Woody Allen on Oscar Win

Clip from WOODY ALLEN: A DOCUMENTARY directed by Robert B. Weide, 2011 : www.newvideo.co...
Synopsis:
Iconic writer, director, actor, comedian, and musician Woody Allen allows his life and creative process to be documented on-camera for the first time. With this unprecedented access, Emmy®-winning, Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Robert Weide follows the notoriously private film legend over a year and a half to create the ultimate film biography.
Beginning with Allen's childhood, WOODY ALLEN: A DOCUMENTARY chronicles the trajectory and longevity of Allen's career, from his work as a TV scribe, standup comedian and frequent TV talk show guest, to a writer-director averaging one film-per-year for more than 40 years. Director Weide covers Allen's earliest film work in Take the Money and Run, Bananas, Sleeper, and Love and Death; frequent Oscar® favorites such as Annie Hall, Manhattan, Zelig, Broadway Danny Rose, Purple Rose of Cairo, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Husbands & Wives, Bullets Over Broadway, and Mighty Aphrodite; and his recent globetrotting phase with Match Point, Vicky Cristina Barcelona and his latest success, Midnight in Paris.
Features interviews with: Antonio Banderas, Josh Brolin, Penelope Cruz, John Cusack, Larry David, Mariel Hemingway, Scarlett Johansson, Julie Kavner, Diane Keaton, Martin Landau, Louise Lasser, Sean Penn, Tony Roberts, Chris Rock, Mira Sorvino, Naomi Watts, Dianne Wiest, Owen Wilson, Dick Cavett and Martin Scorsese

[@mylescoyne1]

His ending comment of Track and Field class at the end are gold. GOLD!

[@reach2prasanna]

He has set the precedent for all aspiring directors around the world. Woody, I love you.

[@circularsky]

Extraordinarily talented filmmaker.

[@antoniatejedabarros]

Woody is the best! Period. We love, support, and admire Woody Allen!

[@kiks399]

that's why respect him so much!

[@BabyFaceBren]

Wow, this video, or rather, the comments for it, may restore my faith in the KZbin community. I was almost scared to scroll down, because I thought the majority of responses would be trolling referrals to Woody's private life. Not so. As it should be. Artists are human and have failings like the rest of us, but few have the genius (and, it appears, the humility) of Woody Allen.

[@haileyshannon7548]

Twitter is literally ripping him and his defenders apart!

[@irada20]

But he was found not guilty. Leave him alone.

[@august6389]

@Dez Parker were you there? Lol

[@lukess.s]

@Dez Parker why is he most likely guilty? There's no evidence to suggest that, and he was found innocent in a court of law. Case closed.

[@fabiengerard8142]

BabyFaceBren *WA’s one and only « failing », in that very case, has been to fall for a charming but quite devilish actress and to trust her while she was still cheating her current boyfriend with a former husband of hers, to the point she made our favorite genius believe he was the biological father of Mr The Voice’s baby... The good news is that such a situation led him to finally meet his true soul mate and that the new couple have been happily and solidly married for 23 years now. Read « Apropos of Nothing », and/or watch, e.g., the brand new documentary « WA Is Innocent », which is easily available in streaming.

[@woodyallensmother]

This is one of the smartest things i've read, in a long time ! So true for me as well....

[@supersingular]

What a humble artist.

[@kork76]

