Friday Top Five: Performances in Woody Allen Movies

Fun fact: Woody Allen has made at least one movie a year since 1982. And this doesn't even include the great, sometimes flawless masterpieces he made pre-1980. I've seen nearly all of them, and I love nearly all of them (I'm looking at you The Curse of the Jade Scorpion). Even mediocre Woody has something worthwhile about it. Woody has a new movie out in limited release right now called Blue Jasmine. Early word on the internet is that it is his best movie ever. Yes, ever. Plus, they are praising Cate Blanchett as giving the best performance in any of his films. I don't know that Blue Jasmine can surpass the flawless perfection of the trifecta that is Annie Hall, Manhattan, and Hannah and Her Sisters, but I am excited to find out. When I was brain storming ideas for this weeks top five, I thought about just making a list of his best films, but that seemed too easy. So I decided to make a list of the best performances in his films instead. And it was too hard! I came up with a list I'm not entirely pleased with. Among the performances NOT on the list are Dianne Wiest's Oscar winning role in Bullets Over Broadway, Martin Landau in Crimes and Misdemeanors and Mia Farrow in just about anything, but specifically, The Purple Rose of Cairo. So, here is this week's Top Five...

05. Corey Stoll as Ernest Hemingway in Midnight in Paris (2011)
It still absolutely flabbergasts me that Stoll was overlooked at the Oscars for his hilarious, balls to the wall performance as the brawling, drunken writer in Allen's best film in decades. It got a lot of Oscar love (director, film, screenplay, etc.) but none for Stoll, which is a shame, since he all but steals the entire movie away from people way more famous than him. He knows better than anyone the tone of the movie and plays Hemingway with such bravado, that is is nearly impossible to take your eyes off of him.
Best Quote: "I believe that love that is true and real, creates a respite from death. All cowardice comes from not loving or not loving well, which is the same thing. And then the man who is brave and true looks death squarely in the face, like some rhino-hunters I know or Belmonte, who is truly brave... It is because they make love with sufficient passion, to push death out of their minds... until it returns, as it does, to all men... and then you must make really good love again."

04. Woody Allen as Isaac in Manhattan (1979)
Woody gets a lot of credit as a writer and director, but he is almost under appreciated as an actor. Sure, he specializes in a certain kind of character, all neurotic and fast talking, but he does those so perfectly well. Isaac is his best neurotic, dating a teenager, fighting his lesbian ex-wife for their son, falling in love with her best friend, all while portraying such humanity that we can't help but cheer for him. Plus, that opening dialogue!!!
Best Quote: "Chapter One. He was as tough and romantic as the city he loved. Behind his black-rimmed glasses was the coiled sexual power of a jungle cat. Oh, I love this. New York was his town, and it always would be."

03. Dianne Wiest as Holly in Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
Dianne Wiest is the only lucky lady to ever win two Oscars in movies directed by Allen. And this happens to be my favorite performance of hers, as Hannah's down on her luck, troubled, damaged, coke head sister who is having a really shitty time when it comes to life and love and just about everything else. Holly isn't necessarily likable, but thanks to Wiest, we love her even more for that.
Best Quote: " Well, naturally. She went to Brandeis. But I don't think she knows what she's talking about. Could you believe the way she was calling him David? "Yes, David. I feel that way, too, David. What a marvelous space, David." I hate April. She's pushy."

02. Sean Penn as Emmet Ray in Sweet and Lowdown (1999)
Sean Penn is a revelation in this role. Before this movie, he almost entirely played tough brutes, but this movie showed just how versatile he truly is as a performer. His Emmet is not the nicest guy in the world, his actions are sort of despicable at certain points but Penn manages to bring so much humanity to this role. Plus, his final scenes will just make your heart explode.
Best Quote: "Wanna go to the dump and shoot some rats?"

01. Diane Keaton as Annie Hall in Annie Hall (1977)
The most iconic of all roles in Woody Allen films, Keaton absolutely mesmerizes as a ditzy Midwestern girl trying to make it in the Big Apple. We know her relationship with Alvy Singer won't end well, but we can't keep our eyes off of them as they fall in and out of love anyway. This may be the best screenplay ever written and both Annie and Alvy have tons of quotable dialogue. Plus, the chemistry between these two are just absolutely off the charts. Keaton more that deserved that Oscar win.
Best Quote: "Alvy, you're incapable of enjoying life, you know that? I mean you're like New York City. You're just this person. You're like this island unto yourself."