Author Topic: Woody Allen's "Zelig"  (Read 5029 times)

lifeoffiction

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Woody Allen's "Zelig"
« on: May 06, 2011, 12:16:23 AM »
Has anyone seen this?! I sometimes feel like I am the only one. It is freaking hilarious, easily Allen's best comedy.

Zelig (1983) Fictional documentary about the life of human chameleon Leonard Zelig, a man who becomes a celebrity in the 1920s due to his ability to look and act like whoever is around him. Clever editing places Zelig in real newsreel footage of Woodrow Wilson, Babe Ruth, and others.

Director: Woody Allen
Writer: Woody Allen
Stars: Woody Allen, Mia Farrow and Patrick Horgan

*Taken from IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086637/

MartinTeller

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Re: Woody Allen's "Zelig"
« Reply #1 on: May 06, 2011, 08:06:18 AM »
I've seen it a couple of times, I own it.  I haven't watched it in about 10 years though.  One of my goals this year was to rewatch movies I own but haven't watched in ages, so maybe I'll get to it soon.

My memories of it are more "pretty amusing" than "freaking hilarious", but we'll see.  My favorite Allen comedies are Love and Death and Sleeper.

maņana

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Re: Woody Allen's "Zelig"
« Reply #2 on: May 06, 2011, 09:12:15 AM »
I saw it a long time ago and enjoyed it.
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lifeoffiction

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Re: Woody Allen's "Zelig"
« Reply #3 on: May 06, 2011, 01:39:10 PM »
Sweet, good to know I'm not the only one. I guess it is an Allen film so it will be slightly well-spred, but a lot of his earlier films unfortunately get swept under the rug. "Bananas" and "Everything you've ever wanted to know about sex but were too afraid to ask" also come to mind.

harveyzissou

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Re: Woody Allen's "Zelig"
« Reply #4 on: July 20, 2011, 11:49:14 PM »
my favorite mockumentary of all time.*
it's comically and technically brilliant. good old gordon willis.
Z is for http://harveyshome.blogspot.com/2011/07/z.html

Cheers.

* note: i'm biased coz woody's my favorite filmmaker.

DarkCrystal

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Re: Woody Allen's "Zelig"
« Reply #5 on: October 02, 2011, 07:15:56 PM »

Wonderful final shot of this film: Woody Allen's character finally blends in with everyone around him and the background.  Our eyes are not drawn to him, and his character no longer needs the attention of the spotlight as a defense against his insecurities.

My pick for most underrated Woody film - Sweet & Lowdown

fowfan329

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Re: Woody Allen's "Zelig"
« Reply #6 on: December 10, 2011, 12:30:40 PM »
I LOVE Zelig. It is certainly overlooked in a lot of ways, even by Allen fans.

Life as Fiction

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Re: Woody Allen's "Zelig"
« Reply #7 on: December 10, 2011, 08:11:42 PM »
There's so much natural hilarity in this film that I felt constantly annoyed when Woody's dialogue exaggerated heavily for comedic effect.

oldkid

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Re: Woody Allen's "Zelig"
« Reply #8 on: December 10, 2011, 10:11:10 PM »
Zelig is certainly the most imaginative Allen film, and it is very funny and excellently pointed.   I had it on my top 100 a couple years ago, but it has since been pushed off.  I especially love the "old" look of the film.  I understand that Allen had people step all over it and leave it in bathtubs to give it an authentically aged look.
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wendywgw0522

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Re: Woody Allen's "Zelig"
« Reply #9 on: June 14, 2016, 12:26:10 PM »
Zelig is one of my favorites by Woody. It is such a great pseudo-documentary. Definitely agree that even Woody himself overlooks this one given the fact he doesn't like people say "I love Woody Allen's movie, particularly the early funny ones".