1aaca011   
   From: ramkr@mcmail.cis.mcmaster.ca   
      
   Very well said!!   
      
   Ravi, Another Canadian Woody Allen Fan   
      
   On 30 Sep 2003, Tristan M. Maack wrote:   
      
   > I think it's strange that Woody's most loyal supporters seem to have   
   > thrown in the towel on him.  I really think that Anything Else was a very   
   > good film.  Was it fantastic?  No.  The man is not making Manhattan   
   > anymore.  But why should he have to?   
   >   
   > First of all the film contained a lot of intellectual "meat" that was   
   > absent from Hollywood Ending, Curse Of The Jade Scorpion and Small Time   
   > Crooks.  Those films were fluffy.  Personally I didn't mind Curse Of The   
   > Jade Scorpion.  I thought it was an interesting period piece and I was   
   > willing to overlook the fact that a Helen Hunt type would fall for a Woody   
   > Allen type.  But honestly, would a Diane Keaton type fall for a Woody   
   > Allen type, even in his heyday?  When those black titles come across the   
   > screen and we hear that jazz music, we're entering a Woody Allen universe.   
   > Is it reality?  Of course not.  But what we have to accept is that it's a   
   > fictional universe that we have the pleasure of visiting once a year.   
   >   
   > And it's a great universe.  It's a place where people have wit, where   
   > they're cultured, where their neurosis reflect our own.  Would a real   
   > life twenty something be interested in Sartre and Diana Krall?  Of course   
   > not!  But this is Woody's universe and it's consistent with his universe.   
   > As the author he has the luxury of giving the characters the same great   
   > tastes he himself has.  To quibble about such details, as some reviewers   
   > have mercilessly done, is to miss the point entirely.   
   >   
   > Woody Allen's films have always been extremely autobiographical while he   
   > hides himself in plain view, as Roger Ebert said about Deconstructing   
   > Harry.  Anything Else is no different.  This film is the Woody Allen of   
   > today giving advice to the Woody Allen of ten years ago.  Think about it:   
   > Woody was in a sexless relationship with Mia Farrow (Ricci).  He was being   
   > screwed over by good friend (but probably well-intentioned) Jean Doumanian   
   > financially (DeVito).  And he was relentlessly addicted to psychotherapy,   
   > which wasn't helping him sort out any of the issues in his life.  His   
   > character in Anything Else is a breath of fresh air, and it's just what   
   > every Woody Allen character (read: Woody Allen himself) has needed for the   
   > past 15 movies.   
   >   
   > In the last few films Woody Allen the author has been absent.  He was   
   > content to hide behind fluff.  I'm glad he's back and I like the new   
   > message in his film.  Life is hard, life is scary, but you have to stand   
   > on your own and stand up for yourself.  It's a hardened, cynical attitude,   
   > but as someone who's been watching his films since childhood, I definately   
   > see a maturity.  We've all changed so why can't Woody?   
   >   
   > One complaint.  The film is an anti-romantic comedy.  It takes the   
   > structure of Annie Hall but the tone of Husbands and Wives.  So we're   
   > actively rooting for the couple to break up which isn't much fun, let   
   > alone romantic.  But seriously....thank god for this movie.  It's the best   
   > I've seen at a multiplex for years.   
   >   
   > And for those decrying the death of intellectual American films, well   
   > maybe you're just not looking.  Woody's influence is everywhere.  I saw it   
   > last night at my local arthouse cinema when I went to see American   
   > Splendor.  I see it in the films of Wes Anderson, Todd Solondz and Darren   
   > Aaronovsky.  I'm Canadian, and I would highly recommend some Americans   
   > check out Don McKellar's film Last Night, which is a film about the end of   
   > the world without any explosions or asteroids.  Also check out my   
   > countryman Atom Egoyan.   
   >   
   > Culturally these aren't great times.  But just because you're being   
   > governed by a complete imbecile doesn't mean your culture is dead.  (Maybe   
   > just sleeping.)   
   >   
   > Think about it   
   >   
   > Tristan   
   >   
   >   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)