RIFKIN'S FESTIVAL and Woody's other films
Stan noted earlier this week ("Woody Allen's new movie") that Woody Allen's latest film RIFKIN'S FESTIVAL is available for rental or purchase at AMAZON.
I checked it out and thought it was a funny movie. It's a light comedy with some wonderful touches and I'd encourage you to check it out. I think Gina Gerhson and Wallace Shawn both hit career high marks in the film and that Louis Garrel exhibits a wonderful, sexual quality in the film.
It's too new for me to rank it in terms of favorite comedy films or even favorite Woody Allen comedy films. I've only watched it twice now. But I do like it and do recoomend it.
I'll go ahead and rank the top ten comedy films, Woody Allen comedy films, but the new one won't be on the list because it's too new.
1) LOVE & DEATH
Diane Keaton and Woody Allen take on Napoleon and so much more. I love their disputes and exchanges -- near the end when they're debating while knocking Napoleon out with a gun, at the beginning when addressing what might happen if everyone wanted a blintz at the same time. I really love this movie and it makes me laugh out loud every time -- I've seen it over 100 times.
2) SLEEPER
Diane Keaton and Woody Allen again. This time, he awakens in the future. Diane's a poet who struggles with her muse (if only butterflies turned into caterpillars!) and he's on the run from the government. Miles and Luna are a couple I'd love to see a sequel for.
3) MANHATTAN MURDER MYSTERY
Diane and Woody again. Here they are a married couple and Diane's worried they've lost their spark and zest for life. Woody just wants to get into bed and watch an old Bob Hope movie. Did a next door neighbor murder his wife? This is a hilarious film and Anjelica Huston, Alan Alda and Joy Behar are great in supporting roles.
4) ANNIE HALL
Diane and Woody. A great film but it's one I've seen over 500 times and probably take for granted. It's also a longer film -- longer than the three above. I probably watch it less these days as a result. Diane's wonderful and you see why Woody would fall for her and suffer when it ended. Shelley Duvall gives the best performance of the supporting cast as she goes on about being a rock journalist who covered a Dylan concert and goes into detail about him performing "Just Like A Woman."
5) BROADWAY DANNY ROSE
A hysterical film. One of Woody's best and also the best film Mia Farrow ever made. She's Tina, basically a gun moll. Her late husband was a juice man for the mob. But they shot him in the eyes. "He's blind?" Woody asks. Dead. Oh, yeah, Woody says, because the bullets, they go right through. It's got a wonderful ending that's moving because it's earned the right to be.
6) SMALL TIME CROOKS
As great as Tracey Ullman is in this film -- and she's great, with Hugh Grant or with Woody, she's great, Elaine May, in a supporting role, nearly walks away with the film. Hilarious from start to finish.
7) ZELIG.
No more pancakes, Woody moans while under hypnosis. No more cooking by Mia's character. She's an awful cook. But she's also the only person who can cure his Zelig, someone so uncomfortable in his own skin that he can easily morph into another person. This is a very short film, 79 minutes, but very funny.
8) HANNAH AND HER SISTERS
One of his comedy and drama mixtures. A great cast and Dianne Weist won a much deserved Oscar -- as did Michael Caine. But Barbara Hershey is so wonderful that she could have won the Oscar instead of Dianne and no one could argue much over it because the two of them hit highs rarely captured on film. Julie Kavner is also very funny in the film.
9) HOLLYWOOD ENDING
This film was really haed when it came out but I thought it was funny then and only find it even funnier now. Debra Messing has a small role. If she'd had more roles like this one, she could have transitioned to film star. She's very good in the film and so is Treat Williams.
10) . . .
I'll leave that one to you. Amazing comedy films include BANANAS, TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN, SCOOP, RADIO DAYS, BULLETS OVER BROADWAY and, from NEW YORK STORIES, his OEDIPUS WRECKS.
"Iraq snapshot"(THE COMMON ILLS):