I enjoyed this movie for it's originality and wit. But Owen Wilson
whining like Woody Allen was a major distraction. Was he kissing up, or was this testament to Woody the director's narcissism?
If you mean the "Woody-esque" hemming, hawing, and stammering--that's exactly how Woody write his scripts.
Yeah, they're dead; they're--all messed up!
Woody's protagonists are almost always Woody in some form.
I thought Owen did a great job capturing it.
http://www.imdb.com/list/rJuB9UoASlQ/
I saw Owen Wilson's performance as a sort of testament to Woody's character. And you're right, apart from Woody not performing in his own film this time, he certainly writes as the character as himself in some way.
shareIt's amazing, isn't it? Woody Allen's "voice" can be heard in all of his scripts. I never would have thought of Owen Wilson as a Woody Allen type, but Woody's voice came through loud and clear. I didn't tell my husband it was a Woody Allen film when I put in the DVD (he's not a fan), but he figured it out fairly quickly.
I liked this character a lot though. He wasn't as neurotic or as self-centered as earlier Woody Allen characters. He had a sense of wonder than Woody didn't have in his youth. The girlfriend and inlaws were totally obnoxious to me. I wonder which real-life people inspired these characters.
i completely agree; thought owen did a terrific job. Actually I think he was the ONLY convincing woody-doppelganger i have seen (and i have seen every one of woody's films!) When he said the dialogue, it just came out sounding completely natural to me, whereas Branach (OMG, AWful) and Cusack (Love him but it just didn't work for me) etc.- all sounded forced. But it's also possible that Allen let up a bit on the verbal mannerisms he included for owen in this script. (One would have to do a detailed dialogue comparison between diff woody films- to know for sure.)
shareOwen Wilson plays himself in every movie, and that's ok cos he is very likeable. He might not have a lot of range, but it really worked in this film. He made Woody's dialogue endearing and warm.
shareGil is Woody Allen. This is pretty much a movie about Woody Allen's ultimate dream of meeting some of the greatest writers and artists in history.
shareI know of at least two other "Woody Allen" films where the lead actor has done impressions of the director. I find it distracting from the story and therefore annoying. Of course, my belief is that every film Woody Allen has ever made, would be far better if he HAD NOT appeared in them.
Great writer and director, yes. Great actor, hell no!!!
...my belief is that every film Woody Allen has ever made, would be far better if he HAD NOT appeared in them.
I just posted a new topic addressing this. Drives me crazy! Especially when female actors do it too!
share...Especially when female actors do it too!