Interiors

Interiors (1978). Dir. Woody Allen

“You only live once, and once is enough if you play your cards right” (Pearl / Maureen Stapleton)

Interiors fue el primer drama de Woody Allen. La película es una obra maestra y el ambiente es muy bergmaniano. Obtuvo 5 nominaciones a los Oscar y 4 nominaciones a los Golden Globe.

Woody Allen escribió el rol de Eve pensando en Ingrid Bergman. Le ofreció el papel pero Ingrid, muy a pesar suyo, tuvo que rechazarlo, pues ya se había comprometido a rodar Höstsonaten (Sonata de otoño) con Ingmar Bergman.

No hay música en la película (con la excepción de las dos piezas que suenan en la escena donde todos menos Joey y Renata están bailando y la ordinaria Pearl rompe el florero).

Lo mejor: Diane Keaton, Geraldine Page, Maureen Stapleton, la cinematografía (Prince of Darkness), el guión y la dirección (Woody).

Lo peor: la poca convincente maternidad de Renata.

10/10

Antonia Tejeda Barros, Madrid, 30 de mayo de 2016

“You only live once, and once is enough if you play your cards right” (Pearl / Maureen Stapleton)

Interiors was Woody Allen’s first drama. The film is a masterpiece and obviously was influenced and inspired by Bergman’s films. It got 5 Oscar nominations and 4 Golden Globe nominations.

Woody Allen wrote Eve’s role with Ingrid Bergman in mind. Woody Allen offered the role to Ingrid but she had to decline it because she was already committed to shoot Höstsonaten (Autumn Sonata) with Ingmar Bergman.

There is no music in the film (with the exception of the two pieces played in the scene where everybody but Joey and Renata are dancing and the tacky Pearl breaks the vase).

The best: Keaton, Geraldine Page, Maureen Stapleton, the cinematography (Prince of Darkness), the script & direction (Woody).

The worst: Renata’s not very convincing motherhood.

10/10

Antonia Tejeda Barros, Madrid, May 30, 2016

Manhattan

Manhattan (1979). Dir. Woody Allen

Isaac (Woody Allen): “I got a kid, he’s being raised by two women at the moment”.

Mary (Diane Keaton): “Oh, y’know, I mean I think that works. Uh, they made some studies, I read in one of the psychoanalytic quarterlies. You don’t need a male, I mean. Two mothers are absolutely fine”.

Isaac: “Really? Because I always feel very few people survive one mother”.

Manhattan obtuvo 2 nominaciones al Oscar (Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Mariel Hemingway, y Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: Woody Allen & Marshall Brickman). Ganó 2 BAFTA Awards (Best Film y Best Screenplay) y el César a la mejor película extranjera (Meilleur film étranger).

Toda la película se rodó en blanco y negro. La cinematografía es de Gordon Willis (“The Prince of Darkness”), el cinematógrafo de The Godfather, The Godfather. Part II y The Godfather. Part III, quien ya había trabajado con Woody Allen en Annie Hall (1978) y en una de las obras maestras de Woody Allen: Interiors (1979). Gordon Willis dijo que, de todas las películas que había rodado, Manhattan era su preferida.

Woody Allen quedó tan descontento con Manhattan que ofreció a los productores hacer otra película gratis si estos no estrenaban Manhattan. Por suerte los productores no le hicieron caso y hoy podemos seguir disfrutando de esta joya. Irónicamente, Manhattan ha sido la película más taquillera de Woody Allen.

Lo mejor: el principio (con música de Gershwin y Woody Allen cambiando el principio una y otra vez), Mariel Hemingway, Meryl Streep, la lista de Isaac y el genial guión de Woody Allen.

Lo peor: el desagradable personaje que interpreta Diane Keaton.

Antonia Tejeda Barros, Madrid, 26 de mayo de 2016

Isaac (Woody Allen): “I got a kid, he’s being raised by two women at the moment”.

Mary (Diane Keaton): “Oh, y’know, I mean I think that works. Uh, they made some studies, I read in one of the psychoanalytic quarterlies. You don’t need a male, I mean. Two mothers are absolutely fine”.

Isaac: “Really? Because I always feel very few people survive one mother”.

Manhattan got 2 Oscar nominations (Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Mariel Hemingway, and Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: Woody Allen & Marshall Brickman). It won 2 BAFTA Awards (Best Film and Best Screenplay) and the César Award for Best Foreign Film (Meilleur film étranger).

The whole movie was shot in black and white. The cinematography is by Gordon Willis (“The Prince of Darkness”), cinematographer of The Godfather, The Godfather. Part II and The Godfather. Part III, who already had work with Woody Allen in Annie Hall (1978) and in one of Woody Allen’s masterpieces: Interiors (1979). Gordon Willis once said that Manhattan was his favorite of all the movies he had shot.

