A mentor to me...

Check Out Eddy Davis and his New Orlean's Jazz Band!!

That's one way I think of my study of Woody Allen's body of work, I have a mentor, with out the mentor knowing I am apprenticing under him! Even though I am seen here sequestering this Auteur for an autograph, I doubt the shy persona would recall that June 2007 at the Carlyle Hotel, New York. This opportunity was thanks to the enthusiasm, and facilitation of my Mom and Aunt Judy. Two ladies that have amazing persistence, class and a sense that anything is possible.
We travelled from Vancouver B.C., Canada to watch the infamous clarinet player get it on with Eddy Davis and his New Orleans Jazz Band at the Cafe Carlyle. A fantastic evening of music in such an intimate, elegant setting. Yes, the cocktails were pricy - but so worth it! Not to mentioning getting to know some of the fan base from Spain! A jolly group were we perched on the coveted bar stools.

INFLUENCE

Though I do not profess to know and understand, or love all of his works, I think the of influence Woody Allen on me, as a personality, a writer, a director, a jazz musician has to do with individuality, and the ability to express yourself creatively.

In many of his films, characters showcase insecurities that are more common than most people probably let on. He eggs his viewers on to laugh at these very human characteristics, along with the anxieties of "the big questions" or "unknowns" in the grand scheme of life and our purpose here on this planet! I admire the fact that all these years creating comedic and dramatic works he has gone out on a limb to express his ideas, come hell or high water. Despite critics reviews and box office successes.

Medium is another area he has explored from writing jokes for other comedians, to doing his own stand-up comedy, he has been a long time contributor of short stories to the New Yorker Magazine as well as having collections published such as "Mere Anarchy" 2007, Random House. He is not a one dimensional character, though some people may view him this way in terms of his "schtick". I see variety, and an unquenchable thirsting to do more. Try new things. Woody Allen inspires me!

"Radio Days", 1987

Cast Members (front left to right) William Magerman, Seth Green, Leah Carrey and (rear, left to right) Michael Tucker, Julie Kavner, Diane Wiest, Joy Newman, Renee Lippin and Josh Mostel. Photo by Brian Hamill.



Cinematographer Carlo Di Palma (second from right) and Woody Allen (right) line up a shot for "RADIO DAYS", 1987. Orion Picutres. Photo by Brian Hamill.

In no particular order of favorites, I had to mention Woody Allen's "Radio Days", 1987.
It is a charming, quirky, funny film. The characters even though some are truly nutty, seem like they really exist. Well, ok, within the era!
The opening sequence of the film, invites us into a quiet American neighborhood. There is a beautiful long shot of the ocean visible at end of a street with row houses and couple period cars parked out front. It is an overcast moody day, music plays over this quaint photographic image. There is a subtle power of drawing the viewer in to this personal space right from the get go. Check it out!

From Stig Bkorkman's book : "Woody Allen on Woody Allen", 1993
How the idea orginated for Woody Allen:

WA: It originated from an idea that I wanted to pick out a group of songs that were meaningful to me, and each one of those songs suggested a memory. Then this idea started to evolve: how important radio was to me when I was growing up and ... how glamourous it seemed to everyone.

Some things are very close and some things are not. But a lot of it is based on an exaggerated view of my childhood. I mean, I did live in a family with many people present in the house: grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles. A certain period of my childhood I did live in a house right by the water...

THIS DOUBLE CD SET IS NOT FOR RE-SALE, BUT IS UP FOR DISCUSSION!
I suppose the apple doesn't fall far from the tree in my case. My Dad might have been the reason I caught on to appreciating Woody Allen in the first place. Pop was a fan of Woody's stand-up comedy and watched him as a youngster perform on the Johnny Carson Show, Ed Sullivan etc.

I found this double CD set at a independent vinyl and CD store, Zulu Records in Vancouver, BC. Prior to purchase, had never heard this style of banter before. Wacky even absurd material. The laugh track on it adds, as it is a real audience (college) not that studio sound!

No doubt a copy can be ordered directly from EMI Classics.

"Annie Hall", 1977

Producers: Charles H. Joffe, Robert Greenhut
Screenplay: Woody Allen & Marsall Brickman
Cinematography: Gordon Willis
Production Designer: Mel Bourne
Costume: Ruth Morley
Editor: Ralph Rosenblum
Cast:
Woody Allen - Alvy Singer
Diane Keaton - Annie Hall
Tony Roberts - Rob
Carol Kane - Allison
Paul Simon - Tony Lacey
Shelly Duvall - Pam
Jane Margolin - Robin
Colleen Dewhurst - Annie's mother
Christopher Walken - Duane Hall
Donald Symington - Annie's father
Helen Ludlam - 'Grammy' Hall
Mordechai Lawner - Leo, Alvy's father
Joan Newman - Alvy's mother
Johnathan Munk - Alvy, aged 9
Ruth Volner - Alvy's Aunt
Martin Rosenblatt - Alvy's uncle
Hy Anzell - Joey Nichols
Marshall McLuhan - as himself

A classic, and one of the most well known of Woody Allen's films...

