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Million Dollar Movie

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Woody Allen movie posters. 

6 comments

1 Greg G   ~  Oct 11, 2013 12:10 pm

I was a huge Woody Allen fan in high school and college, and could watch his movies as often as Alvy Singer watched the "Sorrow and the Pity." Ironically, Manhattan was one of my favorites. It was a blend of his old comedic films and more thought provoking films. The most beautiful cinematography that to me absolutlely defined Manhattan in the 70's. What makes this ironically one of my favorites is that life immitates art as Woody Allen would later become the older man in the life of a young child that he was in love with Soon Yi.

In many ways, I wish we didn't know about the personal lives or entertainers and artists. And Woody is certainly one artist whose real-life has intruded upon my enjoyment of his work.

I have not watched any of his latest movies. I think the last was Manhattan Murder Mystery or Bullets over Broadway. (Not sure which came out last?)

Woody is so close to himself in his movies and while I don't consider it incest marrying your step-daughter, I do find it repugnant. Thankfully this wasn't some 1 year relationship, but despite the commitment, it is still somewhat ever-present when I see his face.

2 Alex Belth   ~  Oct 11, 2013 12:18 pm

Do you have the same feeling about Chaplin? I wonder if sometimes a contemporary artist's life makes it more challenging for viewers than someone from the past.

Also, Sun-Yi wasn't Woody's stepdaughter. He was never married to Mia Farrow, never even lived with her. But they were in a relationship and yeah, it was odd to say the least. "Highly inappropriate" as the phrase goes.

3 Greg G   ~  Oct 11, 2013 12:46 pm

Al,

I didn't know as much about Chaplin's personal life when I was a kid, and certainly enjoyed his movies. Aside from the bio movie by Downey, Jr. which was not particularly unfavorable to Chaplin, I wasn't privy to his personal life as a fan.

You are right it was not Woody's stepdaughter, but in a way she was. I guess what is the most inappropriate is that Woody is not limited in the women who he has met. I know "The heart wants what the heart wants." But Woody meets women all over the world, and he had to have this one? Age difference aside, this is the daughter of your long term lover, and he watched her grow up.

In many ways it was the fall of a hero for me, and it was very public and in my lifetime.

Woody's on screen persona of the desperate no boundaries neurotic are too real for my taste. We are all flawed, and his flaws used to be quite funny, but in this case I find them mostly hurtful.

I don't know Mia Farrow, but I admire her for rescuing and adopting so many kids. It is just an opinion, but I think she deserved better than what Woody did.

Like I said, I wish I didn't know this about him. I loved his movies and now it is tougher to enjoy them.

I got a big kick out of watching the Naked Gun movie, and now when OJ's scenes come up, it is jarring. Woody is not OJ, but still it takes me out of the experience. You dig?

4 Alex Belth   ~  Oct 11, 2013 1:00 pm

Chaplin married Eugene O'Neil's daughter when Charlie was in his Fifties and she was still a teenager.

I hear you though. I don't share those feelings but watching MANHATTAN certainly changed for me after the scandal.

I know that some people can't watch Polanski's movies anymore either.

5 MSM35   ~  Oct 11, 2013 4:02 pm

I quite liked Midnight in Paris. Trying to identify all those left bank denizens was cool. I always associate Polanski with the Tate-Labianca murders. Age showing I guess.

6 Alex Belth   ~  Oct 11, 2013 5:58 pm

5) And even before that growing up during the War, violence has shadowed him his entire life.

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