Woody Allen Memoir Gets Release Date
https://variety.com/2020/biz/news/woody-allen-memoir-release-date-1203521094/
shareMight be an interesting read.
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MovieChat Forums > Woody Allen Discussion > Woody Allen Memoir Gets Release Date
I canceled him but I'm still intrigued about it. He did have an interesting life and I want to read stories about some of his classic films.
shareIt might be an interesting read, if there was any hope of honesty there. But I think he's too narcissistic to be capable of the kind of honesty and insight that make a good autobiography.
There's still some hope of it being amusing in spite of his NPD, but not as guarantee. It's been a long time since he's put anything funny on the screen, after all.
I would have to agree, Otter, but this isn't just a comment on Allen. I'm also a Streisand fan, and I can't see HER
being completely transparent about her remarkable career either. She, too, is working on a long-planned memoir.
I don't think a truly honest, well-balanced account of these two will come out until after they're gone (along with most
celebrities).
That said, the truly narcissistic (and repulsively self-important) Ronan Farrow is truly an ASS for cutting ties with his
publishing firm because they're IN BUSINESS and have signed to publish Allen's book. What a pompous baby.
I find it very telling that NOT ONE other person has ever accused Allen of sexual abuse. I'm not convinced of Dylan's
story, especially given the vindictive, sick involvement of Mia Farrow, who herself has been accused of emotional
and physical abuse of her children (several have testified to this).
Oh, and by the way, Ronan...don't be too concerned about your "genes" when your father is most likely the late
Frank Sinatra (another twisted story in itself).
Agree about Babs. If she wrote an autobiography, it'd be endless repetitions of "...and that incident just made me realize how FABULOUS I am!". I expect even less from Allen, at least Babs's memoirs would be given a certain charm by the warm glow of her self-regard.
As for Allen, he's made his interest in pretty young females pretty clear over the years, and while I wasnt there during any given incident any more than you were, I have little doubt he's done a few things he ought to regret during his life. And I have zero doubt he'll discuss any such incidents honestly in his memoir, he's an old man now and his primary motive for writing will be to have control over his legacy. The book will be what he wants the public to believe, and as such, it won't be a great read.
Having an interest in young females doesn't make one a child molester. And so much of his "dirty old man" stuff
not only fuels the comedy in so many of his classic films, it (unfortunately) makes Mia Farrow's stories so much
easier to "sell."
Am I convinced he's innocent? No. I'm just not convinced he's guilty. And lumping him in with the likes of
genuine rapists like Harvey W and Bill C is ludicrous.
As much as I loathe Alec Baldwin (this man was BORN an asshole), I agree with him completely when he says,
"I need more proof." Same kudos goes to Diane Keaton, but unfortunately, she owes her career to Allen,
therefore making it easy for detractors to dismiss her support.
If I tend to think that Allen has probably done things he ought to have done during his lifetime, it's based on his undoubted fondness for young ladies... and the general observation that human beings will usually break rules if they can get something they want by doing so, and they're sure they can get away with it. And Allen has been wealthy, famous, self-absorbed, and self-indulgent for a very long time. Yes, I'm ignoring what you call "facts" (and I call heresay), because as Baldwin said, we dont really have enough facts to work with.
He made some brilliant films in his day, but he stayed in the public eye too long. Long enough to outlive his own talent, long enough to overstay his welcome, long enough to let people see through him. And a memoir is likely to bring out everything I dislike about him.
I guess I am just prejudiced because I've been a fan of Woody Allen's films for years.. He disdains Hollywood. Prefers his home in New York. He just won't do the celebrity thing. He seems to lead a low key personal life. But the media won't leave him alone.
So he likes younger women and casts them in his movies. So the rest of the film industry DOESN'T??
The list of younger actress/older actor is too long to mention. One of my favorites, "A Perfect Murder" (1988) cast a twentysomething Gwyneth Paltrow married to fifty year old Michael Douglas.
So Mr. Allen likes younger women. What a surprise. At least he married the one that he wanted.
He's never been convicted of a crime. Even though a person is presumed innocent until found guilty, in the case of child molestation all you need is one angry, bitter woman to level the charge against you. And you spend the rest of your life trying to defend yourself.
Well said, PJ!
