Praise Allen

Rating: Null/10 (9 May 2003)

One of the aspects in film that always amazes me is the relationship between those who take the screen and those behind. From the make-up artists beautifying the actress to the lighting crew casting that perfect mysterious shadow, so much goes on unnoticed from an audience standpoint. What is most amazing is the fact that with work shifts of over 12 hours a day for a duration of six to nine months that cast and crew do not argue and resort to violence. One of the easiest ways to avoid confrontations as a director is to cast your self in the leading role. Over the past this has proved to be a daunting task. One success story is Woody Allen. Allen is a comedic director who brings brilliance to both sides of the camera. In the movie Annie Hall (1977), Allen plays a comedian by the name of Alvy Singer opposite Diane Keaton. Woody Allen made directing history with the scene where both characters have a flirtatious chat that is subtitled with what each other's honest opinion is about each other. This humorous scene along with others helped jolt Annie Hall past Star Wars to win the 1977 Oscar for Best Picture. Multitasking is a skill that sociologists have proven to be more woman-oriented. However, Allen defied the odds and was able to direct, write, and act in an effective and entertaining manner. Not to be pessimistic but capabilities of another man finding this much success look gloomy in the near future. Arnold Schwarzenegger is scheduled to direct the up and coming Terminator 3 and it has also been rumored that Sylvester Stallone may be directing another Rocky movie. This pessimism just goes to show that on grounds where athletic glory is unnecessary for entertaining, that brains outweighs bronze. If another Woody Allen were to surface, it would probably be in the form of a woman for this very reason.
Others have failed in the past and Stallone and Schwarzenegger will hold steadfast in proving that others will probably fail in the future. Woody Allen is unmatchable in creative genius, especially since he had to battle the `handicap' of being a man.