Woody Allen checking out Scarlett is a sign of the times
August 11th 2008 01:26
The Guardian today published this sad, treacherous photo: Woody Allen caught by the cameras, leering at his lead actress' breasts, Johansson thrilled to be given accolades for working with the famous director.
The post sighs in exasperation at the clumsy hands of Allen, who should be reclining in his silver years, making movies that will bookend his fabulous career in cinema.
Even the most turgidly fanatic Allen fan has to grudgingly admit that the director's efforts of late have been covered with a fuzzy layer of moss. Much fanfare was made over "Match Point", which signalled the return to form, but that seems to be an overzealous attempt to believe in Woodymania.
Here we see, in "Scoop", Allen's lecherous eye for his new muse:
"Scoop" wasn't as bad as critics made it out to be... it was, as many Allen films are, a nice gimmick which settled into irritating Allen animatronics, but the movie settled down nicely, with a relaxed, comedic tone.
Reviewers have been rather grumpy about the last two movies that Allen has completed, which makes people wonder, what is the point of doing a movie every year?
"In all fairness, he only has himself to blame. His faltering recent output, coupled with his admission in an interview that he only has the patience to "shoot once and move on", regardless of quality, means the likelihood of him ever making another Manhattan remain slim. "
It's something of a tragedy in that, as the Guardian points out, Allen should be the wise-old dignitary, with the same amount of respect as Scorcese or Altman. Instead, he's become a laughingstock, a has-been, with his great movies ignored and his failures rankling like sores.
Remember when Allen was considered an auteur? I don't - not really, anyway. I mean, I was playing with Transformers when Siskel and Ebert gushed enthusiastically over his latest 1986 film, "The Purple Rose of Cairo":
The picture of Allen leering at boobs reminds us all why he fell from grace - for having the weakness, the human spirit, to be overcome with lust.
Anyone that's watched old Allen films knows that it shouldn't be unexpected. In "Annie Hall", Allen's character claims that, even as a kid, he was obsessed with sex. Why not?
Personally, I'd prefer Allen to continue making movies any way he sees fit. While I think Johansson is an atrocious actress, who has traded on the virtue of being voluptuous and reminding people what old stars looked like, Allen seems to bring out the best in her. You need a seedy eye for that, and Allen brings it in every movie.
Unfortunately, I think that most people prefer their artists to be saint-like figures, obsessed with their art and not showing any human weaknesses. This is ludicrous, as it is their unique vision of the human spirit that makes their work accessible. It's much like the controversy over the stack of hardcore pornography that was found to belong of Franz Kafka - why shouldn't a writer enjoy filth?
One last thing: if you watched the video of the Siskel and Ebert review of "The Purple Rose of Cairo", there's a great bit of sparring between the two reviewers:
(talking about "The Purple Rose of Cairo", when a character from the movie steps off the screen to talk to Mia Farrow)
Siskel: Wouldn't that be great if it DID happen?
Ebert: Wouldn't you love it if Natassja Kinski came down off the screen and said "Hi Gene, Nice to see you, I'm going to sit next to Roger over here!' (chuckles)
Siskel: (forced smile and pause)
Siskel: She would never say that.
Siskel: Wouldn't that be great if it DID happen?
Ebert: Wouldn't you love it if Natassja Kinski came down off the screen and said "Hi Gene, Nice to see you, I'm going to sit next to Roger over here!' (chuckles)
Siskel: (forced smile and pause)
Siskel: She would never say that.
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Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
I'm no great fan of the overrated Scarlet anyway but I truly loathed Match Point - all she seemed to do was whine and bicker for most of the film! It was headache-inducing! Hardly a sympathetic character.
I do confess to being a Woody Allen fan over the years but seperating him from his creative side for a minute - well, as a man I have to admit I find him somewhat morally repugnant.
Comment by Janet Collins
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
I didn't like "Scoop" - thought it wasn't up to his usual clever standard. I did enjoy "Matchpoint" though. I think some Allen fans tend to like his comedies only but I enjoy the serious ones as well.
Janet
Comment by Matthew Pejkovic 1
Matt's Movie Reviews
That being said, Vicky Christina Barcelona is getting rave reviews.
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
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Haven't seen Scoop, but from that scene, I should try and get my hands on it...
And I disagree, I think Scarlett is very talented. She has wonderful timing, the ability to look natural at whatever she does, and a special aura about her.
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
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Since I personally don't give a flying f*** about the personal lives of artists, I tend to judge them on the work they have produced in their field and leave all the other dross aside. Artists are just as human as anyone else, for crying out loud.
Allen produced some great movies; who he sleeps with, what he eats for breakfast, what he reads or whose boobs he ogles have zero bearing on the movies he makes.
I'm not going to move in with him or strike up a relationship with him--I'm just watching his movies.
Comment by Cibbuano
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janet, it's the Allen comedies that get me - I don't even think I've seen any of his serious work.
matt, just to clarify, Allen was not Soon-Yi's stepfather. She was Mia Farrow's adopted daughter, and then Allen started dating Mia.
PoMo, I hated "Scoop" from the opening minutes, but after a while, I started to really enjoy it. Scarlett's accent gets on my nerves, and I don't think she's talented, but her arguments with Allen are pretty enjoyable, and Hugh Jackman is really interesting to watch, actually.
D, I'd agree. If we started judging artists' work by their personal lives, we'd be in for a shock, I think.
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
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Comment by Waysouth
Romantic Writer
Rich Noob
Waysouth
Hmm, I wouldn't hold your breath! Although, I do have to say that W.A. is, to me, a director who has always worked with a wide variety of characters, including older women, and done a great job of it.
But he's obviously got an eye for young girls, and is obsessed with sex. If we can relate to him based the character he portrays on screen (probably we can, in this case) . . . he is neurotic and not very socially graceful. He likes to be self-deprecating as well.
So I think he might be cultivating his persona by publicly oogling.
Cute photo and great post!
Comment by Journeywoman
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Having said that, I love (most of) his films... and agree that we should judge him by his work, not his preference for young girls.
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
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What constitutes bad manners?
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Old guys looking down my shirt (and very obviously looking) got my special treatment if I encountered them more than once: I'd borrow a hank of wiry black hair from my neighbor's airedale's grooming brush and apply it in the appropriate place with spirit gum.
That, accompanied by a knowing wink at the offender, always did the trick for me.
Comment by Smooth Political
Comment by Cibbuano
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Waysouth, I quite liked "Manhattan Murder Mystery" which starred a wonderfully mature Diane Keaton...
Journeywoman - maybe the photographers are just lining up those shots. I bet you could find quite a few photos of men checking out cleavage on the red carpet...
D - ha ha! Great trick! What flavour gum?
Smooth, Again, the girl was not Woody's step-daughter, and she was of legal age at the time. He did nothing illegal, just very unsavoury...
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
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What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
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Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
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Comment by Smooth Political
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
The only movies of his I like are Manhattan, Zelig, Sleeper and Deconstructing Harry.
Bullets Over Broadway, Crimes & Misdemeanours, Broadway Danny Rose, and Annie Hall were okay I guess.
I haven't seen a new Woody flick in many years.
Not interested to be honest.
Even if Scarlett is in it, but then I think she's over-rated. She was great in Ghost World. But then so was Thora Birch.
Comment by ShaunK
Screen Adventure
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile