To be repulsed by the way Woody Allen

[nigelslaterfan]

Gets away with making film after film of a minty old bezzer copping off with Emma Stone, Joaquin Phoenix and Colin Firth (shame on you Colin, for signing up you sinner, and shame on you for that film you did with Emily wot sit) when the actors are old enough to be her dad.
I'm so sick of seeing movies exult this crusty old male fantasy. I guess we should be grateful Woody doesn't book actresses that look under 16, thankful for small mercies for 'artists' pedalling their ill concealed perv-ons.
I can't even enjoy his funny films now.

[GGabcd]

Then don't go to the films.

I have seen none of them. You obviously have, since you seem to know all about them.

Stop lining his pockets.

[FenellaFellorick]

he made funny films?

And i agree. There is always something uncomfortable about 40/50 something bloke and barely out of her teens girl.

[Mintyy]

Yanbu.

This sexism is rife all over the film and television industry though, I can't imagine any worse profession for a woman than being an actor.

But Woody Allen - yuck, I agree about his creepy proclivities.

[HenriettaTurkey]

I watched Manhattan about 15 years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. I watched it again recently and felt VERY uncomfortable. As did DH.

[BettyCatKitten]

All sorts of unsavoury skeletons are rattling in his closet. He married his step daughter, enough said

[AuntyMag10]

Why are you angry with only him? Surely the actresses themselves chose to take on the roles, do you think they have no responsibility in this? Everything is a choice.

[MitzyLeFrouf]

When you see a film featuring a middle aged man who's romantically involved with a middle aged woman it's unusual enough to warrant comment.

Maggie Gyllenhall said in an interview recently that she was told she was too old at 37 to play a 55 year old's love interest.

[ReluctantCamper]

Oh come on AuntyMag , the actresses want to work. They're hardly the people I'd think of first when looking for someone to blame for this icky trend.

[dougieroseagain]

About 18 years ago I had dinner at the Criterion Restaurant in Piccadilly. As we were leaving there was a bit of confusion as Woody Allen and his wife/step-daughter left at exactly the same time as us and the waiting staff thought that we were in the same party so there was a mix up over coats. We stood next to Woody and Su Yin (or whatever her name is) for at least 5 minutes.

I can honestly say that Su Yin wears the trousers. Woody was completely zoned out and appeared in a complete, helpless daze. Su Yin was organising everything. I think she knew exactly what she was doing when she set her sights on Woody.

Not that I'm condoning him at all. I think he is a horrible little self-absorbed, icky horrible little man. Who doesn't make funny films. Not even Antz.

[wigglesrock]

But it's nothing new, the age gaps between James Stewart and Grace Kelly in Rear Window (in fact the age gap between Grace Kelly and her male co stars in general), the age gap between Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall are all big. Regardless of what you think of Woody Allen (shudder) it's how the film industry and indeed a lot of classic books portray relationships and desire.

[Mintyy]

About time it changed then eh wigglesrock?

[dougieroseagain]

I have a 17 year old DD. I would go ballistic if she dated a 30 year old in real life, just as I wouldn't want her dating a 50 year old at 25, even if her name was Catherine Zeta Jones and he was Michael Douglas.

[wigglesrock]

I agree, I just find it strange how the age gap between co stars be it on a "romantic level" and on other levels ie a 42 year old actress playing a 34 year olds mother is almost highlighted as a new phenomenon when it's not. My mum won't watch a lot of newer films because she thinks the actor or director is creepy, but she'll sit down and watch To catch a thief, Cary Grant was 50/51 in that film, Grace Kelly was in her mid twenties.

[MitzyLeFrouf]

You'd have every right to go ballistic at your 17 year old dating a 30 year old. A 25 year old though can make their own decisions.

[DadfromUncle]

Whilst I agree in general terms and in particular about Woody Allen, I thought he'd packed it in. I saw Blue Jasmine recently and thought it was brilliant - unless I missed something, he's not in it. Sally Hawkins is outstanding and Cate Blanchett is wonderful - the geezer who is her main love interest in the film is 2 years her junior.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

And the first post is kicking the OP..

For having some basic general knowledge

[SweetCharityBeginsAtHome]

Ronan Farrow summed it up best

"He's my father married to my sister. He's my father and my brother in law. That is such a moral transgression ."

[Alisvolatpropiis]

Emma Stone is 26, almost 27 so hardly "barely out of her teens". She doesn't have to take the roles in Woody Allen films. She is an adult and chooses to.

As it goes I dislike Woody Allen films, not because of the age gaps but because I find his works to be painful dull and not even the slightest bit funny.

[nigelslaterfan]

I haven't seen Blue Jasmine, and it had great reviews.

It was also Mariel Hemingway recently coming out to say that Allen wanted to take her round Europe at the time of Manhattan and that her parents were so 'honoured' and not against the idea. She realised they would be more than sightseeing and scuppered it.

I did used to love his films, I loved Annie Hall and Manhattan and I liked Husbands and Wives. He now just gives me the creeps and Match Point, unforgiveable Ham from Jonathan Henry VIII.

I don't think actresses are programmed to say no to Woody Allen, they want the prestige and the appearance of it being highbrow. They want it on their cv.

But I hope Colin Firth was thoroughly ashamed of himself. I couldn't even finish watching the trailer for the film with Emma Stone, it slightly turns my stomach.

I know the Grace Kelly, Lauren Bacall thing, but that was then. I think we should know better now.

[MellieFitz]

Oh I thought roan Farrows dad was frank sinatra?

[MellieFitz]

Ronan

[SweetCharityBeginsAtHome]

His legal father is Woody Allen, but his biological father may or may not be Frank Sinatra, who divorced his mother decades before Ronan/Satchel's birth (to return to the subject of the thread, they married when Mia was 21 and Frank was 51). It's a complicated family, it's only on googling that I realised that she had fifteen children.

[Bue]

I wish I didn't love WA's films. As a woman and a feminist I really shouldn't, but I do, even the recent ones (with the exception of Match Point. Magic in the Moonlight wasn't great either but I liked Midnight in Paris.)

[etKrusTe]

I never watch any of his films.

But yes, I agree with you. I find it really unpleasant to watch the older man/younger woman played out on the big screen, as though it is the norm . It is that that I find so distasteful.

50% of people are women but you would think being a woman was quite niche.

Even if I see a film advertised and the age gap between the two leads is excessive, I think, nah, no thank you. Vote with the absence of your ass on a seat.

[etKrusTe]

Blue Jasmine, was that a woody allen film? Oh fuck. I did watch one then. I thought it was good but miserable. It didn't portray women very well either. The main characters were 1) materialist, shallow and delusional and her sister made poor choices because of bad men.