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Perhaps 'Barcelona' can spark late career surge for Allen
Just about every seat in the theater was occupied.
It had been a long, long, long time since I had to engage in any kind of struggle to get a seat at a Woody Allen movie - probably not since "Crimes and Misdemeanors" way back in 1989. The greater likelihood is that I would see it with only four or five other people in the auditorium, like in January when Allen's "Cassandra's Dream" crept into one Pittsburgh multiplex for a couple of weeks with hardly anyone noticing.
Allen's dwindling audience has been driven in part by the fact that it's now older and more likely to wait for the DVD. And, in many circles, Allen still has a bad odor following his ugly split with Mia Farrow 16 years ago and subsequent relationship with one of Farrow's adopted children. But Allen's cause hasn't been helped by the fact that, in the nearly two decades since "Crimes and Misdemeanors," he hasn't made a great movie.
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It's a stark contrast to 20 or 30 years ago when Allen was locked into the zeitgeist and making one gem of a movie after another, from "Annie Hall" and "Manhattan" to "Zelig," "Broadway Danny Rose" and "Hannah and Her Sisters."
"Vicky Cristina Barcelona" isn't in the same lofty stratosphere as Allen's masterworks, but it's a mostly breezy romantic comedy with sharp writing and strong performances from Penelope Cruz, Scarlett Johansson and Javier Bardem. It's netted Allen some of his best reviews in years and cracked the Top 10 at the box office last weekend - it's never going to eclipse "The Dark Knight," but a $3 million opening weekend for a Woody Allen movie in this day and age is no small feat.
In keeping with Allen's last three films, it also was made abroad - this time in Spain, and the change of venue has been a tonic for his muse. I doubt "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" would have worked as well had it been set in Allen's usual Manhattan milieu.
"That the eternal New Yorker Allen found such success while working in Spain is a strong argument for diversity in an artist's surroundings," according to Detroit News film critic Tom Long,
His next movie, "Whatever Works," scheduled for release in 2009, finds Allen back in New York. With any luck, Allen will be able to see the city with fresh eyes after his European sojourn. But if it turns out that "Whatever Works" doesn't work, that it's the same old Woody on the same old treadmill, then we can only hope that he's got his passport up to date and has accumulated some frequent-flier miles.
Imagine what Allen could do in Argentina. Buenos Aires is reportedly thriving, with some calling it the Paris of South America. How about Japan? Or Australia? India, anyone? Berlin? Moscow?
Since both of his parents lived into their 90s, Allen might still have quite a few movies in the pipeline. Let's cross our fingers that "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" marks the beginning of a late-in-life renaissance.
Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2003! regarding Scarlett Johansson (actress) : 8/22/2008
I would like inform you that Scarlett Johansson (actress)actually is a clone from original person,who has nothing with acting career.Clone was created illegally by using stolen biomaterial. Original person is very nice(not d**n sexy),most important-CHRISTIAN young lady!I'll tell you more,those clones(it's not only one)made in GERMANY-world leader manufacturer of humans clones,it is in Ludwigshafen am Rhein,N. Bavaria, Mr. Helmut Kohl home town.You can't even imaging the scale of the cloning activity.But warning! H. Kohl clone staff 100% controlling their clones spreading around the world,they are very accurate with that, some of them are still NAZI type disciplined and mind controlled clones,be careful get close with clones you will be controlled too.Original family did not authorize any activity with stolen biological materials,no matter what form it was created,it all needs back to original family control to Cedars-Sinai MedicalCenter in LA.Original Scarlett is not engage,by the way!
Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2003! regarding Scarlett Johansson (actress) : 8/22/2008
I would like inform you that Scarlett Johansson (actress)actually is a clone from original person,who has nothing with acting career.Clone was created illegally by using stolen biomaterial. Original person is very nice(not d**n sexy),most important-CHRISTIAN young lady!I'll tell you more,those clones(it's not only one)made in GERMANY-world leader manufacturer of humans clones,it is in Ludwigshafen am Rhein,N. Bavaria, Mr. Helmut Kohl home town.You can't even imaging the scale of the cloning activity.But warning! H. Kohl clone staff 100% controlling their clones spreading around the world,they are very accurate with that, some of them are still NAZI type disciplined and mind controlled clones,be careful get close with clones you will be controlled too.Original family did not authorize any activity with stolen biological materials,no matter what form it was created,it all needs back to original family control to Cedars-Sinai MedicalCenter in LA.Original Scarlett is not engage,by the way!
woody allen : 8/27/2008
like so many... you forget... since 1990 allen has a lot of great and good films... Bullets Over Broadway, Sweet and Lowdown and Deconstructing Harry were 3 absolute gems.... and Everyone Says I Love You, Manhattan Murder Mystery, Mighty Aphrodite, Husbands and Wives were all really good... recently Match Point was fantastic, scoop was fun (my theater was sold out by the way), and now VCB. His films actually make a lot of money when you look at world wide boxoffice. Match point 90 million. Scoop 40 million. Cassandra's Dream which was barely released here did 20 million overseas. VCB looks like it will match Match Point or do better here and abroad. His films cost 15 million to make and in total his last 4 have taken in 170 million worldwide not including dvd sales, tv sales.. etc. I don't disagree that some of his films in early 00's were weak and didn't make a lot but in the last 4-5 years he has had a resurgence in quality and ticket sales. I hope it continues.
