Travis Simpkins

Sunday, September 2, 2018

Play It Again, Sam (1972): Woody Allen, Humphrey Bogart and Casablanca

Although Woody Allen wrote and starred in "Play It Again, Sam" (1972), he did not direct it. That job was given to Herbert Ross. It was an early stage in Allen's filmmaking career and his best known efforts at that time were slapstick in nature, so he was not fully trusted with complete artistic control. Nevertheless, the film stands out as the first in a series of Allen films in a similar vein... in which he is a hopeless romantic failure. It is the first pairing of Woody Allen and Diane Keaton, who formed a long lasting creative partnership. It also resonates as Woody Allen's remarkably beautiful homage to one of the greatest films ever made... Casablanca.

Woody Allen stars as Allen Felix, a writer for a film magazine, whose wife has just left him. Depressed, bewildered and befuddled, he is need of a new companion. Strangely enough, his most vocal wing man is the ghost of Humphrey Bogart, who gives him tips on how to score with the ladies...

Play it Again, Sam. 1972. Woody Allen

His married friends, Dick and Linda, also try to help by setting him up on a series of dates... all of which end in hilarious disaster...

Play it Again, Sam. 1972. Woody Allen

Through their friendship, Allen realizes that his true affections rest with Linda, his best friend's wife. More confusion occurs when it is discovered that Linda has feelings for him as well...

Play it Again, Sam. 1972. Woody Allen

How can he reconcile his feelings and do what is best for all involved?

Play it Again, Sam. 1972. Woody Allen

Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008): Woody Allen, Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz

Set against the breathtaking, scenic landscape and Architecture of Spain, Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) ranks up with the best of Woody Allen's dramatic works. Two of Allen's latter day muses are present: Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz. Allen wrote a great script, and both actresses perform amazingly under the Woodman's direction. Scarlett Johansson is stunning as always, her beauty radiating through every frame she is in. It is Penelope Cruz, however, that really steals the show here. Her powerful, chaotic, raging and sensitive performance is probably the best of her career, and she deservedly won the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her work.

Two American friends, Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) are spending the summer in Barcelona, Spain. Vicky is semi-proper and engaged to be wed. Christina is more free spirited and adventurous. When artist Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem) propositions them at a restaurant, Vicky is hesitant...

Vicky Cristina Barcelona. 2008. Woody Allen: Scarlett Johansson

But Cristina, on the other hand...

Vicky Cristina Barcelona. 2008. Woody Allen: Scarlett Johansson

she is more than willing to go for it...

Vicky Cristina Barcelona. 2008. Woody Allen: Scarlett Johansson

When Cristina suddenly gets ill with food poisoning, Juan Antonio shifts his attention to Vicky and they have a fling. It is over the next day, however, as Vicky wants to return to her fiancé, and Juan Antonio is now free to pursue Cristina once again. Cristina moves in with Juan Antonio and they have a passionate, complacent time. That is... until Juan Antonio's unbalanced ex-wife, Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz), herself an artist, comes back into the picture...