Oh, please!
Sleeper is one of the best, brainless, silly comedies ever. Bananas is a hoot, as is Everything you always wanted to know about sex. But "Take the Money and Run" is a silly masterpiece!
Mark
You wrote, "Sleeper is one of the best, brainless, silly comedies ever. Bananas is a hoot, as is Everything you always wanted to know about sex. But "Take the Money and Run" is a silly masterpiece!"
Bring on the popcorn, looks like you got yourself another Allen triumpth to treasure!!
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http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200509/200509270023.html
"Even at 70, Woody Allen Keeps the Films Coming
Woody Allen, now the grand old man of New York, complains endlessly about how Hollywood just cares about money, how unsophisticated young viewers these days are, but he remains an evergreen cinema-kid who satisfies the world's cultural hunger with a production each year. "Hollywood Ending," in which Allen once again stars, directs and writes, is set to debut in Korea on Sept. 30. The Chosun Ilbo took the opportunity to conduct an e-mail interview with the 70-year old. His answers were short but full of his characteristic sharp wit.
Things were quiet for a few years, but "Hollywood Ending" will be the second Korean release this year following "Anything Else." How do you feel?
"I'm excited. As you know, my wife was born in Seoul. She has asked that we go to Korea together."
"Hollywood Ending" is a humorous portrayal of a has-been director, Val (played by Allen), trying to make a comeback in Hollywood. He seemed almost like you. How would you compare Hollywood, New York and London, where you are currently shooting?
"New York is freer than Hollywood, and Europe is freer than New York."
The movie Val shoots gets a good reception from French film critics only. Do you think Europeans have better aesthetic appreciation and taste?
"No comment."
One goofy question. In "Hollywood Ending," your character goes blind, but pushes ahead with his film anyway. If you went blind because of stress during a film, would you actually push through with it anyway? And what was the toughest moment for you physically in the film?
"That's a stupid question. Even in France, you can't direct blind. The toughest thing when shooting a picture is getting up in the morning. The next is shaving every day."
Your films are charming, but in the United States and Korea, fewer and fewer people are watching them. If it's true that younger filmgoers are not watching your films, is that their fault or yours?
"I don¡¯t know whose fault it is. I want to think it¡¯s the viewers' responsibility, but it may be my fault. Perhaps thinking it¡¯s the viewers' fault is proof that I've gone blind already."
You're 70 years old this year. But you've persisted in making one film a year. What is the source of your energy?
"I'm a man of many ideas, especially when it comes to movies. That's my nature."
Korean filmgoers welcome not only your films, but also the fact that your wife Soon-yi is Korean. Does your wife help you make films? And do you have any memorable experiences with Korean film or Korean film people?
"My wife is the source of my inspiration. But frankly, I don't know much about Korean film. There aren't many Korean films broadcast over here."
What do you say to film critics who say your films are lost in mannerism?
"Frankly, I don't understand their criticism. But they must be right. All critics are smart."
Last question. If you were to recount your happiest and unhappiest moments from the last week, what would they be?
"My happiest moment would be lying in bed with my wife. The least happy would be my endoscopy."
(englishnews@chosun.com )
"Take the Money and Run". Isn't that the movie where the Woody Allen character carves a gun out of the bar of soap, colors it with shoe polish, then tries to escape - in the rain? One minute he's holding the gun on the guard then the next he looks down and all he has is soap foam in his hands. That has to be one of the funniest scenes ever filmed.