Before he became known as a ‘serious filmmaker-, Woody Allen produced many comedies that have stood the test of time. Here are five of his best:
“Bananas’ (1971) If this story of a New York nebbish becoming leader of a South American banana republic sounds improbable, it is. Thanks to Allen-s surreal take on the subject matter, it works. Packed with gags (verbal and visual), the film is a compendium of inspired comedy material. Howard Cosell-s bizarre appearance providing commentary in the boudoir is priceless.
“Sleeper’ (1973). A classic twist on a sci-fi staple: An ordinary guy is cryogenically frozen and awakens centuries later into a strange new world. Allen turns the story into an exercise in pratfalls, one-liners, and sight gags that remain fresh to this day. Some of the things to expect in Allen-s vision of the future: Giant vegetables, ‘pleasure orbs-, and tobacco and red meat are good for you!
“Love and Death’ (1975)..This riff on the works of Dostoyevsky is one of the few ‘historical comedies- that actually works. In an attempt to assassinate Napoleon, Allen and Diane Keaton romp through czarist Russia with enough pratfalls and one-liners to make the Marx Brothers jealous.
“Annie Hall’ (1977) Considered by many to be Allen-s crowning achievement. The script examines relationships with plenty of sharp lines and acute observations, while also satirizing Hollywood. “Annie’ helped make Diane Keaton a mainstream star. Oscars include Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Director (Allen, who famously ditched the awards show).
“Manhattan’ (1979) Allen-s follow-up to “Annie Hall’ has a sober attitude not found in his previous comedies. His character-s matter-of-fact relationship with an underage girl (Mariel Hemingway) raised some eyebrows at the time. The film displayed Allen-s maturity as a filmmaker and is notable for its use of black and white cinematography and Gershwin music.
