The Cassavettes comparison is legitimate—I certainly did not watch Blue Valentine with the feeling that I had never seen anything like it—but I was also very moved by this film. I think showing only the beginning and end worked beautifully, and of course the acting was perfection. The cutting between scenes was always done well.
Definitely among my best of 2010 (there are a few I need to see still).
Okay, the message is a bit heavy handed at times, and not all that interesting, but my combination of love for Woody Allen’s style and fascination with the idea of being able to visit other times (no, I don’t think it’s possible, but it can make for great fiction) made me love every second of this film.
I would have liked to get into the protagonist just a bit more. I don’t need details of his decision, but I never fully believed it. Still, the premise and the style kept me with him.
I recently saw something saying that Midnight was his biggest film since “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”, as if that film (2008) were decades old.
Woody’s “comeback” makes good press, so they do the story every time he has a well-reviewed film, which seems to be about every three or four years.
FWIW, it (MiP) is one of my favorite Allen films of the past 20 years or so. Cassandra’s Dream I didn’t care for at all; Whatever Works I liked but wouldn’t defend.
This is quite probably my favorite film of all time, and while either version is a treat, I have to favor the long version. Longer is not always better—indeed I think most films are too long. But in this case, I am completely drawn in. The length of the film adds to the sense of time passing. Not a moment feels like filler to me. There is nothing I want to be rid of.
While I like the idea of starting with his first film and working through, overall I think Manhattan is the best choice. Not my personal favorite, but if you don’t like that one, you probably don’t need to keep going.
Face to Face 4/5 for Bergman, but 5/5 by normal standards.
I’m surprised that Criterion hasn’t issued a DVD of this one. While a bit more gruesome in some of the imagery than most of his films, it covers the standard issues: depression, infidelity, death, aging, quite well. The script is strong and the film is interestingly shot, plus there is a virtuoso performance Ullmann and a perfectly understated one from Josephson.
Coming right after Cries and Whispers and Scenes from a Marriage may have unfairly hurt this film by comparison, but it is an important part of Bergman’s oeuvre.
I bought a French DVD (Region 2, Swedish with English subtitles). It is obviously a bootleg, but it played fine and looked good enough.
There is a scheduled USA release of Face to Face at the end of August on Olive Films, but judging from the company’s web cite, I doubt it will be a great improvement, beyond being playable on your Region 1 only players.
I will be very interested to hear your and others’ impression of this release. Based on Olive Films web cite I’m less than confident that there will be a masterful job done on the picture and sound, but that’s pure speculation. If it is a Criterion level release, I’m certainly ready for an upgrade of this great film.
Dennis, I liked Tall Dark Stranger very much. I think Midnight is a bit more focused and I’m not surprised that it’s more successful, but they each have their merits.
My Life as a Dog is a wonderful film, a look at childhood that is simultaneously happy and quite sad. I don’t know that it’s any better than the rest of your list, but it’s worth seeing.
I’m sorry to see Netflix lose all of these on instant. Their goal of being a stream only (or at least primarily) cite has a long way way to go.
For me, this rates among Leigh’s very best, which is saying a great deal. Heartbreaking, without a major tragedy, he captures life in a way that only film really can.
Thanks, Dennis. A great cast for Allen to work with. The size of the cast makes me think this may be in the multiple story mode, like Dark Stranger. Or perhaps many of them have small parts.
I really like this show, and in particular having someone like Ignaty reaching a wider audience. Some of the guest spots can get annoying, but they’re a small part of the program.
As a critic, I am indifferent to her. I don’t dislike her or have anything against her personally, but I wouldn’t see a movie on her recommendation (any more than I would avoid films she recommends).
I always prefer Allen in his films and hope he does more, but I think he really wanted a younger man to make these discoveries. From that standpoint, Wilson was great, IMO.
Bille August’s job was to make a Bergman movie, and he did so beautifully. Of course he had Sven Nykvist with him, so he was guaranteed the right look, but credit him for subtle feel of this touching family drama.
This was my third viewing, but my first in many years. My first was the year of its release, when it was my pick for “best film of the year”. I think age has actually improved my appreciation.
(I have never had the opportunity to see the longer version. I would love it if Criterion would give it the “Fanny and Alexander” treatment, but I’m not holding my breath.)
I don’t know about as an actor, but to me there is no question that Woody Allen is a far more important film maker.
When I see Brooks promoting his films he is always funny and charming, but most of his films have disappointed me. Sure, at a film a year Woody has had some disappointments too, but the ones that work more than make up for them.
I don’t want to go too hard on this movie, first because it wasn’t one I personally chose to see, and second because it’s pleasant enough entertainment on a hot summer day. However, the ease in which Larry overcomes unemployment and makes beautiful friends isn’t very interesting, and makes it hard to sympathize with him when we’re suppose to.
