THE ARTS

Take the Bananas and Run

At 72, a superstitious Woody Allen is still working hard, but is terrified of the void, the 'meaningless flicker' of life.

By Jennie Yabroff | NEWSWEEK
Published Aug 8, 2008
Aug. 18-25, 2008 issue

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  • Posted By: eddieo @ 08/08/2008 9:49:52 PM

    Woody..do yourself a favor. Watch the classic, "Sullivan's Travels". I'm sure you've seen it.
    Remember the story--a movie directly wants to make serious, social films. It's only at the end does he discover it's the simple comedies that bring the greatest joy to audiences.
    Watch Sullivan's Travels. Take note.
    God

    • Posted By: eddieo @ 08/08/2008 9:50:51 PM

      Pardon my error..I meant to say, movie DIRECTOR. See, life isn't perfect.

      • Posted By: steberg @ 08/09/2008 1:08:26 PM

        I think Mr. Allen must have seen that film; there is a scene in Hannah and Her Sisters in which the Allen character watches a Marx Bros. movie and has an epiphany that is an almost uncanny reference to the scene in Sullivan's Travels where Sullivan watches a Mickey Mouse short with fellow prisoners.

        • Posted By: KarenL @ 08/18/2008 4:43:32 PM

          I agree with the above. Sing, dance, take care of all life. That should keep a person busy and fulfilled. Why does Woody express himself? Thats not meaningful enough? Sharing with us?

    • Posted By: KarenL @ 08/18/2008 4:38:45 PM

      No purpose to living? How about peace on Earth. goodwill to men. How about listening to the last song from the sound track of "Mama Mia". (By the way Newsweek called that "a silly" movie!) Dance, sing, be joyful...and love one another. Its no existential big deal!!

  • Posted By: thiaasca @ 08/15/2008 8:24:46 AM

    Allen and Slavoj Zizek should have a talk

  • Posted By: NotSoBigMac @ 08/15/2008 8:14:31 AM

    When Woody says, "Your perception of time changes as you get older, because you see how brief everything is," I agree with him. But meaningless? No way! I am not particularly eager to die, but I don't much fear it, either. Death, I suppose, is Woody's main trauma - like that of the rest of the humanity. I don't see what there is "refreshing" about mouthing Kierkegaard-like standard pessimist liturgy. Live your life, give of yourself!

  • Posted By: davidchowes @ 08/14/2008 5:09:49 PM

    "The Woodman" is my main man, Woody and Ingmar Bergman take our lives sans menaing and ending in death and create great art out of this conundrum,

    David Chowes, New York City

  • Posted By: Micky Marsh @ 08/12/2008 12:34:25 PM

    Better yet, take the bananas and slide man.

  • Posted By: microdon2 @ 08/11/2008 3:09:41 PM

    To "eddieo" - you can be sure that Woody is well versed in film history, especially films by Preston Sturges. And if you think he's not familiar with the power of comedy you haven't seen, "Take The Money and Run", "What's Up Tiger Lilly", "Bananas", "Sleeper", and, of course, "Annie Hall".

  • Posted By: newsmjx42 @ 08/11/2008 2:58:53 PM

    Just reading through this article put a big smile on my face. There are almost no people in this world - celebrities or anyone in the public eye who actually have the mindset to just lay down their thoughts and feelings about existence exactly as they are - not sugar-coated or re-packaged for the masses. His insights are refreshing and exhilarating for people who choose not to anesthitize their brains with the recycled, "socially-acceptable," and artificially positive ideas and ideals about life and existence.

  • Posted By: mookie1 @ 08/11/2008 2:58:43 PM

    As a person who has had two step-fathers his affair with his 17 step-daughter is sexual abuse. I cannot and will not watch his movies. I my mind he is a disgusting man. The "heart wants what it wants" ? If that child was any younger than 16 he would have been arrested

  • Posted By: newsmjx42 @ 08/11/2008 2:55:51 PM

    Just reading through this article put a big smile on my face. There are almost no people in this world - celebrities or anyone in the public eye who actually have the mindset to just lay down their thoughts and feelings about existence exactly as they are - not sugar-coated or re-packaged for the masses. His insights are refreshing and exhilarating for people who choose not to anesthitize their brains with the recycled, "socially-acceptable," and artificially positive ideas and ideals about life and existence.

  • Posted By: microdon2 @ 08/11/2008 2:46:14 PM

    Considering that Woody is much smarter than most of us, does it bother anyone to think that he just might be right ? Should we ALL be losing sleep and making movies??

  • Posted By: microdon2 @ 08/11/2008 2:41:27 PM

    Correction to the previous post - I meant to write "they DON'T do it to remain on top..."

  • Posted By: Edycam @ 08/11/2008 2:39:59 PM

    I have always found Woody's work interesting and provocative. To say he was quirky would be an understatement. He has gone through different stages as all of us do in our lives. However his is for all to see on film. His inability to come to terms with death is something that afflicts all of us. We all deal with it differently. Some have faith, and some have doubts. Such is life.

  • Posted By: microdon2 @ 08/11/2008 2:39:11 PM

    If you think Woody's not doing good work anymore you haven't seen "Match Point". Sure, he's nowhere near the loft heights he used to frequent. But, as with Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, and many other artists, they do it to remain on top - they're artists because this is who they are - this is how they communicate. Or this is how they deal with life. Woody's comments are amazing in their honesty and directness - another reason he's great. You won't hear anything that honest from Oliver Stone or Michael Bay.

  • Posted By: adept47 @ 08/10/2008 8:36:42 AM

    Perhaps Mr. Allen could find more meaning in life by marrying a different "daughter."

    • Posted By: jdief @ 08/11/2008 2:30:13 PM

      Woody Allen like Bob Dylan is one of those artists who continue to mar a brilliant past with an increasingly mediocre body of work. At one time he was THE American filmmaker. Today his work is largely irrelevant. I can't think of the last film he did that had anything worth talking about. At least he stopped casting himself as the love interest. Pairing himself with Helen Hunt was downright creepy.

  • Posted By: dr doug @ 08/10/2008 12:50:15 AM

    WOW! I'VE NEVER ACTUALLY READ 3 MORE STUPID COMMENTS ABOUT AN ARTICLE EVER! PEOPLE, GET IT TOGETHER!

  • Posted By: opeclinton @ 08/09/2008 8:29:29 PM

    I have discovered that Man was created to have purpose for living and to love his creator. Think of it! After all the accomplishments in the world, one will die, leaving everything. There must be something more! Jesus in one's life brings meaning and purpose!

  • Posted By: bashas @ 08/09/2008 5:23:05 PM

    Say what you will about him, he is still a dirty pervert who hurt many people!

  • Posted By: bashas @ 08/09/2008 5:22:02 PM

    Say what you will, he is still a disgusting pervert who deserves no sympathy.

  • Posted By: midnight05 @ 08/09/2008 4:05:00 PM

    Although I prefer his early comedies (Bananas being among the best) I thought Crimes and Misdemeanors was brilliant and it involved me in some fabulous discussions for weeks afterward.

  • Posted By: Leone @ 08/09/2008 10:20:10 AM

    When a typical child shows a tendency to compulsive behavior he/she is operating at a deficit, understood to have a disability. But the Jewish child who is compulsive inherits a set of compulsions and a community to support them.
    L Giaccone

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