# favorite Woody Allen movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 20, 2013, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-woody-allen-movies/663993 "2013-07-20T00:44:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-woody-allen-movies/663993/41 "2013-07-23T19:25:31Z")
> [@GovernmentMan](#): > > Ever heard of Take the Money and Run? Or Play It Again Sam? No love for What’s Up Tiger Lily? (does that count as Woody Allen?) ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-woody-allen-movies/663993/42 "2013-07-23T23:33:02Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > No love for What’s Up Tiger Lily? (does that count as Woody Allen?) Yes it does, and thank you! I still own a VCR, cause I have that one on tape… ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-woody-allen-movies/663993/43 "2013-07-24T00:51:53Z")
_Love and Death_, absolutely. I hate _Annie Hall_. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-woody-allen-movies/663993/44 "2013-07-24T02:54:03Z")
How can anyone hate _Annie Hall_? It stands above all the others. ---
**Author:** ![Hottius\_Maximus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ab097/32.png) [@Hottius\_Maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hottius_Maximus)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-woody-allen-movies/663993/45 "2013-07-24T03:10:15Z")
“Crimes And Misdemeanors” is one of my all-time favorite films period in that it brilliantly evokes pathos along with hilarity to give it that “human touch.” (FYI–“Matchpoint” appears to be a remake of this film but it’s not nearly as funny or touching as the original). Others of mention: Parts of “Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sex…” specifically the John Carradine sequence and the final sequence about the sperm. “The Purple Rose of Cairo” “Radio Days” “Hannah & Her Sisters” and “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.” It’s been a long time since I’ve seen “Bananas” so I don’t know how funny i would find it now, although i enjoyed it when I was in college. I absolutely loathe: “Deconstructing Harry” “Small Time Crooks” “Curse of the Jade Scorpion” and “Take The Money And Run.” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ecks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bcef8e/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ecks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ecks)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-woody-allen-movies/663993/46 "2013-07-24T14:37:23Z")
I don’t know if it counts, but I really enjoyed What’s up, Tiger Lilly. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-woody-allen-movies/663993/47 "2013-07-24T15:59:45Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > How can anyone hate _Annie Hall_? It stands above all the others. Because it’s full of people who, if I knew in real life, I would despise. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-woody-allen-movies/663993/48 "2013-07-24T17:37:35Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > How can anyone hate _Annie Hall_? It stands above all the others. I think Tobias on Arrested Development floated the idea of a _remake_ of Annie Hall. Of all the films that couldn’t possibly be remade! ---
**Author:** ![tullsterx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tullsterx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullsterx)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-woody-allen-movies/663993/49 "2013-07-24T17:50:03Z")
No mention of Match Point? I’m not even sure if it qualifies as a “Woody Allen” picture because it’s so very different from everything else I’ve seen. But, it really blew me away. No pun intended. Also: Crimes and Misdemeanors Hannah and Her Sisters ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-woody-allen-movies/663993/50 "2013-07-24T23:28:45Z")
I went and checked a list. I have not seen a single movie he’s in. Odd. Maybe I should watch one. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-woody-allen-movies/663993/51 "2013-07-24T23:32:58Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Because it’s full of people who, if I knew in real life, I would despise. But it’s not real life, as Alvy points out after producing Marshall McLuhan. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-woody-allen-movies/663993/52 "2013-07-25T00:17:06Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Or Play It Again Sam? > No love for What’s Up Tiger Lily? (does that count as Woody Allen?) Be just a little bit stoned, watch this and you will swear that you are on LSD…so delightfully strange. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-woody-allen-movies/663993/53 "2013-07-25T01:51:55Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > But it’s not real life, as Alvy points out after producing Marshall McLuhan. So? I’m not eagerly awaiting a cartoon starring Scrappy-Doo and JarJar Binks, either. I can’t get invested in the _Annie Hall_ characters because their antics alternate between boring me and irritating me. There a few amusing lines here and there, but if I want to watch neurotic people pointlessly inflict pain on themselves and each other, I could hang around with my relatives. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-woody-allen-movies/663993/54 "2013-07-25T01:56:52Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > There a few amusing lines here and there, but if I want to watch neurotic people pointlessly inflict pain on themselves and each other, I could hang around with my relatives. Sure, but then you wouldn’t get the helpful subtitles. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-woody-allen-movies/663993/55 "2013-07-25T03:23:13Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Sure, but then you wouldn’t get the helpful subtitles. I admit, near-subvocal muttering is not the same. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-woody-allen-movies/663993/56 "2013-07-25T07:29:26Z")
Rotten Tomatoes opinion: [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1927941/news/1927941/total-recall-woody-allens-best-movies/](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1927941/news/1927941/total-recall-woody-allens-best-movies/) ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-woody-allen-movies/663993/57 "2013-07-25T12:48:35Z")
very good, thank for the link. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-woody-allen-movies/663993/58 "2013-07-25T12:55:55Z")
I haven’t heard of the only one not already mentioned in this thread, Zelig. _Leonard Zelig, the “human chameleon”, is profiled in this mock-documentary. Director Woody Allen appears as Zelig in scenes that purport to be vintage newsreel clips of the 1920s and 1930s, but are actually clever recreations, “aged” and scratched-up Citizen Kane-style by special-effects maestros Joel Hynick, Stuart Robinson and R. Greenberg Associates. An appropriately pompous narrator details the life and times of Leonard Zelig, whose overwhelming desire for conformity is manifested in his ability to take on the facial and vocal characteristics of whomever he happens to be around at the moment. He shows up at batting practice with Babe Ruth, among William Randolph Hearst’s guests as San Simeon, side by side with Pope Pius at the Vatican, and peering anxiously over the shoulder of Adolf Hitler at the Nuremberg Rally. Becoming a celebrity in his own right, Zelig inspires a song, a dance craze, and a Warner Bros. biopic._ ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-woody-allen-movies/663993/59 "2013-07-25T16:09:41Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > … > **Zelig** … > [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > I admire his brilliant concepts in movies like _ **Zelig** _ and _The Purple Rose of Cairo_ and _Midnight in Paris_. > [@MovieMogul](#): > > I’d have to say my 5 favorite are probably (in order): > > **… > Zelig…** > [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > I haven’t heard of the only one not already mentioned in this thread, Zelig. Seriously? :smack: Read the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-woody-allen-movies/663993/60 "2013-07-25T16:30:57Z")
Say, how about _Zelig_? But seriously, speaking of Woody Allen documentaries, did anyone see [Wild Man Blues](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0141986/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_1) (1997)? That was good. Centered on Woody’s European tour with his jazz band, and even interviews his parents in New York. They are exactly what you would imagine Woody Allen’s parents would be like. His mother even complained that her son never became a pharmacist! At one point, accompanied by the mayor of one Italian city, he views the ruins of the hall the band would have played in except it had just burned down, like a day or two before. I recall several months after the film came out, that same mayor was indicted for being behind the arson! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-woody-allen-movies/663993.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-woody-allen-movies/663993.md?page=4)