Woody Allen.

[AniaSM]

What is the deal? I just dont find this strange little man funny. Do you?

[pastafreak]

His humour is classic New York neurotic......not that you have to be a New Yorker to understand it!....But you would need to get yourself into the head of someone who is in a constant state of anxiety and worry, This is particularly true of his early work. I admit I have not seen his most recent films.....but many of his early ones still have me rolling on the floor in laughter.

[andy-hughes]

Quite agree. As someone who has spent his teens and early twenties being compared to the great man - supercicial physical resemblance coupled with similar humour and approach to women -= I have always adored Allen's humour.

Like all humour, it is subjective, for example, I cannot raise even a hint of a smile at Little Britain, Mighty Boosh, Catherine Tate, Two Pints, and so on, but to me 'Annie Hall' is one of the fiest films ever made.

[brionon]

andy-hughes
Two minds with one thought. couldn't agree more.

[jno]

I find his early films funny - later ones are more romantic comedy than actually funny - but as andy says, it is a matter of taste.

[bravejordy]

I agree. Woody is a comic genius.

[beso]

"Everything You Wanted to Know About Sex" was really funny. Sure it seems dated to a younger generation but you need to realise the context. It was 1972.

Allen did some cutting edge stuff that succesfully bridged humor and social comment at a time where this was innovative. I think viewing him as primarily a humorist is a misperception.

There really is no other movie quite like "Lies and Misdemeanors". It isn't even meant to be slightly funny. More overwhelmingly confronting. If you want to understand something about what our culture expects from a movie you must see it. However DO NOT see it if you are feeling down about the world.

He is a weirdo but also a master of the art.

[daffy654]

I can't stand him,i've never found him funny and would never watch any of his films.

[AniaSM]

I get the feeling that he is very good at marketing himself so that he is allowed to make consistently poor films which are moderately successfully while filmmakers with real talent languish in obscurity. I just feel like the whole worlds gone mad.

[solitude]

Can't stand the man - annoys me no end. I refuse to watch anything he is in.

[pastafreak]

" consistantly poor"....??? examples, please

[AniaSM]

Most of his films seem to start in the same style of title sequence.
He films things in black and white to make them look "European" and "Arty"
He claims to be both claustrophobic and agoraphobic.
He spouts cod philosophy as if it is profound.
He is rubbish.

[pastafreak]

I said he was neurotic, and he is-lol.....but humour is individual...as you can see,many do like what he does. I enjoy what he has created,I don't have to like him as a person tho.

[pastafreak]

Also-tastes change...what is cutting edge becomes ordinary...so on that basis his movies may seem old and not as fresh as they were 20+ years ago. And humour is always a reflection of time and place.

[AniaSM]

Thanks for the opinion pasta. It just grinds my gears when I think of the talented young filmmakers who failed while he succeeded. I don't like Mel Brooks either. He has never had an original idea in his life.