what are yours?
I haven’t seen many and want to get one from Netflix (DVD, not streaming, if it matters)
The Mia Farrow era.
1960’s - Take the Money and Run
1970’s - Play It Again, Sam (yes, I rank it ahead of Annie Hall)
1980’s - Broadway Danny Rose
1990’s - Mighty Aphrodite
2000’s - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
2010’s - Midnight in Paris
thank you both - I will start with Midnight in Paris because every review I glanced at (don’t want to know the plot) including the word “charming” and I’m in the mood for charming.
A few years ago I watched the majority of Woody Allen’s movies over a week long period in one big marathon (after never having seen almost any of them)
My favorite was Husbands and Wives - great nonstop spousal bickering! Bullets Over Broadway was a close second IMHO.
A few of the early-2000s comedies were also surprisingly excellent and very watchable - Sweet and Lowdown, Curse of the Jade Scorpion and Hollywood Ending
Contrary to many other people, I was lukewarm on the Annie Hall era films and couldn’t stand the early-70s slapstick comedies.
Annie Hall
Bullets Over Broadway (I also like the rest of his “Artist as Bastard trilogy”: Sweet and Lowdown and Deconstructing Henry)
Midnight in Paris
Crimes and Misdemeanors
Love and Death (his best pure comedy)
Broadway Danny Rose
Zelig
Small Time Crooks (mostly for Elaine May)
Meant to say Small Time Crooks there, instead of Sweet and Lowdown
My faves are Manhattan, Love and Death, and Shadows and Fog. His earlier stuff is what most people rave about, though, especially Sleeper.
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
I rarely, if ever, watch movies more then once. Movies that I call my ‘favorite’ movies (with a few exceptions) I’ve usually seen twice. I think I’ve seen that movie at least three times.
I love the way Penelope Cruz flies seamlessly between Spanish and English and she does an amazing job of being a crazy lady in it (in a Latin Heat sort of way).
I enjoy ALL of his movies, especially the early, funny ones.
I have a personal fondness for the Woody Allen / Diane Keaton comedy team. “Love and Death” is my favorite with the duo.
Of the “Mia Farrow” period, it’s a toss-up between “the Purple Rose of Cairo” and “Hannah and Her Sisters.”
“Crimes and Misdemeanors” has a brilliant A-plot, but the B-plot with Allen & Farrow kind of falls flat. (Alan Alda is terrific as the preening narcissistic director though.)
Of the post-Mia years, I’d say “Bullets Over Broadway” is the best. It’s great to see Allen & Keaton together again in “Manhattan Murder Mystery”, but the movie itself is fairly slight.
The Purple Rose of Cairo is far and away my favorite, although I also really like Manhattan and Hannah and Her Sisters.
2nd vote for Manhattan. It is beautiful to look at (well, except for the scenes with Woody in them), and I thought that Muriel Hemingway did a surprisingly good job.
Roddy
I love The Purple Rose of Cairo and Annie Hall somehow improves each time I watch it.
Hannah and her Sisters has long been a favorite of mine, along with Crimes and Misdemeanors. I’m also in the minority in that I really like A Midsummer’s Night’s Sex Comedy and Everyone Says I Love You.
Mariel. Great movie, great cast.
The wife is possibly Woody Allen’s biggest Thai fan. Her personal favorite is Mighty Aphrodite. Mine is Annie Hall.
But there are so many that are tied for No.2. And I get annoyed when people trash some of his so-called “lesser” movies, because really, a “bad” Woody Allen film is still so much better than most other movies.
On a side note, we just picked up Woody Allen: A Documentary but have not had a chance to watch it yet. That came out last year I believe? Has anyone seen that yet?
I love his earlier, funnier movies. I admire his brilliant concepts in movies like Zelig and The Purple Rose of Cairo and Midnight in Paris. But I don’t love them the same way.
No love for Radio Days??
Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About Sex
Casino Royale (not strictly a Woody film, but he is damn funny in it)