Episode 22 – Whatever Works (2009)

Wonder Wheel is the 47th film written and directed by Woody Allen. The film stars Kate Winslet as Ginny, a former small time actress who has ended up a waitress at the faded Coney Island in the 50s. An affair with the local lifeguard Mickey (Justin Timberlake) can’t make her happy either, especially when her husband’s estranged daughter Carolina (Juno Temple) turns up. This is a tight, taut and claustrophobic drama about flawed people. It unfolds like a play anchored by an incredible performance from Kate Winslet, who sits in a beautiful backdrop of a recreated Coney Island from another time. Welcome to the Woody Allen Pages podcast. This week we look at 2017’s Wonder Wheel. How it was conceived, how it was made and how it’s really, really bleak. Spoilers are everywhere, so watch the film then come back. So much more at our website – Woody Allen Pages. Find us at: Facebook Instagram Twitter Reddit Support us Patreon Buy a poster or t-shirt at Redbubble Buy out books – The Woody Allen Film Guides Buy Me A Coffee You can write to us at woodyallenpages [at] gmail [dot] com

Zelig is the 11th film written and directed by Woody Allen, first released in 1983. Woody Allen stars as Leonard Zelig – the human chameleon. The film is presented as a documentary on his life in the 20s and 30s. This strange man who could take on the characteristics of the people around him. He is studied as a scientific curiosity, and forms close ties with one of his doctors, Dr Eudora Fletcher, played by Mia Farrow. Zelig is not one of Allen’s most recognised films, and perhaps it’s the strange title, and the air of modesty that surrounds it. It’s certainly a far cry from his witty, neurotic, modern New York comedies. But it is emotionally touching, very funny, sometimes too clever and a spectacular special effects ride to boot. For someone else, this is a career defining film. Welcome to the Woody Allen Pages Podcast. This week we looks at 1983’s Zelig. How it was conceived, how it was made, and how it took a long time. Spoilers are everywhere so watch the film and then come back. So much more at our website – Woody Allen Pages. Find us at: Facebook Instagram Twitter Reddit Support us Patreon Buy a poster or t-shirt at Redbubble Buy out books – The Woody Allen Film Guides Buy Me A Coffee You can write to us at woodyallenpages [at] gmail [dot] com

Interiors is the 7th film written and directed by Woody Allen, first released in 1978. Diane Keaton, Mary Beth Hurt and Kristin Griffith play three sisters who barely get along. Their parents (father Arthur played by E.G. Marshall and mother Eve, played by Geraldine Page) have recently separated, leaving the daughters to deal with their family, their partners, their ambitions and their lives. Interiors is Woody Allen’s first serious work – a quiet drama about a family. It’s not only his first dramatic film – it’s his first dramatic ANYTHING. Years of stand up, playwriting, acting and writing comic short stories was put aside for 100 minutes. Not in a bad way- but there is nothing funny about ‘Interiors‘. Welcome to the Woody Allen Pages podcast. This week we look at 1978’s Interiors. How it was conceived, how it was made, and how it’s so unlike any of Allen’s other work. Spoilers are everywhere so watch the film and then come back. So much more at our website – Woody Allen Pages. Find us at: Facebook Instagram Twitter Reddit Support us Patreon Buy a poster or t-shirt at Redbubble Buy out books – The Woody Allen Film Guides Buy Me A Coffee You can write to us at woodyallenpages [at] gmail [dot] com

Whatever Works is the 39th film written and directed by Woody Allen. ‘Whatever Works‘ sees Allen return to the US for the first time in many years. It was made amidst the writer’s 07/08 strike, when Allen was unable to make a new script, so he used one he had previously discarded, originally written for Zero Mostel. Larry David stars as Boris Yelnikoff, as big a curmudgeon as you are likely to meet in cinema. The grumpy old man has his views challenged when he meets Melodie (Evan Rachel Wood) and forms an unlikely relationship. Welcome to the Woody Allen Pages Podcast. This week we look at 2009’s Whatever Works. How it was conceived, how it was made and how it was a victim of circumstance. Spoilers are everywhere - so watch the film and then come back. So much more at our website – Woody Allen Pages. Find us at: Facebook Instagram Twitter Reddit Support us Patreon Buy a poster or t-shirt at Redbubble Buy out books – The Woody Allen Film Guides Buy Me A Coffee You can write to us at woodyallenpages [at] gmail [dot] com

Deconstructing Harry is the 27th film written and directed by Woody Allen, first released in 1997. Woody Allen stars as Harry Block, a cantankerous writer who is accused by the people in his life of using them in his work. Those in his life, many of them women, are also portrayed as their fiction selves. Together they form one of the biggest casts Allen has ever assembled. When Harry is honoured at his old school, he goes on a strange journey with his kidnapped son and a prostitute. This is one of Allen’s harshest films. There’s prostitution, kidnapping, infidelity, nudity and more explicitness. There’s even the casual use of the “c” word. But that harsh surface obscures some pretty astute comedy, deft directing and a pretty fantastic film. Welcome to the Woody Allen Pages podcast. This week - episode 21 - we look at 1997’s Deconstructing Harry. How it was conceived, how it was made and how it is really quite rude. Spoilers are everywhere so watch the film and then come back. So much more at our website – Woody Allen Pages. Find us at: Facebook Instagram Twitter Reddit Support us Patreon Buy a poster or t-shirt at Redbubble Buy out books – The Woody Allen Film Guides Buy Me A Coffee You can write to us at woodyallenpages [at] gmail [dot] com

