Everyone Says I Love You feels like Allen's earlier film Radio Days (1987).  It also feels something like Paris, je t'aime (2006).  Each of those films really tells a bunch of smaller stories with a bunch of characters that are connected by one idea.  In the case of this film and Paris, je t'aime, it's love, or something like it. … Continue reading Everyone Says I Love You (1996)

So I'm trying to think what this movie is really about.  First of all, yes it is about celebrity, but I'm having a hard time figuring out what it's trying to say about celebrity.  I'll work it out here, and hopefully by the end of these 1,500 to 2,000 words* I'll have figured something out. … Continue reading Celebrity (1998)

  Truffaut turns to color and the English language in Fahrenheit 451, and it adds to the strange aloofness you might feel while watching this film. First of all, Fahrenheit 451 is the famous Ray Bradbury novel about a futuristic society that burns books, and you read it in middle school.  The image of book burning is very … Continue reading Fahrenheit 451 (1966)

"I'm ODing on myself," Harry (played by Woody Allen) says to a prostitute when he realizes he's out of focus, literally. Deconstructing Harry is the spiritual sequel to Stardust Memories, Allen's 1980 film.  Both stories involve Allen playing a well-known and celebrated artist who struggles with creativity and a little existentialism sprinkled on top. In Stardust Memories, … Continue reading Deconstructing Harry (1997)

Pierre is a famous, married writer who falls in love with a stewardess in Lisbon, and everything gets worse after that in Francois Truffaut's The Soft Skin. Pierre does that thing a lot of men do in older films when they lust after someone.  He stares at Nicole, making me uncomfortable but apparently not Nicole.  You can … Continue reading The Soft Skin (1964)

We're reintroduced to Antoine Doinel from The 400 Blows in Antoine and Colette, a 30 minute short film as part of Love at Twenty. Antoine is now 17, and he's achieved his dream of self-reliance as he lives on his own in Paris and works at a record company.  A quick narration tells us all this and explains … Continue reading Love at Twenty/Antoine and Colette (1962)

Jules and Jim (Truffaut's third film as a director, not counting one in which he was a co-director) follows two best friends, Jules and Jim, throughout the years.  In that time they go to war and fall in love with the same woman, Catherine. Jules first meets Catherine and quickly falls in love with her, but … Continue reading Jules and Jim (1962)

We meet Charlie the pianist through his ne'er do well brother, Chico who is on the run from a couple of thugs.  Charlie plays the piano at a small night club, and his brother immediately teases that his real name is Edouard, not Charlie. When Chico escapes, the men going after him turn their attention … Continue reading Shoot the Piano Player (1960)

NOTE: I love this film, and my notes are all scattered in this write-up because I don't think I could process my love of this film accurately.  Forgive me.  Also, I wrote the whole thing listening to The 400 Blows "Main Theme & Police Car" by Jean Constantin, and I suggest you do the same while … Continue reading The 400 Blows (1959)

Woody Allen plays Lenny who plays God (Aphrodite, not God God) in The Mighty Aphrodite.  Lenny is married to Amanda (Helena Bonham Carter), and they decide to adopt a son, but only after arguing back and forth about it, indicating a growing rift in their marriage. Max, their son, is so smart and has such a great sense … Continue reading The Mighty Aphrodite (1995)