Apropos of Nothing

If you've laughed out loud at any Woody Allen movie, I suggest you read this book. Professionally written, Allen’s understated, self-deprecating delivery of humorous observations falls into three distinct areas of focus. An opening section employs an exaggerated comic style to depict Allen’s lower middle-class upbringing in Brooklyn. An ordinary kid and an unenthusiastic student who concentrated his special talents on magic tricks, street sports, and jokes, Allen’s exceptional talent was forged by someone who was brave and individualistic enough even as a youth to disregard the standard methods so many other kids followed in their efforts to do better in life than their parents. Mixed into this opening section are witty interludes that Allen experienced with various girls, then teens, then women.The autobiography transitions (and the writing becomes less hyperbolic) to focus on Allen’s life in the entertainment world of Manhattan as a notably young joke writer for various newspaper columnists, then for television shows, and finally for his own stand-up comedy persona encouraged by a perceptive manager who pushed Allen to stretch his talents. Allen’s rise into the upper echelons of show business took many steps but never seems to have faltered as Allen succeeds in winning many fans along the way. In no time, Allen is writing and then directing movies. After a first couple of mixed creative experiences, Allen becomes one of the few filmmakers who achieves first “final cut” and then “freedom of choice,” with a contract that allows him to literally choose any subject he wants and to cast it in whatever way he feels, subject to modest budgetary limits.Finally, the book delves into the tabloid travesty of Allen’s relationship with Mia Farrow, who is depicted by Mr. Allen as a talented actress but also as the dominatrix of a demented household. Allen strives to describe specifically what his relationship with Farrow and her family of many children was and wasn’t. This is because it’s the manipulative distortion of this very relationship that recently has cut short Allen’s filmmaking career. Bolstered by the proven false claims of Farrow’s journalist son, Ronan, who was a mere four years old when the kerfuffle occurred and, according to the book, slept nude with his mother until he was eleven, we come to understand that Ronan and daughter Dylan were literally brainwashed by their mother’s vengefully motivated perpetuation of distortions and lies, all designed to get even with Allen when he ran off with the love of his life, Soon-Yi, who was Mia’s adapted daughter but NEVER Allen’s daughter, nor was Allen ever wed to Mia Farrow, nor did he ever actually ever live in her household. To those of us who have experienced a conniving manipulator like Farrow, all of the ardent proof offered by Allen seems completely plausible.In some sense, Allen is more dismayed by the behavior of so many others who, inexplicably, believe the Farrow family false narrative, even after two full investigations conducted years ago by government authorities, which completely exonerated Mr. Allen, even after the older son Moises (14 years old at the time and now a 40 year old psychotherapist) writes a piece that strongly condemns his mother and his siblings for their mistruths.At the same time, Allen credits others who know him and back him. Most significantly this is his wife of 25 years, the often diminished Soon-Yi (Mia claimed she was “retarded”), herself a fleeing member of the Farrow household. In fact, Soon-Yi is characterized by Allen as a real survivor both from her deprived Korean childhood through the depravity of Farrow, into being the manager of Allen’s life. It is Soon-Yi’s skillful executive function that allows Allen to finally have a family while maintaining his focus on the practice and love of cinema. While Allen expresses regret that so much of his autobiography is taken up with the Farrow mess, it remains clear that Allen has had a relentless devotion to the not so simple task of making movies. Mr. Allen leads the reader through his many creative projects that most often find lightness in a world that can be pretty much “apropos of nothing.”Yet, we get to hear Allen describe how his writing talent enjoys a serendipitous series of collaborations with both behind the camera talent and brilliantly capable actors. While Allen might claim that it’s all circumstantial, no one makes dozens of films of such creativity by happenstance and without exercising his own degree of creative taste, even if Allen modestly credits the many helpers he’s had along the way. I suppose if you’re swayed by all the bizarre charges against Allen, made by people with a thimble full amount of his talent, then you’ll insist on staying away, but for everyone else who has enjoyed his movies, now without any new ones to watch, you may enjoy this.

To get the elephant out of the room up top: I believe that the attempted "cancelation" of Woody Allen is unfair, even disgraceful -- and I highly recommend reading Robert Weide's extraordinarily detailed "case closed" account of the so called "allegations." It simply makes zero sense that in the middle of a heated divorce battle, in a houseful of children and nannies, that Woody Allen suddenly decided to start molesting children (something he was never accused of doing before or after) -- in an attic crawlspace no less. (And forget the fact that two separate state sanctioned investigations found no molestation took place). I only mention my feelings on that issue, as this book will no doubt be polarizing for those who want to "tear him down" vs those who want to "hear what this genius has to say." Well, I am here to say: this is a brilliant, insightful, funny, quirky book by a unique thinker, and a cultural icon. Don't believe the "cancel culture" apoplexy without reading this engrossing autobiography. What emerges is a extremely well-written book full of many fascinating stories, told in great detail, with intelligence and wit, about an unusual, awkward, one-of-a-kind artist. Where his movies "came from" makes a lot more sense after reading this book. Please don't give in to the (negative) hype. Read it, and decide for yourself. I have no doubt that the genius of Woody Allen will long be remembered after his (clearly disturbed, and brainwashed) son is just a footnote to history.

