Woody Allen: Film by Film Thread

Discussion in 'Visual Arts' started by RayS, Aug 29, 2015.

  1. I haven't watched it yet so interesting to hear this. I look forward to sampling it and finding out if the reciew is harsh or on target.
     
  2. RayS

    RayS A Little Bit Older and a Little Bit Slower Thread Starter

    Location:
    Out of My Element
    I had my second viewing of "Cafe Society" last night. As usual for me with Woody movies, I like it a bit more the second time around. Even watching it on my TV vs. a theater screen, I was once again amazed at just how beautiful the film looks. Just drenched in that gorgeous golden amber light.

    I'm not usually in the habit of playing arm chair editor, but in this case I can't help myself. Two sequences/subplots just stick out, and I think their deletion would have really helped the film. The "hooker" scene isn't a bit funny and is just uncomfortable all around - for the audience and the actors. And the scenes concerning the conversion of big brother Ben to Catholicism just seem to be imported from a different movie (and in this case, we even know WHICH movie, don't we Hannah fans?) I would also have happily done without the gratuitous violence played for comedy in the numerous bump-off scenes.

    On the positive side, I have to say that the culmination of the Bobby-Vonnie story line actually pays off very nicely. There is just a tinge of "Casablanca" vibe there, and a very nicely underplayed wistfulness (which I think I missed the first time around because I was distracted by the Ben subplot disrupting the film).

    So second time around, this was a better film for me, and one I'd certainly consider a very worthwhile effort.
     
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  3. L.P.

    L.P. Forum Resident

    Location:
    Austria
    Isn't the tragic conversion of a Jew to Christianity very common in jewish humour? So that really had to happen to Ben's parents. Like in that famous joke where the rabbi talks to God: What a tragedy, my son converted to christianity! And God says: Calm down, the same thing happened to me! And the rabbi: What shall I do now? And God says: Do like I did, make a new testament!

    The scene in the movie is a like a classic joke, when the mother says: I don't know which is worse, the death sentence or the conversion!
     
  4. RayS

    RayS A Little Bit Older and a Little Bit Slower Thread Starter

    Location:
    Out of My Element
    I think the topic is a rich comedic vein to mine (and Woody mined it brilliantly in "Hannah and Her Sisters"). But in "Cafe Society" it comes more or less out of nowhere, and derails the primary romantic plot for a few minutes, then disappears (as Ben disappears). I can see Woody thinking it was an appropriate place for some comic relief, and he's riffing on some of his favorite topics. But, for me, it all sticks out - like it's been imported from another movie.
     
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  5. George P

    George P Notable Member

    Location:
    NYC
    The argument, along these lines, in a Curb Your Enthusiasm episode, is hilarious!
     
  6. RayS

    RayS A Little Bit Older and a Little Bit Slower Thread Starter

    Location:
    Out of My Element
    For anyone interested, "Cafe Society" is currently in "Included With Prime" status on Amazon Prime Video.
     
  7. George P

    George P Notable Member

    Location:
    NYC
    Meaning, free to watch if you have Prime?
     
  8. RayS

    RayS A Little Bit Older and a Little Bit Slower Thread Starter

    Location:
    Out of My Element
    Yes sir.
     
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  9. George P

    George P Notable Member

    Location:
    NYC
    Thanks. Now I just need to figure out how to watch it on my TV, through my Blu-ray player.
     
  10. RayS

    RayS A Little Bit Older and a Little Bit Slower Thread Starter

    Location:
    Out of My Element
    I wouldn't be of much help. I still haven't been able to figure out how to use my Exec-u-ciser.

     
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  11. Rfreeman

    Rfreeman Senior Member

    Location:
    Lawrenceville, NJ
    Bananas would be an excellent call to re release in January
     
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  12. RayS

    RayS A Little Bit Older and a Little Bit Slower Thread Starter

    Location:
    Out of My Element
    I would only re-buy "Bananas" if it came with a full commentary track by the official interpreter.
     
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  13. Rfreeman

    Rfreeman Senior Member

    Location:
    Lawrenceville, NJ
    Ever check out the in character commentary tracks on the Spinal Tap DVD? Really as good as the film itself.

    (Proud owner of a DVD copy with in character autographs by the 3 principals)
     
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  14. RayS

    RayS A Little Bit Older and a Little Bit Slower Thread Starter

    Location:
    Out of My Element
    I have. Those three gentlemen, and Rob Reiner, are brilliantly funny guys, even off the cuff.
     
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  15. mrjinks

    mrjinks Optimistically Challenged

    Location:
    Boise, ID.
    Time capsule - rewind 47 years and enjoy...
    :-popcorn:
     
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2017
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  16. RayS

    RayS A Little Bit Older and a Little Bit Slower Thread Starter

    Location:
    Out of My Element

    That was a pleasant surprise, thanks for the link.
     
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  17. mrjinks

    mrjinks Optimistically Challenged

    Location:
    Boise, ID.
    HEY NOW,
    Let's keep the vintage clips rolling!
    Aside from an annoying watermark (occasionally present), here's a Tonight Show with Woody hosting, and Bob Hope as first guest. The ads (especially Hank's Ed's) are a riot, too...
     
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  18. mrjinks

    mrjinks Optimistically Challenged

    Location:
    Boise, ID.
    Wow, James Coco really seemed to make Woody uncomfortable in that segment!
     
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  19. RayS

    RayS A Little Bit Older and a Little Bit Slower Thread Starter

    Location:
    Out of My Element
    Great find. Woody in the presence of Bob vaguely reminds me of Paul Simon seeing Mickey Mantle on "The Dick Cavett Show". Everything he's said about worshiping him is clearly true.

    Now I'm going out to get me some aluminum foil to wrap my bumper.
     
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  20. RayS

    RayS A Little Bit Older and a Little Bit Slower Thread Starter

    Location:
    Out of My Element
    The next film has a name - "Wonder Wheel".

    Named after a ride at Coney Island.

    [​IMG]
     
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  21. mrjinks

    mrjinks Optimistically Challenged

    Location:
    Boise, ID.
  22. NightGoatToCairo

    NightGoatToCairo Forum Resident

    Location:
    .
    Is Crises In Six Scenes likely to get a DVD or BD releases? What normally happen with these exclusive Amazon series in regard to physical release?
     
  23. johnaltman

    johnaltman Forum Resident

    Location:
    Alabama
  24. NightGoatToCairo

    NightGoatToCairo Forum Resident

    Location:
    .
    Could you see the results on that page? :shrug:
     
  25. johnaltman

    johnaltman Forum Resident

    Location:
    Alabama
    no, I guess they're not done yet?
     

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