It’s a cinch that anyone with even a passing knowledge of American movies knows the classics Woody Allen wrote and directed in the 1970's: Annie Hall (1977) and Manhattan (1979).
The amount of people aware of Mr. Allen’s best from of the 1980's shrinks a bit; which is a shame, because it could be argued that Woody Allen made the very best films of his career between 1985 and 1989: The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), Radio Days (1987), Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989).
Remarkably, in the 90's, Allen let loose an unprecedented string of films that would represent an entire career for most film makers, but for Allen, just a fraction of a life’s work of unparalleled proficiency: Husbands and Wives (1992), Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993), Bullets Over Broadway (1994), Mighty Aphrodite (1995), and Sweet and Lowdown (1999).
Which brings us to the current decade of, what, the noughts; the aughts; the oughts? At 73, Woody Allen is as prolific as ever; turning out a film a year; domestically and internationally; so, you gotta think, age is not to blame for this decade's drop off. Maybe, and this is a frightening thought for any writer to admit, maybe, no matter how talented, or prolific, a writer simply runs out of ideas.
The following list of films represent the highlights of a less than stellar decade for Woody Allen fans (even though it must be reiterated, the good films Allen turned out in the last ten years still stand head and shoulders above most American films released in a given year).
Small Time Crooks (2000)
A throwback to the "early funny films" of the 1970's. Absent are the urbane and witty Manhattanites struggling with the perils of infidelity and artistic impotence; in their place are the urbane and witty working-class heroes struggling with the perils of poverty, crime, and, infidelity. One of Allen’s funniest (thanks greatly to Elaine May) and oddly, one of his most picturesque (cinematography by Fei Zhao [Raise The Red Lantern]).
Melinda and Melinda (2004)
Even though Will Ferrell is wildly mis-cast in this interesting half comedy/half drama experiment, overall the film works on the strength of Radha Mitchell’s tour de force performance playing two roles in one body: the suicidal basket case Melinda and the sprightly sexy Melinda.
Match Point (2005)
Mr. Allen had made four dramas prior to Match Point: Interiors (1978), September (1987), Another Woman (1988), and Husbands and Wives (1992). But, it wasn’t until Match Point that a Woody Allen drama became a box office hit. Often mistakenly compared to Crimes and Misdemeanors, Match Point harbors no illusions toward grandeur; it is simply a perfectly executed and compelling crime drama.
Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
A beautiful, lush, and sexy comedy that went a long way toward bringing some long lost movie-goers back into the tent; proving that Woody Allen still knows how to stir the pot, and create potent, intelligent love affairs.
So, for Woody Allen’s loyal and fawning fans, the new paradigm when it comes to enjoying and/or anticipating Mr. Allen’s work, is to no longer greedily expect to receive your Woody Allen film perfect and beautiful each time out of the box, but rather to suffer some disappointment, which invariably will lead to a heightened sense of euphoria when Mr. Allen once again delivers something special, and he will, which his fans will ultimately cherish more, than if they had never suffered at all.
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