I have been up all night reading this and think it's brilliant. I'm about halfway through. Woody Allen grew up six blocks from where I grew up in Brooklyn, so it's a real kick to take a walk down memory lane to places like the Midwood Theater and Dubrow's! The writing is very conversational (I think it could have used some editing on that score, perhaps, but I'm a stickler for grammar...). Woody Allen mixes his trademark humor (which sometimes falls flat here, alas, just like some of his films -- look, as he writes, comedy is about personal taste), with periodically profound and extremely poignant observations. My grandmother and aunt introduced me to his movies in the 1970s when I was a kid, and I've remained a loyal fan ever since. It's sort of like being able to sit with him over a coffee at Dubrow's (before they turned it into a Gap) and just hear him reminisce about the amazing people he has known and worked with. What a gift!UPDATE: I finished the memoir yesterday and wanted to add a few thoughts. For one, I found the first half much stronger in terms of Allen's observations about life, the universe, and everything. The second half is less strong on that score, but, I must add, his aperčus and one-liners are much funnier. I read with great interest what he writes about the Farrow saga, about which I knew very little. Tabloid stories have never interested me very much. My impression is that what he writes is credible. But others must judge for themselves. I found his discussion of his later films rather disappointing -- lots of name-dropping and a quick trip down memory lane, but without adding anything really insightful about his craft or any of the films. He anticipates this criticism on the last few pages, pointing out that he really has nothing interesting to say about his movie-making style. He repeatedly emphasizes in the memoir that he is no intellectual, not a great artist, etc. etc. At first I thought this was coquetterie. But by the time I finished the book, I am convinced that he is being honest. Woody Allen is great at one-liners, as he writes himself here. And I think he really appreciates and enjoys thinking about high art and culture. But. he is no great intellect. Who cares? Many of his films have been an important part of my life since I was a kid. Some of them are, I think, masterpieces (Husband and Wives, Match Point, Manhattan, Purple Rose, Hannah and her Sisters). That said, I'm not so sure, after having read this, that I'd want to spend an entire evening chatting with him -- at Dubrow's or anywhere else! That sounds harsher than I mean it to be. He strikes me as very defensive and irretrievably unhappy, and I think spending time with him would simply be a disagreeable affair (no pun intended). That said, he seems to have found some modicum of happiness with his current wife and their children. I wish them all the very best.

Reading Woody Allen is always a pleasure! His sense of humor, even about tough subjects, is something I appreciate a lot, since it helps us to stay sane in a very weird and cruel world.His writing, as always, is brilliant and turns this book into a page turner. Loved everything he shared about making his movies and the artists he’s worked with!I did find it a pity that he felt he needed to expose himself so much due to the wrongful (and periodical) accusations of something he was already proven innocent of. But I understand the need to finally tell his side of the story, without being interrupted.This is a must read for so many people, especially life long fans of his work (writing, directing and playing wonderful music as well!).

El libro me llegó a tiempo, pero dañado de la portada. Solicité la devolución y al día siguiente ya tenía en la puerta de mi casa el libro de repuesto. Completamente conforme.

I have always been a big Woody Allen fan, for as long as I have watched his films, but like they say, no smoke without fire, I thought. This was an immensely entertaining read, an honest, gently amusing, well structured autobiography, where the early part of Woody's life is recounted with an honesty, and detail that I was not expecting. After all, as he has said on many occasions, what business is it of yours? And with some justification. The book's first half set the tone, and I was able to relax when the tough stuff came up, because it's all about plausibility. Although I read about the claims in detail elsewhere, there was always a lingering doubt, as that is how many in the press overwhelmingly presented it. It boils down to, simply, I feel comfortable that what he is saying is genuine and heartfelt. His love for Soon-Yi, and her acceptance of him for the last 25 years speaks more than this book could. I can finally watch any and every Woody Allen film in complete confidence that he is the man I always took him for, an honest speaking, funny, liberal and life affirming character, in spite of himself. The only bit I don't get is why he is so popular and successful with women. It's got to be the glasses.

...but to find an antidote for the emptiness of existence.”It is unfortunate that an autobiography of someone as gifted as Woody Allen, has garnered most of its attention due to false allegations peddled by a vindictive ex-girlfriend. Alas, C’est la vie. Presented with all the facts on the case (for which you don’t have to read the book by the way; they have been available in the public domain for more than 2 decades now), only someone with the intellectual capacity lesser than that of a housefly would consider Mr Allen to be guilty.With that said, the book is a treat to read not just for fans of Woody, but for anyone interested in films in general. Woody has been a writer, stand up performer and movie director for around 6 decades now, so there’s plenty of experiences to fill the pages with. He is obviously hilarious throughout the book and it was a treat to read about one of the most influential filmmakers in the history of American movies.

Muy interesante recorrido por su vida y filmografía, lleno de curiosidades sobre cómo se gestaron sus películas, los casting o lo que piensa él mismo de cada una y, cómo no, con mucho humor. PS el que tenga alguna duda por aquel escándalo de la niña, se hará una buena idea de lo que pasó sólo con repasar la cronología de los hechos.