Tonight I was reintroduced to Woody Allen. The first time came in middle school, when my Baptist youth leader took me to see "Zelig." I was hooked, and, fortunately, the Baptist youth leader didn't have the intentions you might assume.
Woody's given us plenty of reasons to loathe him of late. Most of his recent films were forced, at best; two of my most painful cinematic memories were a.) watching Kenneth Branagh mug his way through "Celebrity" and b.) enduring Woody's Dixieland band in the "Wild Man Blues" documentary (in which he came off as a preening asshole).
And then there's that whole stepdaughter affair.
That being said, "Match Point" is a helluva flick. At the very least, it's reminiscent of one Allen's best, "Crimes and Misdemeanors," except Martin Landau is now much younger, and prettier. Anyway, it's a truly impressive second act for someone who needed one.
I won't rate it among my favorites, yet. But it seems to belong among my estimation of his best, which include:
*Hannah and Her Sisters: The spiritual quest is priceless;
*Zelig: Years ahead of "Forrest Gump," and Allen's personal favorite;
*Annie Hall: Never let Diane Keaton get away;
*Radio Days: Poignant;
*Manhattan: Not a part of the all-overrated club;
*Sweet and Lowdown: Love Django ... and Samantha Morton was amazing;
*Crimes and Misdemeanors: If it bends, it's funny;
*Bullets over Broadway: Something very appealing about Diane Wiest
and;
*Bananas: Great Howard Cosell cameo.
*Broadway Danny Rose and The Purple Rose of Cairo barely miss because of a low Mia Farrow tolerance. Still recommended though, as is:
*Play it Again, Sam: Never let Diane Keaton get away.
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