Woody Allen‘s film Manhattan (1979) is one of the mainstays of our Writing New York course, and I think it’s a great film.
Unfortunately, Woody himself doesn’t seem to agree.
In an interview with the Times of London this weekend to mark the UK opening of his 2009 film Whatever Works, Allen registered disappointment with his cinematic oeuvre. Asked whether he was happy with his films, Allen responded:
“I’ve squandered an opportunity that people would kill for. I have had complete artistic freedom. Other directors don’t get that in their lifetime. But I have a very poor record given the opportunities I’ve had. Out of 40 films I should have 30 masterpieces, eight noble failures and two embarrassments, but it hasn’t worked out that way. Many of the films are enjoyable by the mean standards of movies, but look at what has been accomplished by people who have done beautiful things — Kurosawa, Bergman, Fellini, Buñuel, Truffaut — and then look at my films. I have squandered my opportunities and I have nobody to blame but myself.”
According to the article, the six films that Allen “prizes” are Purple Rose of Cairo (1983), Match Point (2005), Bullets Over Broadway (1994), Zelig (1983), Husbands and Wives (1992), and Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008). No Manhattan.
In fact, he told the Telegraph earlier in the week that “after completing the now-seminal Manhattan he was so horrified by what he saw that he told the studio he would make another film for free to make up for it.”
Sorry, Woody, but I’m going to assume that you’re just in a cranky mood or being a little bit arch — or both. Because there is no way that Vicky Cristina Barcelona outranks Manhattan on anyone’s list of your films.
In the Times interview, Allen comes across as preoccupied with the fact of his own aging, noting that when he dies he wants to be cremated with “no fuss” and to have his ashes scattered over Madison Avenue.
Allen did reaffirm his love from New York, saying, ” “I love it because I was brought up here. I’m attached to it.”
[Photo: Colorstorm Media/Eyevine via times.co.uk]
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Really interesting, Cyrus, and, as a longtime Woody Allen fan, I was quite surprised by what he chose as his six “prize” films. I would definitely rank PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO among his best, and maybe HUSBANDS AND WIVES, but I’m not so sure about his other choices. And, I agree, it’s odd that he doesn’t seem to value MANHATTAN. I don’t think I’ve seen it since its initial release, but I’m putting it up at the top of my Netflix queue and, hopefully, will take a second look at it this week.
Allen made a film in the early ’80s, SEPTEMBER, that I have a special fondness for. It’s pretty Chekhovian and feels at times like it should be a play instead of movie, but it has a terrific cast who all give excellent performances. (Elaine Stritch is especially memorable, in a turn that got her a little bit of Oscar buzz but, alas, no nomination.)
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Match Point over Annie Hall? Oy.
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It’s true, he has had so many films, but most of them are pointless crap. But a few are truly great: i.e., Hannah, Husbands and Wives, Match Point, okay Manhattan too, but barely, I guess the black and white film elevates the material a bit. Funny that he wants his ashes scattered on Madison. Whenever I have seen him on the street it is ALWAYS on Madison, usually in the high 80s.
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Match Point is an utter, unrelenting embarrassment. Clunky dialogue. Crappy acting. No sense for the city of London (or English society, for that matter). I was furious after I saw it. Furious.
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Annie Hall and Crimes and Misdemeanors (sp?)
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Allen’s London in Match Point seems much like his NYC in Manhattan. Tightly framed. Both offer a highly imaginative construction (even if the tones are rather different)–i think the NYTs review (or a similar one) compared Allen’s urban imagination to that of Henry James. But I’d say that the search for the something to hitch meaning to anchors both films.
And I know you’re no ScarJo fan, Cyrus–I can imagine your groan over Vicky Cristina Barcelona–does Match Point (and what’s that other one…Scoop?) rank as similarly groan-worthy?
Thanks for the post–inspires a comprehensive summer re-viewing of Allen films!
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