It is refreshing to see an artist speak honestly with regard to awards. Mr. Allen has made a film a year for many years, and one must think that each means something to him in its own way. Regardless of whether or not the work procures accolades, it is still the experience of creating something, the collaborative endeavor of it, that counts. Often I have heard artists speak of the films (and books) that have meant the most to them: not the most financially successful or critically acclaimed films (or books), but those which were not enthusiastically embraced and which did not receive awards. Why? Because they were learning experiences, or they spoke more personally to the artist more than his or her other works. It is one of the reasons I am ambivalent about awards. Every year wonderful work is offered. Sometimes that work is nominated; sometimes it is even deserving when it wins; sometimes it doesn't win; and sometimes it isn't even nominated. But great work is great work, and the absence of awards or accolades does not negate its power, effect, and artistry. Another reason for my ambivalence has to do with learning how many awards are chosen. There are groups whose members do not see all of the nominated films; there are members who give their ballots to their spouses to fill out; there are members who vote based on whatever is "popular" at the moment -- as one anonymous member of such a group revealed in an interview. And of course there's the campaigning, which, when you think about it, is unnecessary. If work is truly great and memorable, then it will be remembered because it is such, and not because advertisements tell us it is so. But now more than ever, campaigning has taken precedence over artistic merit. In the mid-2000s, one film company spent more money in campaigning for a film to win "best picture" than it spent to make the film itself -- a film that is always mentioned as being perhaps the worst "winner" in one award group's history. Which adroitly puts the validity of such awards in its rightful perspective. It's rather funny that the most "important" category has yet to be added to the list of awards: "Best Campaign By a Studio." I commend Mr. Allen for speaking as he does in the above video; he is stating the truth. For when choosing "favorites," it is not possible to extricate from the equation or result what one prefers aesthetically, as each of us brings to art his or her own life experiences. It's why some people connect with a film or a performance, and why others do not. We see something or someone -- a situation, a character -- on the screen with which we feel a familiarity, because we've had similar experiences or thoughts. It's why some people prefer films that are driven by character, not fast cars and pyrotechnic spectacles (which exist to distract from the fact that a story is poorly told or not of much interest). It's why some people prefer films that refuse to lie and offer pat, bogus answers to questions that cannot be explained so easily, given the fact that we are more complex as a species than some filmmakers would prefer to explore or to reveal. It's why some people value films that dare to tell the truth; that, in effect, offer not shallow answers but enough information that we may begin asking ourselves the pertinent questions. While we're being entertained, we are also being informed, challenged, moved, vindicated, and changed. And that's what art does at its best: it reminds us from where we've come, where we are, and where we might be headed. And as it does this, it reminds us of something else as well; something vital: our ability as a species to feel and to extend empathy.

[@Sakib7003]

***** 'But now more than ever, campaigning has taken precedence over artistic merit. In the mid-2000s, one film company spent more money in campaigning for a film to win "best picture" than it spent to make the film itself -- a film that is always mentioned as being perhaps the worst "winner" in one award group's history. Which adroitly puts the validity of such awards in its rightful perspective.' Sir, which film are you talking about?

[@fabiengerard8142]

John Z *Most of what you wrote six years ago can be said aswell about any ´democratic´ election... Am I wrong?

[@wvu05]

@@Sakib7003 Probably _Crash_

[@ondrejroberto2896]

Self confidence, non bull, truth. Last year I saw selling "Award winning sausages" at weekend market.

[@lynnturman8157]

That's the most accurate description of Oscar I've ever heard. It's favoritism.

[@lepetitchat123]

Not to mention the toxic politics and lobbying by studio heads behind the scenes.

[@Jasonificatiation]

True individual.

[@lynnturman8157]

All best film winners ARE personal opinion. Granted, knowledgeable opinions from people who have great expertise but opinions nonetheless. And the fact that CITIZEN KANE didn't win an Oscar (actually it did, just not a Best Picture Oscar) or Hitchcock never won a competitive Oscar or many more such "what were they thinking" examples, PROVES that it's not objective. There's no way it possibly could be. ART is subjective by nature.

[@saraaa77_______]

why people do say art can be objective?

[@lepetitchat123]

Knowledgeable opinions? Many of them are just bribed to vote lol

[@VirginiaVirginie]

I love Woody!

[@MarinaBrunoFilms]

I used to this Woody Allen was crazy for this but now I can totally see why... He's so right

[@marx007100]

I picked all the winners of the awards and just knew Woody's ANNIE HALL would get the most. It deserved to win them.

[@1997residente]

When you know a mediocre movie like Out of África wins a best directing award over Akira Kurosawa...you realize how incoherent it is.

[@wennethicus5212]

Are you talking about Ran?

[@EmileJoulbert]

Interestingly, in my language, Norwegian, 'ran' means 'robbery'.

[@wennethicus5212]

In my language it means 'past tense of run'. In Japanese it means 'chaos' I think.

[@bobthebear1246]

1997residente I always wondered why that won.

[@gavinhenderson7250]

You're calling Ran incoherent? Or do you maybe think It's because your attention span isn't good enough to read subtitles?

[@kriswatchesmovies]

woody allen is punk rock

[@DavidLS1]

Woody has been my favorite producer/director ever since I saw his early comedies. Who else could cast Gene Wilder (another comic genius) as a doctor who falls in love with a sheep?

[@tylerjmgary]

I hate the word artist, but a true artist doesn't care about acclaim just the freedom of expressing their feelings.

[@leitecunha]

What is the best or worst movie? Leave these comparisons to track& field hahaha Genius, Woody!

[@sleuthentertainment5872]

Only Woody Allen can smash Lucas' Star Wars

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Lucas gave up directing after that!

[@sleuthentertainment5872]

@@RideAcrossTheRiver Yeah, I didn't think about that 😆

[@garryferrington811]

Funny how the old videotape looks so pastel and blah, while the old 16mm film still looks (relatively) sharp and natural, although you can see bits of dirt flashing by because nobody could be bothered to clean it.

