Woody Allen: A Documentary

Woody Allen: A Documentary

Director: Robert B. Weide
Written by: Robert B. Wide 
Photography: Neve Cunningham, Anthony Savini, Nancy Schreiber, Bill Sheehy and Buddy Squires
Starring: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton and Scarlet Johansson
Year: 2011/2012
Country: USA 




 Although this is a film blog and I have no intention of branching out into television as well, out of genuine interest and admiration for Woody Allen, this is a review of the full three hour long television version of  Woody Allen: A Documentary. Which was split into two episodes of PBS's long running documentary show, American masters. This is opposed to the one hundred and nineteen minute theatrical cut that got limited release this year.


 Woody Allen is famously know for being painfully shy, and much like Terrance Malick hates any kind of interviews or press events and he never allows his production on his set to be recorded. This is why you never get any special features other than theatrical trailers on DVDs of his films. Which makes this documentary a treat for a Allen fans.       


 Director Robert B. Weide, who known mostly for How To Lose Friends And Alienate People as well as being a executive producer of the brilliant HBO show Curb Your Enthusiasm ( A show with clear Woody Allen influence) was given the rare privilege to document the life of Woody Allen. 


 The first segment of the film is about the early life of Woody Allen. We follow him around New York City and learn about his childhood by seeing where he went to school, his favourite cinema and hear the story of his cross over from writing jokes for the newspapers to stand-up to filmmaking. the latter three quarters of the film is going through his filmography with various famous faces giving their stories and reviews of the films. Their were some interesting factoids in there, but I would have like more on the man, less on the pictures. You don't need a documentary to tell you that Annie Hall is a great film. 

 There is an diverse range of interviews. You have people who have worked with Woody like Larry David, Scarlett Johansson and Diane Keaton. Film critics and historians like Leonard Maltin and Richard Schickel. General admirers such as Martin Scorsese and Chris Rock. His sister and of course Woody Allen himself.


 The three hour run-time isn't as strenuous as I imagined it would be going in, It's entertaining and funny throughout which helps to keep your focus. And there is a two hour cut available. 


 What makes the film a must watch is that we get to see Allen work for the first time, whether it's watching him hit away at his typewriter, or watching him direct on the set of You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, we're finally getting to see this master at work. 


 You couldn't make a Woody Allen documentary without talking about the Soon-Yi scandal. But Robert B. Weide goes about this gingerly and it's put back in the closet almost as fast as it's brought out. 



 Woody Allen: A Documentary doesn't digg very deep, but we're in an area of hard soil and it's unlikely we'll ever find what we're digging for. I'm sure there is not much here that hasn't been reviled in previous biographies. But the bonus of finally getting some footage of Woody working on set, means cinephiles and Allen fans will hold it close to their hearts. 


 Score: 3.5/5