Whether its a big budget blockbuster strategically released for the summer holidays or a small budget indie project, they are all eventually meant to be telling stories. In that story lies the ingenuity of Woody Allen. A glimpse through IMDB tell us that he wrote 70 titles whereas he directed only 48! Its definitely the writing that scores him the points with us. Woody has always picked a classical and forward way to tell stories, and they are usually simple stories with wonderful deviations and twists. We have found some works we didn't warm up to, especially from the recent stuff (like You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger), but for the most part, its a treat. His opening titles are always the same way, almost like the familiarity of opening a book, and at the end of the movie, you might even get the feeling of finishing a good book. He keeps a steady camera, often in a wide angle on the characters as they speak, or just follows them around as they walk around the house talking to each other. Dialogue, is a major feature of the Woody genre, and nothing too orchestrated or theatrical - just candid conversations between the characters. Every movie however has the staple 'Woody Allen' character in them. The one who converses ALL THE TIME, and rants on even when there are no listeners with funny anecdotes and metaphors. If he is not acting in it himself, an actor will usually do that for the film - like Owen Wilson in Midnight in Paris or Kenneth Branagh in Celebrity. No matter what your feeling is about this unique director, I for one can really escape while watching some of his work, and they appease me to the point that they makes other films appear boring.
Movies I liked best so far are Broadway Danny Rose, Small Time Crooks and Midnight in Paris.
If she were to add here , she would emphasize on her affinity for the very real characters, they are just people she can believe to exist among us. In literature or the arts it has always been a key deciding factor for her when she put the "I like", "I obsessively like" or "I would rather eat garbage" label on. Like any girl she likes a funny man and even the mystery/crime thrillers of Allen has its "very" comical moments( Apart from Cassandra's dreams, which was too heavy for her taset , and "Celebrity" which constantly reminded her of Fellini's La Dolce Vita which is right up there in a bright and sunny space in her mind whereby she could not accept even an homage by the great Woody Allen who she so dearly adores). She would ask everyone to watch Manhattan Murder Mystery, Broadway Danny Rose,Small Time Crooks and Whatever Works. She would probably like to make a new blog post on the topic some time soon too.
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