MovieChat Forums > Woody Allen Discussion > When was Woody's APEX? When did he start...

When was Woody's APEX? When did he start to lose it? Your opinions:

posted 8 years ago by shango7200
3 replies | jump to latest

ME:
As great as his "funny, older" films were (1971-1978) -- I think Woody had his "golden period" somewhere between "Stardust Memories" and "Bullets Over Broadway" (1980-1994) .
Yes- a HUGE stretch with a few bumps in the road (in my opinion) . Then came "Mighty Aphrodite" although very good indeed--began a , perhaps "sketchy" period . "Small Time Crooks" (for me) marked the first time I watched a Woody Allen (comedy) and did not laugh-- at all. After that -- it seemed like every 4th movie was "pretty good/ OK " as if by accident.

P.S. I HATED "Midnight in Paris". It was like he took the concept of "Zelig" (a tiny bit) and "Purple Rose..." (a LOT) put it in a blender and added that schmucky ugly nose Owen Wilson - paid him to "act like Woody Allen"...and the results were bland. DO I care that it was his biggest "money maker"? Nope.
What do YOU think?? 

"The ENEMY of my ENEMY is my FRIEND"

[–] filmmekker 8 years ago

I have to say I agree with you. The 80's through Bullet's Over Broadway was his apex. He's been up and down since then, although he hasn't ever really made a bad film. Even his worst has entertaining thing in it.

Open the door for Mr. Muckle!!

[–] franzkabuki 8 years ago

I don't particularly like most of his 1990's output, either, so to me his heyday would be between 1977 and 1989 or something. But the 1990's at least had a couple of real high water marks in Bullets and Sweet & Lowdown, the latter of which would be his most recent work to even come remotely close to any kind of greatness. Half of what he's done since would go down as "passable" and the other half... well, not so passable. And he just keeps cranking out one forgettable number after another.

"facts are stupid things" Ronald Reagan

[–] Ace_Spade 8 years ago

I think he goes up and down, but I agree with another poster that he hasn't made a "bad" film - I've enjoyed all of them to a greater or lesser degree.

My personal favourites are Match Point and Annie Hall. Those are separated by a period of 38 years.

His latest stuff is really great (Midnight in Paris, To Rome with Love, Blue Jasmine, Whatever Works), his first great works (Annie Hall, Love and Death, Manhattan) are stellar, his "middle period" in the '80s is brilliant (Hannah and Her Sisters, Stardust Memories, Crimes and Misdemeanors). And along the way I've loved overlooked, forgotten, and underrated Allen pictures (Take the Money and Run, Sleeper, Manhattan Murder Mystery, Small Time Crooks, and Scoop)

Apex was Match Point (my favourite film of his), but he never "lost it".