Actors, Films, News Bits

Feb News Bits 1: Diana Krall, Olympia Dukakis, Steve Carrell, Mulaney, Patton Oswalt and more

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News Bits! Our twice monthly round up of Woody Allen bits from around the web.

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Singer/pianist Diana Krall appeared in a Woody Allen film. Thing is, she doesn’t remember which one. She spoke to the Guardian.

Talking of New York, you’re a Woody Allen fan. Have you seen him play the clarinet at the Carlyle?

The Carlyle is one of the few hotels left in New York where you walk in and feel like you could see Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. I did go to see him there once – I was planning on going again but I haven’t made it.

Has he asked you to appear in one of his films?

That would be my dream come true. Actually, I have been in one of his films. Yes! It was 12 years ago. I don’t remember what it’s called. Isn’t that stupid? All I know is I had a chance to play piano, and I had a chance to chat with him. It was the highlight of my life. I’ve been in a Michael Mann film, too [‘Public Enemies‘]. Every film I’ve been in I play a girl singer. I love Woody Allen. While I was sick I watched Manhattan Murder Mystery three times, and Crimes and Misdemeanors four times. It’s a masterpiece, like listening to a Miles Davis record.

Are you anything like Annie Hall?

That would be like comparing myself to Joni Mitchell. There’s nobody like that. She is one of the women who I hold in highest regard.

Is your life more Bananas or Husbands and Wives?

I would say it’s more Morecambe & Wise lately.

For the record, Krall appeared in Anything Else. You can’t blame her, not many people remember that one.

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Olympia Dukakis recently reflected on her career with the AV Club. She talked about working with Allen on Mighty Aphrodite – and why.

That was the Woody Allen thing, right? Yeah, I did that ’cause it was two tickets to Sicily, and I went with my husband.

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Steve Carell has been on the interview circuit, promoting his new film ‘Foxcatcher‘, for which he has been Oscar nominated. Carrell had a small role in Melinda And Melinda, and it wasn’t a very comfortable experience for him it seems.

Woody Allen scared the shit out of me. I just didn’t want to engage. I wanted to stay on the periphery. All very mysterious. Very scary.

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I Am Rogue spoke to filmmaker and Allen fan Edward Burns, who has a new memoir – ‘Independent Ed‘. He talked about Allen’s independent film streak.

Whether the studio financed it, or you did it through Kickstarter, or through some hedge fund guy who got the check, if they left you alone then it’s an independent film. Nobody ever talks about Woody Allen being an independent filmmaker, but nobody gives Woody notes on his scripts. Nobody tells Woody whom he should cast, and Woody’s always had final cut. Can you be any more independent than that?

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We love comedian John Mulaney, although it looks like his TV show ‘Mulaney‘ has not been going too well. It looks like the show is over, but before they pulled the plug, Mulaney managed to pay tribute to Allen and Manhattan in episode 12.

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Alex Ross Perry is a rising voice in American films. His new film in ‘Queen of Earth‘. He had nice thinsg to say about one Allen film with The Upcoming.

Queen of Earth is being compared by many to Ingmar Bergman’s Persona. Did you watch it before making the film?

ARP: I did, around ten years ago, but as we were making it I actually tried to watch films that I’d never seen before. I’d never seen Images until after I’d written the script. Another one-location drama that I had never seen was Woody Allen’s September, which gets a bad rap in his cinematography, but I thought it was really elegant and sophisticated and quite inspirational.

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Comedian Patton Oswalt has a new book out called ‘Silver Screen Friend‘, which is all about loving film (and we love when an American uses the word ‘film’). In a new interview with Esquire, he talked a little about Woody Allen and Ingmar Bergman and the greatness of ‘The Seventh Seal‘.

The Seventh Seal still baffles me. Because that is what people still hold up as shorthand for, “Oh, Jesus—an important foreign film!” Or when they show dude-bros in a beer commercial going, “But my girlfriend wants to watch some goddamn art film!” they’ll show a version of that that they’ve mocked up. And look, a lot of those movies — Hiroshima Mon Amour, Last Year at Marienbad — those movies just, ughh! But The Seventh Seal does not belong in that company. And I am not trying to sound like I’m some elevated film snob, but it’s a genuinely funny movie. It does not take itself seriously at all. It’s more Woody Allen when Woody Allen was trying to be Ingmar Bergman. This was Ingmar Bergman being Woody Allen before Woody Allen existed. Because everyone in the movie is kind of sardonic. The first time Max von Sydow starts playing chess with Death he’s like, “Oh my God, I’m playing chess with Death. This is amazing!” And all Death does is crack jokes at people, all he does is make fun of people. One of the guys is like, “Hey, just a little more time” and he’s like “You guys always say that. Do you really think you are going to get more time from me?” You’ve got to watch it but it’s shocking how it’s really happy and beautiful. People always see the image of Death on the beach and think, “Oh God, I am not going to sit through this piece of shit!” And it’s not that at all. It’s really funny. It’s genuinely funny.

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Women In Film Chicago has existed for over 30 years, helping to build a community of a still very male dominated industry. At their ‘Kick-Off Party’ networking event, filmaker Anna Jung spoke to Hollywood Chicago and praised one of Allen’s films.

HollywoodChicago.com: What, in your opinion, is an example of a truthful film about the female experience in society, and what elements within that film create that truth?

Jung: One that comes to mind is Blue Jasmine by Woody Allen. I think it explores the multitude of emotions and experiences she goes through, including her relationship to children. It was so multi-dimensional, even though Jasmine’s character came from a traditional role. Cate Blanchett portrayed Jasmine as fleshed out, with a full range of reactions and humanity. within a female context.

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A great new Woody Allen website – Weekly Woody. They are creating new posters and lettering for every Woody Allen film – in order. They are up to Love And Death (above). Check out the others at Weekly Woody.

Vodzilla, and video on demand blog from the UK, celebrated Woody Allen week. They reviewed Cassandra’s Dream, Vicky Cristina Barcelona and Magic In the Moonlight so far. They also ranked EVERY Allen film and where to watch it on demand from the UK. They call ‘Cassandra’s Dream‘ the worse followed by Scoop. Surprisingly, their number one is Stardust Memories.

Which Woody Allen Character Are You? One of those silly quizzes at Playbuzz. We got Gil (Owen Wilson) from Midnight In Paris.

Robin Askwith was a star of various British sex comedies in the 70s. He recently was snapped in a very cool Take The Money And Run inspired shirt.

Finally, a big edition of Fan Art Corner:

A really, really great collage

http://instagram.com/p/y-BKgJCZjG/

Great poster for ‘Annie Hall‘

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Woody Allen paper doll

http://instagram.com/p/zCzyEqI8vf/

https://twitter.com/TANTYOsw/status/563928143434506240

 

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1 Comment

  1. Its always great to see these pieces of art depicting Woody from people all over the world. If Woody were to see these pieces he’d probably be pretty impressed with the diverse artistry in each of them.

    Throughout the years Woody has touched a lot of people all over the world!!!!

    Reply

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