"Husbands and Wives", 1992

Producers: Robert Greenhut, Jack Rollins & Charles H. Joffe
Screenplay: Woody Allen
Cinematography: Carlo Di Palma
Production Designer: Santo Loquasto
Costume: Jeffey Kurland
Editor: Susan E. Morse
Cast:
Woody Allen - Gabe Roth
Judy Davis - Sally
Mia Farrow - Judy Roth
Juliette Lewis - Rain
Liam Neeson - Michael
Sydney Pollack - Jack
Lysette Anthony - Sam
Blythe Danner - Rain's mother
Ron Rifkin - Rain's psychoanalyst
Benno Schmidt - Judy's ex-husband
Jeffery Kurland - interviewer


"Husbands and Wives" I remember as one of the first Woody Allen films I saw at home, probably on VHS! Despite the subject matter I watched it with my Dad, at 16 or 17 years old and found it as funny as he did. Funny in the everyday 'slice of life' sense. I just got it, and it didn't matter that I hand never been married. It was the way the couples talked, their ever present neurosis that I could identify with even at that young age.
Having been in love with a complex character from high-school, who I probably didn't even know I was "in love" with, may have had something to do with my inherent understanding...or in some way, finding the material up on screen familiar. The arguments, drama, and reconciliation. People presented not as perfect handsome or beautiful characters but as those with faults and foibles.

Particularly ridiculous moment:
When the character Jack, played by Sydney Pollack is separated from his wife, Sally played by Judy Davis, goes out with a much younger esoteric yoga instructor Sam, who is into crystals and such. Jack makes a hell of a scene when at a party at his friends place, he begins to find Sam's fluffy banter embarrassing. He literally drags her out of the party. It is a killer piece of writing and hilarious on screen.

Another bizarre and funny moment:
Sally, Jack's wife, is laying in bed with the handsome architect (Liam Neeson) she has scored with, and goes thru a list of persons she is close to and compares each to their animal likeness, that of fox or hedgehog. Yes, it's a monologue and Judy Davis is amazing in her delivery.

In the Stig Bjorkman book, " Woody Allen on Woody Allen" 1993, there is a chapter on Husbands and Wives in which WA in reference to the film is quoted as saying "...I like real people and real situations and human life unfolding."

Vanity Fair online...

CHECK IT OUT

Advice from "Conversations with Woody Allen" by Eric Lax, 2007:

On Writing It.

WA: "...the key is to work, enjoy the process, don't read about yourself, when people bring up movies deflect the conversation to sports, politics, or sex, and keep your nose to the grindstone. Apart from the cash-we're so overpaid-the so-called rewards are all vanity and take time from your creative work. Plus, they can lead to delusions of grandeur or mistaken feelings of inferiority."

"Another Woman", 1988

I give the film "ANOTHER WOMAN", 1988 a thumbs up! Such a simple statement of approval doesn't do justice to this insightful dramatic piece. A woman turns 50 and reflects on her life and the goals she has accomplished while mysteriously overhearing the psychoanalysis of another woman, in a neighboring office to hers.
In Eric Lax's 2007 book, "Conversations with Woody Allen", he describes the character explicitly " ...On the surface she seems a woman totally in control of herself, but in reality she feels so deeply that her only choice is to deny feelings or be overwhelmed by them."
My question is how would a male writer, a stand-up comic no less, understand and present the role of a woman in such a clearly educated, intimate and overall realistic way? The film's subtly is mesmerizing, to me at least. What do you think?

"Another Woman". 1988
Producers: Robert Greenhut, Jack Rolins & Charles H. Joffe
Screenplay: Woody Allen
Cinematography: Sven Nykivist
Production Designer: Santo Loquasto
Costume: Jeffery Kurland
Editor: Susan E. Morse
Cast:
Gena Rowlands - Marion Post
Mia farrow - Hope
Blythe Danner - Lydia
Sandy Denis - Claire
Gene Hackman - Larry Lewis
Ian Holm - Dr. Kenneth Post
John Houseman - Marion's father
Harris Yulin - Paul
Phillip Bosco - Sam
Betty Buckley - Kathy
Martha Plimpton - Laura
Josh Hamilton - Laura's boyfriend
Margaret Marx - young Marion
David Ogden Stier - young Marion's father

I realize that adding in credits for films listed may be redundant to sources such as the Internet Movie Database, but figured those interested might like the facts at their finger tips. Though a new link would take care of all this typing and space!! The learning process continues... - yours truly, Agimemnon