In 2023, Woody Allen released his 50th film. While waiting for the premiere of a new mosaic of feelings and passions from a true connoisseur of human souls, Woody Allen, we suggest recalling the best works of the great director.
Husbands and Wives (1992)
Woody Allen’s traditionally multi-layered tragicomedy will tell about the imperfection of marriage. The director appears in the film as a writer immersed in family quarrels.
It seems that his marriage is on the verge of collapse, but he has neither the strength nor the courage to admit it frankly. One day he and his wife find out that their good friends intend to divorce. This information leads to new problems.
Match Point (2005)
Chris Wilton understands that he will not become a successful professional tennis player. Therefore, he gets a job as a coach in an exclusive English sports club. It is there that he meets the fatal beauty Nola, whose love will eventually turn into obsession.
The tape was the director’s first work in which Scarlett Johansson starred. The finale of the picture, as usual, is unpredictable and witty.
Midnight in Paris (2011)
Gil, a writer and hopeless romantic, is convinced that he should have lived in the 1920s. Together with his bride Ines, he comes to Paris to visit the places where his idols lived and created in the dream era.
One day he really finds himself in the past. Meeting there with Hemingway, Picasso, the Fitzgerald couple, Gertrude Stein, he realizes that he belongs to this time and wants to stay there forever.
The picture has all the best that is characteristic of Allen’s films: subtle parody, irony and an exquisite aftertaste.
Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
In the film “Hannah and her sisters” Woody Allen came closest to his goal – to give films philosophical depth and maturity of thinking. The picture tells the story of three sisters: Hannah, Lee and Holly.
Their peaceful life is shattered when Hannah Elliot’s husband unexpectedly realizes that he is madly in love with Lee. Lee abandons his older lover for him, but Elliot himself cannot leave his perfectly perfect wife so easily.
Manhattan (1979)
The 42-year-old hero decides to change everything in his life. He ditches his girlfriend of 17 years for his best friend’s ex-lover, and his job as a television writer to write a book.
The romantic comedy became one of the best films about New York. And together with Woody Allen, who played the main role at the same time, his then partner Diane Keaton and young Meryl Streep played brilliantly. The picture was a huge success.
Annie Hall (1977)
The film tells the love story of New York comedian, neurotic and intellectual Alvy Singer and young singer Annie Hall. The picture resembles a love song, after listening to which you understand: it is impossible to live without love, even if it cannot bring anything but tears.
With this tape, the director showed himself from a completely different side. He gave depth to his characters, and the film itself was imbued with psychology. However, the heroes remained very witty.
Scoop (2006)
The director calls the film “Sensation” a light comedy about sex, love and murder. In the center of the plot is an ambitious journalist, whose role is played by the director’s favorite, Scarlett Johansson, and an elderly magician played by Woody Allen himself. They learn shocking news: the famous English lord is a serial killer.
Stardust Memories (1980)
Sandy Bates is a famous comedy director. He is loved by the public and adored by critics, his films are popular. But Sandy wants to start making more serious films that few people need. Having decided to carefully consider his life, the director secludes himself for the weekend in a hotel room while the film festival continues.
In this tape, Woody Allen documented his creative crisis. Being a thoughtful person in real life, he did not see himself then exclusively as a comedian.
Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
A very realistic story, which could well be classified as a drama, tells about a classic love triangle.
It arose between two American friends vacationing at a Barcelona resort and a seductive Spanish artist played by Javier Bardem. The intrigue becomes especially acute after his ex-wife, played perfectly by Penelope Cruz, suddenly returns to the artist.
Zelig (1983)
The picture, which is full of cinematic and narrative surprises, reflects the disturbing symptoms of our time. In it, Allen played Leonard Zelig, a resident of New York in the 1920s. His hero is weak and helpless, he always adapts to his environment.
This is a pseudo-documentary story about a human chameleon who can turn into a Chinese or a Negro, a baseball player or the pilot And easily change your political views or beliefs depending on the circumstances and people’s wishes.