Woody Allen, the man, the myth, the filmmaker. Respected by some, adored by others, hated and judged by many. Chances are whichever way you feel about him, you are partially right. The man himself is a mystery, one that will divide audiences for years. The one thing about him that is not surrounded by that mystery is his five decade long work in the film industry. A master writer, a great filmmaker, a delusional actor, Woody Allen has managed to always keep your interest when it comes to his work, and that’s what Alex Sheremet sets to explore in his book, Woody Allen: Reel to Real.
Sheremet critiques the man through his work, shunning his personal life, and focusing on Allen’s evolution as an artist. Art is subjective, and this is something Sheremet proves with his work. Starting with his unique reviews of films all the way to the discussion of Allen’s major critics, Sheremet doesn’t shy away about going in depth with his reviews. He picks apart Allen’s filmography like an engineer; he looks at them, forces us to acknowledge them and ultimately opens the door for our own opinions to be formed. His take on Woody Allen’s progression as an artist is well traced, from his early, more amateur work, his film Midnight In Paris, where his weaknesses are exposed in the casting, and beyond. Following this journey through Sheremet’s word, we get to understand the complexion of Allen’s character, his philosophy, and how those affect what ultimately is put on screen.
This book is also important because of its format. This is a “Digidialogue” ebook by Take2Publishing, which lets Sheremet ask his readers to take part of a discussion that relates to the book. Because of these discussions, the book will be expanding and updated regularly, publishing the comments his audiences make in later editions. The possibilities this book have to understand a man that may be only really understood through his work are endless, and in a sense, make it valuable to the cinematic community.
Whatever your feelings about Woody Allen, his work speaks for itself and that’s what the author intends to dissect for and with us. I recommend you read it, and in the end participate in it. This controversial figure is leaving an incredible legacy behind, and while it might be tainted by his life outside the screen, in this book it is still intact.
Twisted Talk: What are your thoughts on Woody Allen, the filmmaker? What’s your favorite of his films? Discuss below!
One Comment