Oh, I'm pretty sure that just about any man in Allen's position has also done things they ought to regret, not just Allen. This is as general observation on human nature - that anyone who will move mountains to claw their way to the top of a heap will do anything to get what they want, regardless of ethics or morality, and I also observe that the entertainment industry subculture is dominated by people who get what they want regardless of ethics or morality, and they've created an insider culture that reflects their lack of values. And that although Allen pretends not to be part of it he actually is. So, he's been in a position to indulge himself for a long time, and, well. People who are free to indulge themselves usually do.
Another general observation on human nature is: you dont want to spend the rest of your life defending yourself from a psychobitch's accusations, dont get involved with a psychobitch and then seduce her young daughter. I mean, duh.
Can I ask a question of you, since you're still a fan?
It's this: Have any of his recent movies made you laugh?
Okay Otter, fair question. Actually some of my favorites hardly make me laugh at all. They are not really comedies such as "Hannah and her Sisters" and "Crimes and Misdemeanors."
But I've hardly seen ANY movies in the theater in recent years. I used to go a lot more but I moved about twelve years ago and there are no theaters nearby. The closest Cineplex is at a mall which is about 25 miles away. I just don't feel like driving that far to see a movie.
If I really want to see a film, I rent one at one of those Redbox contraptions in town. I don't think they have had a Woody Allen film for a long time. At least I haven't seen one listed.
But I 'm still a fan of his older stuff.
I saw "Café Society" several years ago in a theatre - twice, as I enjoyed it that much. Was it on
a par with "Annie Hall", or "Hannah and Her Sisters?" No, but it was nice to see a film with rich
atmosphere of its era (the 1930's), terrific music by Cole Porter and Gershwin, as well as strong
dialogue and characters. And anyway, a mediocre Allen film is still better than most new releases,
which focus on explosions, comic book scripts, or animated films. It's called taste - which is sorely
lacking in today's general culture.
Oh, and by the way, Otter...I didn't laugh at all at the superb "Interiors." You see, it's a DRAMA...
like many of Allen's films. And it came out in 1978.
Oh yeah, I was going to mention "Interiors". But I forgot. It was a drama and very dark, but very good.
I will have to find "Café Society" since you usually recommend good films!
Another one that I'd like to get a copy of is "Bullets over Broadway". I saw it years ago and it was hilarious. Just a superb cast. It made me laugh almost as much as "Annie Hall". I have a copy of that one and whenever I need a good laugh, I watch it. That entire movie is quotable.
"I'm standing here with the cast of the Godfather."
"What I wouldn't do for a large sock filled with manure."
"Are we driving through plutonium?"
"My grandmother never gave gifts. She was too busy being raped by Cossacks."
Wow. For some reason, PJ, I never knew you loved Allen's films.
I own:
Take the Money and Run
Annie Hall
Manhattan (now considered one of his most controversial films)
Hannah and Her Sisters (I watch every Thanksgiving)
Husbands and Wives (sadly, the last Allen/Farrow film)
Just last night, I was on the phone with a friend of 40-plus years, and we got into a heated
debate. Annoyed, I said, "What I'd give for a large sock, filled with manure!", which, of
course, is from "Annie Hall." He became incensed and said he was going to hang up! I
burst out laughing, and told him which movie it was from. He calmed down, but he was
still offended (Odd).
Speaking of Farrow: As an actor, I think she is sensational, and her work with Allen is as
great as his work with Diane Keaton or Judy Davis. It's a tragedy that they never worked
together again.
Oh yeah, Manhattan and Manhattan Murder Mystery. Two more of my favorites. I also like a lot of his much older stuff.
So much of his work is quotable. Like when he tells his parents he is going to convert to Catholicism. (He buys a rosary and Wonder Bread! I've never eaten it!). He tells his father he is searching for answers, like why there is evil in the world. Why were there Nazis?
His father: How the hell should I know? I don't know how the can opener works!
Yes, "Manhattan Murder Mystery", the last (and, at this date, probably final) time he
worked with Keaton (a last minute replacement for Farrow, after the Soon Yi
scandal). I oddly don't own this one, and haven't seen it in years. Coincidentally, my
mom checked it out from the library and we will be watching it Saturday.
One of my favorite scenes is Allen and Keaton strolling around a large fountain, and as
she details her breaking into the neighbor's apartment, Allen is falling apart in
anxiety ("I'm getting nauseas!"). Another is when the woman's body falls through the
elevator roof, as he's having an anxiety attack about being trapped in the elevator
("a neurotic's jackpot - a stalled elevator AND a dead body").
I'm definitely going to read this. I'm not sure it'll be the tell-all that we'd all love it to be, but I think it'll be worth reading for any fan of his work.
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