Radio Days (1987)

Title: Radio Days
Release Date: 30 January 1987
Directed by: Woody Allen
Starring: Seth Green, Julie Kavner, Dianne Wiest
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093818/
My Rating: (7/10) ★★★★★★★✩✩✩

(note william h. macy)

Woody Allen narrates and a young Seth Green stars in this love poem to radio programming. The tale centers around Joe, whose childhood is influenced, shaped and directed by whats happening on the radio. The radio is a source for community. It is simultaneously entertainment, news and romance. It brings families together (a touching vignette about a girl falling down a well hits rather unexpectedly and quite poignantly) and tears people asunder (Mia Farrow plays Sally, a woman who's about to get her big radio break the moment they announce Pearl Harbor). In all, a funny and quick film. Nothing about this film packs too heavy a punch, but it is notable for the simple fact that Mia Farrow and Diane Keaton appear together for the only time. Additionally, the pacing is quick and the dialogue will be familiar to anyone who grew up with a large family.

Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)

Title: Hannah and Her Sisters
Release Date: 07 February 1986
Directed by: Woody Allen
Starring: Mia Farrow, Barbara Hershey, Dianne Wiest, Michael Caine
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091167/
My Rating: (6/10) ★★★★★★✩✩✩✩

"For all my education, accomplishments and so-called wisdom, I can't fathom my own heart."

My favorite Woody Allen film thus far has been Interiors. That stunning tale of three sisters naturally had me excited to revisit the dynamic of three with this film. Needless to say, knowing very little about the plot I was looking forward to this one. Unfortunately, the comedy felt forced and it didn't quite land for me. Narration is always a tricky beast, and here I think it's a little too on-the-nose and meant to spoon feed the audience. Additionally, the characters are each so self absorbed they bordered on caricature and I found it difficult to watch each of these caricatures attempt to have meaningful dialogue with other caricatures. Which is ultimately a shame because, for all the bravado and neurosis, there are a few great moments here--namely the argument between Hannah's parents and also Mia Farrow's interaction with her own real-life mother Maureen O'Sullivan.

The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)

Title: The Purple Rose of Cairo
Release Date: 09 May 1985
Directed by: Woody Allen
Starring: Mia Farrow, Jeff Daniels, Danny Aiello, Dianne Wiest
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089853/
My Rating: (8/10) ★★★★★★★★✩✩



This is a truly enchanting movie set in 1930's New Jersey. Mia Farrow plays Cecilia, the dissatisfied wife to Danny Aiello's abusive, unemployed creep. She spends most of her time at the movies, alone, and has seen The Purple Rose of Cairo five times. Jeff Daniels plays a dual role here; First he's the dapper Tom Baxter, supporting character in the film-within-the-film and then he's Gil Shepherd, the actor who plays Tom Baxter. When Tom literally comes out of the screen and whisks Cecilia away on an adventure, the producers of the film are called in to help track him down. Thus begins a sweet story of love, itself tracking along blurred lines of reality and fiction. Will Cecilia choose impossible romance or will she choose reality?

Farrow gives a great performance, at times really masquerading as the female Woody Allen (who does not appear in this film). Glenne Headley and Dianne Wiest, though each in minor roles, are also especially noteworthy. But this film belongs to Jeff Daniels who plays both characters with astute comic reserve and the right amount of gusto.

Broadway Danny Rose (1984)

Title: Broadway Danny Rose
Release Date: 27 January 1984
Directed by: Woody Allen
Starring: Woody Allen, Mia Farrow, Nick Apollo Forte
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087003/
My Rating: (7/10) ★★★★★★★✩✩✩

Woody Allen stars as Broadway Danny Rose, a theatrical manager for a string of really bad talent. His only semi-talented act, Lou Canova, is a washed-up has-been who is cheating on his wife with hardened floozie Tina, played deliciously by Mia Farrow. In order to keep Lou happy, Danny agrees to pick up Tina in Jersey and bring her to what promises to be Lou's make-or-break show. What ensues is a comical string of events that pit Danny against the mob who are seeking blood vengeance because they believe he's having an affair with Tina. In the end, a touching tale of forgiveness emerges with much to say on friendship, success and devotion. A fine flick with great comic moments.

Zelig (1983)

Title: Zelig
Release Date: 15 July 1983
Directed by: Woody Allen
Starring: Woody Allen, Mia Farrow
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086637/
My Rating: (9/10) ★★★★★★★★★✩

In the time it took to edit Zelig, Woody Allen filmed The Purple Rose of Cairo and Broadway Danny Rose. Being a mockumentary set in the 20's and 30's, the visual effects are so intricately woven and elemental to the storytelling in Zelig that it's no wonder it took a year to complete post. Let's remember this was before Final Cut, so the simple fact that the tricks are very rarely seen is a phenomenal feat and a testament to the talent of the technical artists working on the film.

Zelig is an allegorical representation of the same theme that pervades Woody Allen's work-("God is dead; life has no meaning; man is a lonely speck in a vast, impersonal void" - Mark Shechner). Thematically, Allen does not stride too far from his safe zone here but because he usually treats his subject so literally and openly, there is deep satisfaction found in watching Zelig. You see the content, though matured, is the same but the context is much more wildly imagined (Zelig is a man who, afraid of not fitting in with those around him, has the ability to literally change physicality and become like those he's with--when he's with Frenchmen, he becomes French; when he's near a mariachi band he becomes a mariachi). The personal preoccupations at the root of this story can easily be identified as trademark Woody Allen, but the style and treatment are new and thus we get a vastly more complex glimpse into the mind of Allen. Wildly funny as a satire and intricately complex, this is one of my favorites.

From NYTimes Original Review (by Vincent Canby)
Zelig which opens today at the Beekman Theater, is Woody Allen's triumph. It's one more demonstration that he, rather than any of his more conventional, mainstream contemporaries, is the premier American film maker of his day.

Woody Allen's Lovable Anxious Schlemiels by Sanford Pinsker

Click here for a wonderful article that explores the line between Woody Allen and his comic persona. It's astounding how difficult it is to separate the two in Allen's case, perhaps because he so perfectly looks the part he plays. The above picture is my favorite and chosen because I think he looks super sexy.