Woody Allen was so unhappy with Manhattan that he offered the producers to make another movie for free if they didn’t release Manhattan. Fortunately the producers didn’t listen to Woody Allen and today we can still enjoy this gem. Ironically, Manhattan has been Woody Allen’s most successful film.

The best: the opening (with music by Gershwin, and Woody Allen changing the opening over and over), Mariel Hemingway, Meryl Streep, Isaac’s list and the script.

The worst: the annoying character played by Dianne Keaton.

Antonia Tejeda Barros, Madrid, May 26, 2016

The Godfather. Part III

The Godfather. Part III (1990). Dir. Francis Ford Coppola

“Friendship and money: oil and water” (Michael Corleone / Al Pacino)

The Godfather. Part III obtuvo 7 nominaciones al Oscar (incluidos Best Picture, Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Andy Garcia, Best Director: Coppola, y Best Cinematography: Gordon Willis). No ganó ningún Oscar.

Robert Duvall (Tom Hagen) no quiso participar en la película porque consideró “inaceptable” que a Al Pacino le pagaran 5 veces más que a él.

The Godfather. Part III no es tan genial como The Godfather y The Godfather. Part II, pero es una película buenísima. Otra joya de Coppola y un brillante, inesperado y doloroso final.

Lo mejor: Joe Mantegna y la confesión de Michael.

Lo peor: el peinado de Al Pacino.

Antonia Tejeda Barros, Madrid, 24 de mayo de 2016

“Friendship and money: oil and water” (Michael Corleone / Al Pacino)

The Godfather. Part III got Oscar nominations (including Best Picture, Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Andy Garcia, Best Director: Coppola, and Best Cinematography: Gordon Willis). It didn’t win any Oscar.

Robert Duvall (Tom Hagen) didn’t want to be in the movie because he considered  it “unacceptable” that Al Pacino would earn 5 times more than him.

The Godfather. Part III is not so amazing as The Godfather and The Godfather. Part II, but nevertheless it is a really good movie. Another Coppola gem, and a brilliant, unexpected and painful end.

The best: Joe Mantegna and Michael’s confession.

The worst: Al Pacino’s hairdo.

Antonia Tejeda Barros, Madrid, May 24, 2016

The Godfather. Part II

The Godfather. Part II (1974). Dir. Francis Ford Coppola

“I know it was you, Fredo. You broke my heart. You broke my heart” (Michael Corleone / Al Pacino)

The Godfather. Part II obtuvo 11 nominaciones al Oscar. Ganó 6 Oscars (Best Picture, Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Robert De Niro; Best Director: Coppola, Best Writing, Screenplay Adapted from Other Material: Coppola & Mario Puzo, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration: Tavoularis, Graham & Nelson, y Best Music, Original Dramatic Score: Nino Rota & Carmine Coppola).

John Cazale (Fredo), al igual que en The Godfather (1972), tampoco fue nominado por su brillante e inolvidable actuación.

De Niro no estuvo presente en los Oscar.

Lo mejor: Robert De Niro, John Cazale, Lee Strasberg (Hyman Roth), la cinematografía (Gordon Willis, llamado “The Prince of Darkness”) y la música (Nino Rota & Carmine Coppola).

Lo peor: los muertos que se mueven (el hermano de Vito Andolini que mueve el brazo y la prostituta que respira), aunque tampoco importa demasiado.

Antonia Tejeda Barros, Madrid, 20 de mayo de 2016

“I know it was you, Fredo. You broke my heart. You broke my heart” (Michael Corleone / Al Pacino)

The Godfather. Part II got 11 Oscar nominations, and won 6 Oscars (Best Picture, Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Robert De Niro; Best Director: Coppola, Best Writing, Screenplay Adapted from Other Material: Coppola & Mario Puzo, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration: Tavoularis, Graham & Nelson, and Best Music, Original Dramatic Score: Nino Rota & Carmine Coppola).

John Cazale (Fredo), as in The Godfather (1972), didn’t get a nomination for his brilliant and unforgettable performance.

De Niro didn’t attend the Oscars.

The best: Robert De Niro, John Cazale, Lee Strasberg (Hyman Roth), the cinematography (Gordon Willis, called “The Prince of Darkness”), and the music (Nino Rota & Carmine Coppola).

The worst: the dead that seem alive (Vito’s brother moves his arm and the dead prostitute is breathing), although it does not bother too much.

Antonia Tejeda Barros, Madrid, May 20, 2016