[@2plicata-372]

So true! How can you say that a movie is best than another?

[@Ultraway13]

No, I can't say that, but I can say that is better.

[@Yourismouter]

now that is a documentary I wanna see! I will be on the look out for it, is it out already?

[@dmlevitt]

woody is the coolest

[@soldout.business]

fucking genius, can't even say anything more than that

[@emanuel_soundtrack]

fascinating synthesis

[@hippiecheezburger5457]

Woody Allen had a great mind for being a film maker, like people have said a great mixture of philosophical pessimism with comedy

[@DavidLS1]

Wheat.

[@OMGWTFLOLSMH]

Finally, someone gets it and speaks up. Artistic awards are a sham and a scam. Boycott them.

[@pedrobakale7180]

'This year I'm a star, but what will I be next year? A black hole?'

[@CarmenCastellani]

Amo vc, Woody.

[@ExodusPessoa]

I agree when you win in Track and Field there is no debate when you win. Unless you were on Steroid at the time (lol). When you win an Academy Award it's great but still can be debated.

[@MyLateralThawts]

I’m surprised George Lucas didn’t digitally edit Emperor Palpatine to bear a striking resemblance to Woody.

[@lynnturman8157]

But it's still opinion, professional or not. That was his point. It's all subjective unlike sport where you have a clear winner & loser. Plus, when it comes to Oscar, there's been a TON of "what were they thinking" Oscar winners over the decades.

[@emiliobello2538]

Wow

[@bradwright9477]

Took you a while to think of that, huh?

[@bradwright9477]

How about Match Point? haha

[@bottleracket]

how do you get to this doc? link doesn't work

[@CurseCreep]

But from that point of view there would be no best films except by personal opinions. Or would you rather have the masses choose the years "best film" and have box office succeses like Transformers 2 or Twillight take those titles. The oscars aren't there to tell you whats the best, they are there to give you an idea of it. Seven Samurai or Citizens Kane are by most filmmakers standards considered among the best neither won oscars. Heck, modern cinema was born from a film praising the KKK

[@boboloko]

But according to HBO he is supposed to be a narcissist. So much for that!

[@barbarahourigan8462]

❤️

[@mortyshallman5932]

I belly laugh every time I see this:-)

[@andyscoot43]

If you're going to class 1915 as modern cinema, you might aswell go back 20-25 years and just call it "cinema".

[@bradwright9477]

So what he's saying is.... Jack and Jill is better than a masterpiece like Schindler's List?

[@CityThatCannotBeCaptured]

Woody Allen: THE BEST DIRECTOR of all time there is no doubt. His movies are a study in perfect balance. Perfect music, perfect script, perfect cinematography, perfect directing (no HORRIBLE Robert Redford jiggling out of focus ugh), perfect casting. He has just got it ALL. No Woody, you have, you really have.

[@CurseCreep]

You do realize that each award is chosen from votes from about (about 300 i think?) proffessional people from each category, each who needs to go through a commitee before they become part of the voters right Its not favoritism, its proffessional opinions. The only reason Woody would think like that is because of all the bystanders picking their favorite films based on oscar wins. There is a reason why oscar films often actually are good in their nominated field

[@benkata]

LoLz - so nonchalant.

[@trilby5546]

Miss placed modesty? AH unique film.

[@zebbailey1727]

I still wish George Lucas won the academy award for best director and screenplay for starwars

[@DeirdreCatherineDoyle]

PEOPLE FORGET THERE WAS A HUGE BANN IN AMERICA DURING THE MCarthy Period. THANKS TO BRAVE ACTORS, ACTRESSES, SCREEN WRITERS ETC ... THEY DID IT. WELL DONE USA FOR GIVEN US WONDERFUL TIMES

[@johnsmisek02]

no, he's criticizing people just like you.

[@oscarsalesgirl296]

I stopped watching the Academy Awards after Moonlight won over La La Land ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ and ever since it’s like the institution has been trying to commit suicide. The whole industry has been infected by cancer

[@eking120]

USA border Gaza horizon

[@chopin65]

How neurotic of you. You realize that the boy and girl generally break up in Woody's films?

[@davidr7872]

Overrated probably more than any filmmaker in history. Has he made anything anyone actually likes in the last 30 years? And his old stuff just doesn't hold up to multiple viewings. And why would this show up in my recommendations anywhy?

[@DavidLS1]

Everyone's entitled to their own opinions...even if they're wrong like yours.

[@gonaarc2612]

Match Point and Midnight in Paris just to point out two, are modern gems!