Not as good as the series Community (which has a similar setup and setting) at it’s best.
I won’t try to rate every one, but I’ve never seen a Leigh film I haven’t liked, and I’ve seen everything from High Hopes on. I do want to check out his early work.
Another Year was one of my 3 favorite films (or so) of last year.
Whatever the similarities, I think it’s hard to compare someone who has done over 40 films to someone who has done less than.10.
I do not want to put down Brooks (I like him a lot), but I do feel moved to defend Allen against a couple of attacks above.
Very simply put, Woody has pushed his so called “middlebrow” followers away many times (Interiors and Stardust Memories almost begged them to go away), while Brooks has had his share of lighter fair (Defending Your Life is hardly subtle; Mother is as “middlebrow” as anything Allen has done).
Would *Blue Valentine* Exist without Wong Kar-Wai? almost 2 years ago
The Cassavettes comparison is legitimate—I certainly did not watch Blue Valentine with the feeling that I had never seen anything like it—but I was also very moved by this film. I think showing only the beginning and end worked beautifully, and of course the acting was perfection. The cutting between scenes was always done well.
Definitely among my best of 2010 (there are a few I need to see still).
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If you had to pick ONE film as your favorite... almost 2 years ago
Fanny and Alexander (long version).
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Last movie you saw and rate it almost 2 years ago
Blue Valentine 5/5
Comments in film’s thread.
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Last movie you saw and rate it almost 2 years ago
Blue Valentine 5/5
Comments in film’s thread.
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Last movie you saw and rate it almost 2 years ago
Midnight in Paris 5/5
Okay, the message is a bit heavy handed at times, and not all that interesting, but my combination of love for Woody Allen’s style and fascination with the idea of being able to visit other times (no, I don’t think it’s possible, but it can make for great fiction) made me love every second of this film.
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Last movie you saw and rate it almost 2 years ago
Taste of Cherry 4/5
I would have liked to get into the protagonist just a bit more. I don’t need details of his decision, but I never fully believed it. Still, the premise and the style kept me with him.
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Don't Call It a Comeback: He's Been Here For Years, Is Woody Allen Popular Again? almost 2 years ago
I recently saw something saying that Midnight was his biggest film since “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”, as if that film (2008) were decades old.
Woody’s “comeback” makes good press, so they do the story every time he has a well-reviewed film, which seems to be about every three or four years.
FWIW, it (MiP) is one of my favorite Allen films of the past 20 years or so. Cassandra’s Dream I didn’t care for at all; Whatever Works I liked but wouldn’t defend.
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Which version of Fanny & Alexander do you prefer? almost 2 years ago
This is quite probably my favorite film of all time, and while either version is a treat, I have to favor the long version. Longer is not always better—indeed I think most films are too long. But in this case, I am completely drawn in. The length of the film adds to the sense of time passing. Not a moment feels like filler to me. There is nothing I want to be rid of.
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Woody Allen - Where to start? almost 2 years ago
While I like the idea of starting with his first film and working through, overall I think Manhattan is the best choice. Not my personal favorite, but if you don’t like that one, you probably don’t need to keep going.
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Last movie you saw and rate it almost 2 years ago
Face to Face 4/5 for Bergman, but 5/5 by normal standards.
I’m surprised that Criterion hasn’t issued a DVD of this one. While a bit more gruesome in some of the imagery than most of his films, it covers the standard issues: depression, infidelity, death, aging, quite well. The script is strong and the film is interestingly shot, plus there is a virtuoso performance Ullmann and a perfectly understated one from Josephson.
Coming right after Cries and Whispers and Scenes from a Marriage may have unfairly hurt this film by comparison, but it is an important part of Bergman’s oeuvre.
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Last movie you saw and rate it almost 2 years ago
@Roscoe
I bought a French DVD (Region 2, Swedish with English subtitles). It is obviously a bootleg, but it played fine and looked good enough.
There is a scheduled USA release of Face to Face at the end of August on Olive Films, but judging from the company’s web cite, I doubt it will be a great improvement, beyond being playable on your Region 1 only players.
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Last movie you saw and rate it almost 2 years ago
Are you familiar with Olive Films? Is there likely to be a great improvement in picture, sound, etc.?
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INGMAR BERGMANS FACE TO FACE DVD almost 2 years ago
I will be very interested to hear your and others’ impression of this release. Based on Olive Films web cite I’m less than confident that there will be a masterful job done on the picture and sound, but that’s pure speculation. If it is a Criterion level release, I’m certainly ready for an upgrade of this great film.
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Don't Call It a Comeback: He's Been Here For Years, Is Woody Allen Popular Again? almost 2 years ago
Dennis, I liked Tall Dark Stranger very much. I think Midnight is a bit more focused and I’m not surprised that it’s more successful, but they each have their merits.
