Woody Allen Become A Director Of British Thrillers ?

[Windthrop]

I quite liked Match Point which I thought suited his neutral directing style but was less impressed with Cassandra's Dream which was done no favours with Ewan McGregor's performance. Have yet to see Scoop - is it worth bothering with and why has Woody directed a string of thrillers ? I know he is making films over here because his Hollywood career is on its arse and his British films should benefit from having an outsiders view of this country and its peculiarities through the framework of a conventional thriller narrative but in my opinion they look so anonymous they don't quite work. I like the idea that someone is trying to do thrillers that aren't overdirected but I find his elegantly put together but rather underwhelming.



Anyone else have any views on this ?



Jules Dassin did a wonderful job with Night and the City, brining an outsiders view to London that added something to the film which IMHO Woody isn't doing.

[CaptainWaggett]

I quite liked the plot and acting in Match Point but his portrayal of London as a place where people talk about 'stores' rather than 'shops' and being 'raised in Belgravia' and call their parents Mommy and Poppa was fairly ludicrous (though got a lot of laughs in the cinema!)

[rskershaw]

name='Windthrop']I know he is making films over here because his Hollywood career is on its arse....

He's never had a Hollywood career. He detests the place and preferred to make independently financed movies in N.Y.C. until recently. Annie Hall, Manhattan and Hannah and Her Sisters etc won Oscars, but Allen always declined the invitation to attend.



His films have always made more money in Europe than in the U.S.

[Windthrop]

name='rskershaw']He's never had a Hollywood career. He detests the place and preferred to make independently financed movies in N.Y.C. until recently. Annie Hall, Manhattan and Hannah and Her Sisters etc won Oscars, but Allen always declined the invitation to attend.



His films have always made more money in Europe than in the U.S.

I stand corrected and you are absolutely right



Substitute America for Hollywood

[moonfleet]

He makes too much films, once or twice per year !!....and lost quality of reflection, I think, haven't seen one of his since a long time...

My preferences go to "Manhattan" and the marvelous "Midnight Summer Sex Comedy" .



Moon.

[GRAEME]

[ame=http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=r1qQPPg0b2w]YouTube - Woody Allen Interviews Billy Graham, Continued[/ame]



The biggest surprise is that Billy Graham thinks Cliff used to trip on LSD! Did Cliff really say that or is Billy just lying?

[Bernardo]

(Paris Match)

[James Fox]

name='moonfleet']He makes too much films, once or twice per year !!....and lost quality of reflection, I think, haven't seen one of his since a long time...

My preferences go to "Manhattan" and the marvelous "Midnight Summer Sex Comedy" .

I used to say the same thing, but then I saw "Sweet and Lowdown" which I think is maybe the best film he's ever done (and certainly one of Sean Penn's greatest performances as well).

[moonfleet]

name='James Fox']I used to say the same thing, but then I saw "Sweet and Lowdown" which I think is maybe the best film he's ever done (and certainly one of Sean Penn's greatest performances as well).

Is it the film inspired by jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt ??



Moon.

[batman]

name='moonfleet']Is it the film inspired by jazz guitarist Django Reinhart ??



Moon.

It's about a guitarist (Sean Penn) who is obsessed by Reinhardt.

[TimR]

name='rskershaw'] .....His films have always made more money in Europe than in the U.S.

That has only been true for the last fifteen years.



Before that, he was a major box-office draw, and his films were enornously popular in the US. I can remember when Annie Hall and Manhattan were released. I was in school then, and there were lines at the theatres.

I think he is a gifted but limited director and actor. He knows and loves New York. I disliked Hannah and Her Sisters intensely, but it was worth seeing for the portrayal of Manhattan. When he moves outside that world, he doesn't have the depth or understanding needed.



I remember seeing Interiors with a sold-out audience. It was at the the beginning of the peak of his success here. It was his attempt to make a film in the style of Ingmar Bergman, but it was a clumsy mess. The audience was laughing at the pretension - and it was painful to sit through. He is a talented director, but he is not a great artist.

[dremble wedge]

name='TimR'] He knows and loves New York. I disliked Hannah and Her Sisters intensely, but it was worth seeing for the portrayal of Manhattan. When he moves outside that world, he doesn't have the depth or understanding needed.

I appreciate what you're saying here, but surely it negates all his pre-Annie Hall, pre-NY work?



Bananas, Love and Death and Sleeper will always have a place in my comedic heart.



(As will Stardust Memories, Zelig and Radio Days...)

[Lord Brett]

Woody's much derided British period seems to be over - I can't comment much as I haven't seen the films he made over here. He was last reported making films in Spain, apparently with rather more success.