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Once Allen's career is back on track

I'd bet that, whatever the results of this lawsuit, Allen's career as a filmmaker is effectively over.

I wonder if Amazon made a calculation that the financial fallout from a lawsuit (which they know they will lose) was a lesser evil than the broader public outrage they thought might stem from releasing several films by Allen.

It seemed like it was over when it was leaked that he couldn't find funding for the next one. Now, sure, maybe that was a false story, but the guy has near-constantly made films for decades - the fact that he isn't making one now speaks volumes about whether he'll find funding in the future.

domino harvey wrote: Fri Feb 08, 2019 9:34 pm Can we not do this?

We're both moderators and you've posted here longer than I have, so this is by no means meant as a lecture, but no one stepped out of line in here and this is all perfectly relevant stuff to discuss in the context of the release of this film. I realize this is your biggest third rail but it doesn't mean people should have to zip their lip if they have a negative opinion on Allen or his work, as long as it's relevant/maturely stated

But when will Criterion be releasing Bottle Rocket??

domino harvey wrote: Sat Feb 09, 2019 11:37 am But when will Criterion be releasing Bottle Rocket??

That seems to be this board's, "where are Hillary's emails, and when will she be locked up for her 68 murders of political opponents?", question.

Finch wrote: Fri Feb 08, 2019 8:59 pmThe only hatchet job on Allen's legacy is the man's own late career output.

I'll take 21st century Allen films over 1990s ones any day.

mfunk9786 wrote: Fri Feb 08, 2019 5:23 pm Wondering aloud if it'll be possible for anyone to weigh in on this film without a reviewer's tilt in one direction or another once it finally emerges. It seems as though those who are firmly in Allen's camp will be inclined to inflate its quality, while those who have written Allen off will (probably without watching it) dismiss it as terrible. It seems like a very easy thing to inflate a minor/failed Allen film to a major one since there's always hallmarks of quality filmmaking, so why not, I suppose - but I can't think of a movie in recent memory with more baggage hanging on its eventual critical reception

No question that he has his fanboys and haters, but I don’t think most critics fall into either category, and I figure most will have no problem offering a clear assessment of this film if/when it sees the light of day (with a few obligatory passing references to its backstory).

Personally, I am generally a fan of Allen’s work and have sought out a lot of his films, but haven’t liked a lot of his recent work (aside from Vicky Cristina Barcelona, which I adored; I thought Midnight in Paris was dreadful, though) – to the extent that I haven’t even bothered to see anything post-Blue Jasmine. Not only is that not an uncommon opinion, I kind of get the sense it might be something like the prevailing critical opinion of his recent oeuvre.

Personally, I will be buying a ticket to Rainy Day out of principle, but I have no preconceived notions as to whether it’ll be any good – and I doubt many serious critics will feel any differently.

Interestingly, according to this recent Hollywood Reporter article, in June of last year Amazon allegedly already offered to give the rights to this film to Allen, presumably in return for nixing their deal

Amazon aims to discover who in Hollywood won't work with Woody Allen anymore - and a joint report by the parties in a $68 million lawsuit also sets up Amazon's coming investigation into alleged sexual misconduct by Allen.

It doesn't look like we're gonna be able to watch this film anytime soon.

Allen’s public comments may have been a bit reactionary, but it’s preposterous for Amazon to use them as justification for reneging on their contract. Hopefully the court will find accordingly.

Cremildo wrote: Fri Apr 05, 2019 10:27 pm Amazon aims to discover who in Hollywood won't work with Woody Allen anymore - and a joint report by the parties in a $68 million lawsuit also sets up Amazon's coming investigation into alleged sexual misconduct by Allen.

It doesn't look like we're gonna be able to watch this film anytime soon.

Of the names in that list, at least three of them *would* work with Woody again - Rebecca Hall and Michael Caine (with a bloody E for cryin' out loud) both clarified their comments to say they wouldn't be opposed to working with Woody again (to far, far less publicity than the original quotes were publicized with, of course, as per the norm). Cate Blanchett the same. Why Amazon would think that's a wise idea to include their names when their subsequent quotes can be loaded up to blow back into their faces shows whatever they're paying their lawyers, they've not very good at the most basic of internet research. How they expect them to win this the most flimsiest of cases is a comedy unto itself.

Do you have a link re: Caine and Hall’s clarifications? That’s the first I’ve heard of it.

Here's one for Caine at least.

I think this may be the one for Hall.

As for working with Allen again, "I don't see how I could with a clear conscience if things remain as they are," Hall says. "But I don't know, I really don't know. You can't put this case into a black-and-white schema. There are complicated aspects on both sides. It is possible to believe that one party is not lying, and also not be convinced of the other party's innocence and/or guilt."

And Michael Caine (that's 'Caine', with an 'E):
Michael Caine would work with Woody Allen again: 'You can’t go on hearsay the whole time'

It is a sad day on planet earth when defending someone against being essentially blacklisted over a single unproven and unlikely allegation is a "controversial opinion".

That’s great news, because one of those countries will release it on Blu. Funny how an allegedly unmarketable movie is having no problems being sold everywhere

Maybe Arrow

FrauBlucher wrote: Sun May 05, 2019 1:08 pm If you live in the States and want to see this you may have to travel to Europe. All joking aside, it’s amazing that this will not play anywhere in the US

Wonderful news. Hope it comes to Australia too (our local independent cinema / distribution company in Melbourne has always been a strong supporter of Allen's work, and I doubt that will change now).

It's such a horrid situation. Unlike, say, the Weinstein thing we're not talking systematic allegations here, and even Farrow's son says they are lies. There's a reason Woody's career kept going after the allegations came out first time but nowadays ANY accusation comes with shunning, regardless of the strenth of the allegation or the defence.

Killing his career now when for his age he seemed as fruitful as ever would be a mistake.

DavyGallagher wrote: Mon May 06, 2019 10:05 pm It's such a horrid situation. Unlike, say, the Weinstein thing we're not talking systematic allegations here, and even Farrow's son says they are lies. There's a reason Woody's career kept going after the allegations came out first time but nowadays ANY accusation comes with shunning, regardless of the strenth of the allegation or the defence.

These are cowardly times. Anyone with any platform who mildly defends Allen is immediately the recipient of an online mobbing. Now people are enraged at Anjelica Huston. It’s absurd.

The man has been in the public eye for a half century. If he was a pedo, well, kind of weird there are zero other accusers. There aren’t even accusations of other incidents from the Farrow family. Just that one afternoon.

The media reported on this exhaustively in the early 90s. And two state agencies investigated—one a group of doctors specializing in child sex abuse. Absolutely insane to act like anything has been covered up.

And why would anyone be surprised that Dylan Farrow believes this happened? If you’re adopted then suddenly your father is permanently out of the picture and you’re told constantly by your one family member remaining starting at age 7 and continuing for the rest of your life that this terrible thing happened to you...is it that surprising, especially knowing what we know of how memories are formed and recalled, that she would firmly believe it to this day?

Given Germany’s enormous Blu-Ray adoption, this all but guarantees there will be a Blu-Ray available for importing should this remain unreleased here by then

I will purchase my copy via... uh... amazon.it or amazon.de
Thanks Amazon.

Mars Films have announced it will be released in France on September 18.

Facebook appears to be releasing A Rainy Day in New York in the U.S. (??? look at those logos, and the trailer is premiering on the Woody Allen Facebook page tomorrow... am I missing something?)