General Movie Thread

[fletcher munson]

I don't really know much about Woody Allen movies, having generally avoided his stuff, I've seen What's Up Tiger Lily and Everything You've Always Wanted To Know About Sex, but last weekend my girlfriend and I watched Vicky Christina Barcelona and totally got hooked.  The narration in the first, say, 30 minutes - pure dry sarcasm.  Yesterday we watched a double header of Cassandra's Dream and Whatever Works and now can't get enough.  Not sure what to watch next, his filmography is pretty daunting, a friend suggested What's New Pussycat? and Love and Death - he can't believe I'm going to be watching Woody Allen films for the first time.  My girlfriend wants to watch Matchpoint and Scoop next 'cause she likes Scarlett J.  Any other recommendations?

[Martin]

The cream: Annie Hall, Manhattan, Broadway Danny Rose, Radio Days, Crimes & Misdemeanors, Take the Money and Run, Zelig, Hannah and Her Sisters...

Also: Manhattan Murder Mystery, Bulletts Over Broadway, Stardust Memories, Bananas, Mighty Aphrodite, Shadows and Fog, Play It Again Sam (not director)...

Some prefer his 'earlier, funny' films (there's a distinct change of tone, and a move away from silliness, from Annie Hall and onward) and don't like serious Woody, but I think he's great doing both.

[buffcoat]

Martin's list is good.  I would add Interiors to the cream list.

Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy is not bad.  Love and Death is good. 

[Reeleyes]

As a kid I loved Sleeper and recently I tried to watch it again and it didn't work out. I also rewatched Annie Hall recently and I think that one might be getting better with age. I know it's not the best but I love the hell out of Shadows and Fog.

[thom]

Avatar took in two big golden globes...




Which is fitting, because that movie sucked balls.

[masterofsparks]

I agree with Martin's "cream" list but would add Love and Death. It's the last "early silly" movie and, IMO, the funniest. Also, it's packed with references to Russian literature so you can feel superior when you get references that someone else watching doesn't.

[fletcher munson]

Thanks, guys.  I think I'm going to watch Scoop, Matchpoint, then move on to the cream list. 

Watched the tail end of The Golden Globes last night.  When the cast of The Hangover was on stage presenting, no Zach.  What the hell?  He was the best thing in that.

[masterofsparks]

Thanks, guys.  I think I'm going to watch Scoop, Matchpoint, then move on to the cream list.  

Fair warning, but you may not be in the mood for any more Woody Allen after those two.

[dave from knoxville]

A co-worker recommended "Across The Universe."  I just watched it and unequivocally disliked it.

It's a horrible, horrible trainwreck.

My kids both adore it.

Sometimes your progeny is a source of great heartache.

But at least in YOUR case, I bet no one in your household owns the soundtrack.

[buffcoat]

Thanks, guys.  I think I'm going to watch Scoop, Matchpoint, then move on to the cream list.  

Fair warning, but you may not be in the mood for any more Woody Allen after those two.

Now, be fair.  I give "Match Point" a 7 on the Woodmeter (not THAT Woodmeter).  Scoop is not so good.

[masterofsparks]

Thanks, guys.  I think I'm going to watch Scoop, Matchpoint, then move on to the cream list.  

Fair warning, but you may not be in the mood for any more Woody Allen after those two.

Now, be fair.  I give "Match Point" a 7 on the Woodmeter (not THAT Woodmeter).  Scoop is not so good.

I really disliked Match Point. I couldn't even make it through to the end. I would re-watch Scoop or Melinda and Melinda (which I also did not finish) before I would try to re-watch Match Point. This could've been a case of outsized expectations since the word was that Match Point was his big comeback, his masterpiece, his best film, blah blah blah.

[jbissell]

Thanks, guys.  I think I'm going to watch Scoop, Matchpoint, then move on to the cream list.  

Fair warning, but you may not be in the mood for any more Woody Allen after those two.

Now, be fair.  I give "Match Point" a 7 on the Woodmeter (not THAT Woodmeter).  Scoop is not so good.

I really disliked Match Point. I couldn't even make it through to the end. I would re-watch Scoop or Melinda and Melinda (which I also did not finish) before I would try to re-watch Match Point. This could've been a case of outsized expectations since the word was that Match Point was his big comeback, his masterpiece, his best film, blah blah blah.

What were your problems with it?  It didn't quite live up to the hype for me either, but I thought it was pretty solid.

[masterofsparks]

Thanks, guys.  I think I'm going to watch Scoop, Matchpoint, then move on to the cream list.  

Fair warning, but you may not be in the mood for any more Woody Allen after those two.

Now, be fair.  I give "Match Point" a 7 on the Woodmeter (not THAT Woodmeter).  Scoop is not so good.

I really disliked Match Point. I couldn't even make it through to the end. I would re-watch Scoop or Melinda and Melinda (which I also did not finish) before I would try to re-watch Match Point. This could've been a case of outsized expectations since the word was that Match Point was his big comeback, his masterpiece, his best film, blah blah blah.

What were your problems with it?  It didn't quite live up to the hype for me either, but I thought it was pretty solid.

Thematically it seemed to cover nearly the same ground as Crimes & Misdemeanors, except less skillfully and with characters that I hated.

[buffcoat]

I will say that the end is actually the best part.

[jbissell]

Thanks, guys.  I think I'm going to watch Scoop, Matchpoint, then move on to the cream list.  

Fair warning, but you may not be in the mood for any more Woody Allen after those two.

Now, be fair.  I give "Match Point" a 7 on the Woodmeter (not THAT Woodmeter).  Scoop is not so good.

I really disliked Match Point. I couldn't even make it through to the end. I would re-watch Scoop or Melinda and Melinda (which I also did not finish) before I would try to re-watch Match Point. This could've been a case of outsized expectations since the word was that Match Point was his big comeback, his masterpiece, his best film, blah blah blah.

What were your problems with it?  It didn't quite live up to the hype for me either, but I thought it was pretty solid.

Thematically it seemed to cover nearly the same ground as Crimes & Misdemeanors, except less skillfully and with characters that I hated.

I can see that.  I really don't like Jonathan Rhys Meyers and its when I started losing interest in Scarlett.