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Which Should I Watch Next? almost 2 years ago
My Life as a Dog is a wonderful film, a look at childhood that is simultaneously happy and quite sad. I don’t know that it’s any better than the rest of your list, but it’s worth seeing.
I’m sorry to see Netflix lose all of these on instant. Their goal of being a stream only (or at least primarily) cite has a long way way to go.
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Last movie you saw and rate it almost 2 years ago
Another Year 5/5
For me, this rates among Leigh’s very best, which is saying a great deal. Heartbreaking, without a major tragedy, he captures life in a way that only film really can.
The usually great acting as well.
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NIL BY MOUTH almost 2 years ago
I love films like this. I haven’t seen it since the release year, but I still remember it well and think about it once in awhile.
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Don't Call It a Comeback: He's Been Here For Years, Is Woody Allen Popular Again? almost 2 years ago
Thanks, Dennis. A great cast for Allen to work with. The size of the cast makes me think this may be in the multiple story mode, like Dark Stranger. Or perhaps many of them have small parts.
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Thoughts on 'Ebert Presents at the Movies' almost 2 years ago
I really like this show, and in particular having someone like Ignaty reaching a wider audience. Some of the guest spots can get annoying, but they’re a small part of the program.
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Thoughts on 'Ebert Presents at the Movies' almost 2 years ago
As a critic, I am indifferent to her. I don’t dislike her or have anything against her personally, but I wouldn’t see a movie on her recommendation (any more than I would avoid films she recommends).
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Don't Call It a Comeback: He's Been Here For Years, Is Woody Allen Popular Again? almost 2 years ago
I always prefer Allen in his films and hope he does more, but I think he really wanted a younger man to make these discoveries. From that standpoint, Wilson was great, IMO.
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Last movie you saw and rate it almost 2 years ago
The Best of Intentions. 5/5
Bille August’s job was to make a Bergman movie, and he did so beautifully. Of course he had Sven Nykvist with him, so he was guaranteed the right look, but credit him for subtle feel of this touching family drama.
This was my third viewing, but my first in many years. My first was the year of its release, when it was my pick for “best film of the year”. I think age has actually improved my appreciation.
(I have never had the opportunity to see the longer version. I would love it if Criterion would give it the “Fanny and Alexander” treatment, but I’m not holding my breath.)
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Thoughts on 'Ebert Presents at the Movies' almost 2 years ago
My pick would be A. O. Scott and Ignatiy, but I do think Roger is looking for a balance that this pair wouldn’t have.
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Don't Call It a Comeback: He's Been Here For Years, Is Woody Allen Popular Again? almost 2 years ago
I don’t think Penn’s character is one Allen ever would have played himself.
I usually like Brannagh, but his Allen impression in Celebrity was pretty bad (not that he could have saved that film).
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Suicide in films almost 2 years ago
Enemies, A Love Story
Winter Light
Saraband
La Dolce Vita
Every film adaptation of a Shakespeare Tragedy.
Sorry if any of these are repeats. I went through the thread kind of fast.
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Albert Brooks and Woody Allen almost 2 years ago
I don’t know about as an actor, but to me there is no question that Woody Allen is a far more important film maker.
When I see Brooks promoting his films he is always funny and charming, but most of his films have disappointed me. Sure, at a film a year Woody has had some disappointments too, but the ones that work more than make up for them.
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Last movie you saw and rate it almost 2 years ago
Larry Crowne 2/5
I don’t want to go too hard on this movie, first because it wasn’t one I personally chose to see, and second because it’s pleasant enough entertainment on a hot summer day. However, the ease in which Larry overcomes unemployment and makes beautiful friends isn’t very interesting, and makes it hard to sympathize with him when we’re suppose to.
Not as good as the series Community (which has a similar setup and setting) at it’s best.
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Has there ever been a bad Mike Leigh film? almost 2 years ago
I won’t try to rate every one, but I’ve never seen a Leigh film I haven’t liked, and I’ve seen everything from High Hopes on. I do want to check out his early work.
Another Year was one of my 3 favorite films (or so) of last year.
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Albert Brooks and Woody Allen almost 2 years ago
Whatever the similarities, I think it’s hard to compare someone who has done over 40 films to someone who has done less than.10.
I do not want to put down Brooks (I like him a lot), but I do feel moved to defend Allen against a couple of attacks above.
Very simply put, Woody has pushed his so called “middlebrow” followers away many times (Interiors and Stardust Memories almost begged them to go away), while Brooks has had his share of lighter fair (Defending Your Life is hardly subtle; Mother is as “middlebrow” as anything Allen has done).
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What's your favorite episode of The Decalogue almost 2 years ago
A tie between 1 and 6, but I love them all.
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