The Woody Allen Pages podcast is back for 2023. Production had been dragging on this year, and with the announcement of a new Woody Allen film, Coup de chance, this season will be slightly different. I’m doing the thing that some TV studios like to do and I’m going to split a season in two. I’m rolling out five new episodes of the Woody Allen Pages Podcast over the next 5 weeks. Then there will be a short break to cover the release of Allen’s new film. Then back at the end of the year for the final 6 episodes, plus a Q&A episode. I’m doing this because these first five are finished and ready to go, and to hold the whole season back after the film release didn’t make sense. So yes, five episodes, the Woody Allen Pages podcast season 3 part 1. It will hit your feeds next week. Thanks for everyone for being patient. Especially those who have supported me as a patron on patreon. I really appreciate your continued support. To listen, just look up Woody Allen Pages in your favourite podcast app. Or links are below. Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher So much more at our website – Woody Allen Pages. Find us at: Facebook Instagram Twitter Reddit Support us Patreon Buy a poster or t-shirt at Redbubble Buy out books – The Woody Allen Film Guides Buy Me A Coffee You can write to us at woodyallenpages [at] gmail [dot] com  

Welcome to the final episode of this season of the Woody Allen Pages podcast. I’m ending with a wrap up of your thoughts and comments, and some questions, and some things about what next. So much more at our website – Woody Allen Pages. Find us at: Facebook Instagram Twitter Reddit Support us Patreon Buy a poster or t-shirt at Redbubble Buy out books – The Woody Allen Film Guides Buy Me A Coffee You can write to us at woodyallenpages [at] gmail [dot] com

Allen’s use of the camera has led to many cinematic highs. His insistent use of black and white, to his experiments in mockumentary, to breaking all the rules with haphazard editing to just film after film of gorgeous shots, Allen has made a career of incredible camera work. Welcome to the Woody Allen Pages podcast. This week is special episode three. This episode we look at Woody Allen’s relationship to the camera, his work with cinematographers and editors, and how it led to some of the most memorable shots in cinematic history. There’s light spoilers here for some of Allen’s films. You’ll mostly be ok, it won’t ruin your enjoyment, but we will talk about a lot of them. So much more at our website – Woody Allen Pages. Find us at: Facebook Instagram Twitter Reddit Support us Patreon Buy a poster or t-shirt at Redbubble Buy out books – The Woody Allen Film Guides Buy Me A Coffee You can write to us at woodyallenpages [at] gmail [dot] com

Rifkin’s Festival is the 49th film written and directed by Woody Allen, first released in 2020. Wallace Shawn stars as Mort Rifkin, a film teacher who accompanies his wife, Sue, played by Gina Gershon, to the San Sebastián Film Festival. During the festival, Mort has strange dreams that seem oddly familiar, and realises he has some regrets in his life that he has to face. Filmed in gorgeous San Sebastián in Spain, Rifkin’s Festival is a playful conversation about cinema itself. But at the heart it is a somber character study of a man who might have left it too late. Welcome to the Woody Allen Pages Podcast. This week, episode 20, we talk about 2020’s Rifkin’s Festival. How it was conceived, how it was made and how it didn’t quite get released properly with COVID and all. Spoilers are everywhere so please watch the film and come back. So much more at our website – Woody Allen Pages. Find us at: Facebook Instagram Twitter Reddit Support us Patreon Buy a poster or t-shirt at Redbubble Buy out books – The Woody Allen Film Guides Buy Me A Coffee You can write to us at woodyallenpages [at] gmail [dot] com

Mighty Aphrodite is the 25th film written and directed by Woody Allen, first released in 1995. Woody Allen stars as Lenny Weinrib. Together with his wife Amanda, played by Helena Bonham Carter, the two adopt a child who turns out to be especially gifted. When Lenny gets obsessed by his son’s genetic heritage, he tracks down the mother only to discover she’s a lowly prostitute named Linda Ash, played by Mira Sorvino. Woody Allen in the mid 90s was overcoming the turmoil of his private life to create some of his most fun films. Mighty Aphrodite came in the middle of this successful run, with memorable performances and lots of laughs. This week, episode 19, we talk about 1995’s Mighty Aphrodite. How it was conceived, how it was made and how it’s really quite good. Spoilers are everywhere so watch the film and then come back. So much more at our website – Woody Allen Pages. Find us at: Facebook Instagram Twitter Reddit Support us Patreon Buy a poster or t-shirt at Redbubble Buy out books – The Woody Allen Film Guides Buy Me A Coffee You can write to us at woodyallenpages [at] gmail [dot] com