The IM comes in from a few friends, and it's virtually the same in every case: "Woody Allen picked six favorites from his own list of films, and have you SEEN the choices?" I hadn't yet, but at the same time, my Google Reader had filled up with aggrieved headlines about it, and to take it from the reception, he chose unwisely! So I look at the six he picked, and guys? They're not that bad.
The picks came from an interview with the Times UK with the gloomy title quote, "At a certain age, you conclude that greatness is not in you." Still, after admitting, "There are a few better than others, half a dozen, but it's a surprising paucity of worthwhile celluloid," Allen was able to name his favorites: Purple Rose of Cairo, Match Point, Bullets Over Broadway, Zelig, Husbands and Wives, and Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
First of all, I love that he didn't include Annie Hall -- he's thinking like an Entertainment Weekly editor determined to maximize outraged buzz! Still, the six he chose are all solid, watchable picks, and I have a hunch Allen strongly conflated the experiences of making them with their ultimate quality -- after all, do you think he really breaks out his Woody Allen DVD box set half as often as you do?
All in all, it could have been a lot worse. Hell, from people's reactions, I thought Curse of the Jade Scorpion and Cassandra's Dream were going to be on here. Am I nuts?
Woody Allen: 'At a certain age you conclude that greatness is not in you' [The Times via Vulture]