Travis Simpkins

Small Time Crooks (2000): Woody Allen and Tracey Ullman

Written, directed by and starring Woody Allen, Small Time Crooks (2000) was well received by both audiences and critics, and marked a strong pairing of comedic talents with Allen sharing the spotlight with comedienne Tracey Ullman. The story concerns a would-be bank robber couple that strike it rich on a fluke cookie business, then try to get cultured. Backed by a wonderful script, the acting is great all around, including performances by Woody Allen, Tracey Ullman, Hugh Grant, Jon Lovitz and Michael Rapaport.

Small Time Crooks. 2000. Woody Allen

The Front (1976): Woody Allen vs. the House Un-American Activities Committee

Directed by Martin Ritt, and written by Walter Bernstein, The Front (1976) focused on the tragic anti-communist blacklist and was a very personal project for the filmmakers involved... as many had themselves been blacklisted in the 1950's. Woody Allen plays a cashier who agrees to act as a front for blacklisted TV writers, putting his name on their scripts and taking a percentage of the earnings. All goes well until the House Un-American Activities Committee calls. Witty and poignant, the film is a true Gem. The supporting cast is great, including Zero Mostel and Herschel Bernardi (both actors had been blacklisted as well).

The Front. 1976. Woody Allen

a scene from "The Front"

Bananas (1971): Woody Allen

Written and directed by Woody Allen, Bananas (1971) was the film maker's second project in which he performed multiple creative roles. Typical of Allen's early work, Bananas is light-hearted, almost slapstick in nature, and always treads softly (there is no blood, even during assassinations and shootouts). Hilarious throughout, the film focuses on a nebbish character (Woody Allen) who joins a Latin American revolution in a fictional country to prove a point, and to impress his activist girlfriend. The cast is great, including Woody Allen, (his ex-wife) Louise Lasser, Carlos Montalban, sports announcer Howard Cosell and Sylvester Stallone in an early, uncredited role as a thug.