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Welcome everybody, to 2026, here at the Woody Allen Retrospective Podcast we are very excited to start the year off with a HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT!   Well.. this announcement is actually something our listeners have been asking for pretty vocally in recent years.. and after much dilberation and calculation.. it actually makes a crazy kind of sense   WHAT THE HELL ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?!?!.. lol   Well… I am happy and a bit overwhelmed to let you all know that Myself (Don) and James Daniel Walsh are planning a RE-RETROSPECTIVE look at Woody Allens entire Filmography… yup it’s hapeening!   Well… its happening in October 2026 to be precise… why such a long wait.. well, there is a bit of prep work that is involved this time around, including creating a new YouTube channel and maybe even getting a fellow collaborator involved – its exciting on one hand and a bit stressful on the other.   Let’s leave it at that for now.. more updates will follow as things develop  we do hope you are happy with this announcement though!   Anyhow… putting that aside FOR NOW.. another year.. another adjacent episode ahoy!     Todays adjacent pick is from James and it is one we have put off for a few months due to one thing or another.. well, todays the day for us to talk about: The Truman Show (1998)   ================================================================   For full cast details, user reviews, and more background on the film, check out:   📌 Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Truman_Show   📌 IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120382/   📌 Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/truman_show   =================================================================   A VERY Special Thanks to The Woody Allen Pages Website & The Woody Allen Subreddit for their continued support and info - check them out for the latest from the Woody Allen Fan Community!   https://www.woodyallenpages.com & https://www.reddit.com/r/woodyallen   PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT on this or any other episode using our comment section video link here >>> https://bit.ly/warpcom   If you like the show, please consider buying us a coffee / giving us a tip via our Patreon campaign >>> https://www.patreon.com/woodyretro   Thanks for listening as always! We would also LOVE a review on iTunes or a 5-star rating via Spotify or whichever podcast platform you are listening on. Please fin

Welcome back to another episode of Woody Allen Adjacent… in fact… we made it to the end of 2025, baby!   Unfortunately, we have to start this episode by addressing the terribly tragic passing of a true Hollywood legend, Rob Reiner.   It’s a genuinely awful turn of events, and one that’s still unfolding. We felt it was important to speak on it briefly before getting into our final Adjacent episode proper, but before we even get there, we just want to give a MASSIVE shout-out to all our listeners, subscribers, and Patrons for your continued love and support. Whether you’ve been rocking with us all the way back in 2017, or you’ve only just recently joined the show, we truly appreciate your time, your messages, and your well wishes.   Looking ahead, next month we’ve got a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT coming - one that will mark the beginning of the end of this podcast in the best possible way. So definitely stay tuned for that!   Moving on…   For the last Adjacent episode of this year, we defer to our AI Assistant for the movie pick - and we ended up having quite a fun discussion with this one.   We’re talking about Everything Is Illuminated (2005), a thoughtful, darkly comic road-trip film that might honestly need a little justification for today’s conversation…   AND it just so happens to be celebrating its 20-year anniversary too — great timing, aye :P   ================================================================   For full cast details, user reviews, and more background on the film, check out:   📌 Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everything_Is_Illuminated_(film)   📌 IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0404030/?ref_=nm_knf_t_1   📌 Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/everything_is_illuminated   ======================================================   A VERY Special Thanks to The Woody Allen Pages Website & The Woody Allen Subreddit for their continued support and info - check them out for the latest from the Woody Allen Fan Community!   https://www.woodyallenpages.com & https://www.reddit.com/r/woodyallen   PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT on this or any other episode using our comment section video link here >>> https://bit.ly/warpcom   If you like the show, please consider buying us a coffee / giving us a tip via our Patreon campaign >>> https://www.patreon.com/woodyretro   Thanks for listening as always! We would also LOVE a review on iTunes or a 5-star rating via Spotify or whichever podcast platform you are listening on. Please find all our connected links below: https://linktr.ee/woodyretro  

In this special episode, Don and James take a heartfelt pause to honour the life and legacy of the incomparable legend that is… was… Diane Keaton (1946–2025).   This outstanding actress, creative force, and undeniable muse to Woody Allen was one of the most charming and lovable souls ever to grace the world of acting - let alone walk the halls of Hollywood with her unmistakable wit, presence, style and charisma.   Her passing was truly shocking and deeply sad… and even though a few weeks have now gone by, we still feel the void left by her absence.   It was fascinating revisiting all the projects Diane created outside of her work with Woody.. and in this episode, our trusty AI Assistant also jumps in to deliver a thoughtful tribute, spotlighting her lesser-known pursuits as a photographer, director, author, and style icon.   Honestly, we could have spoken about her for hours… but we tried to keep this episode concise, knowing we’ll certainly be returning for future Diane-focused discussions. Stay tuned for that!   For now, we simply say: Rest in peace, Diane Keaton. You will be sorely missed. XXX   Please check out the related links below for everything we discussed on this episode, as well as additional materials we think you’ll enjoy.   _____________________________________________   This Cool Ai Time Lapse of Diane Keatons life!   E! Hollywood DK Tribute Video   The 'Heaven' Documentary (1987)   David Letterman Heaven / Hell Interview   A Charmingly Chaotic Interview On "The Colbert Report"   Keanu Reeves Recalls Diane Keaton's "Extraordinary, Unique" Acting Style   ___________________________________________   A VERY Special Thanks to The Woody Allen Pages Website & The Woody Allen Subreddit for their continued support and info - check them out for the latest from the Woody Allen Fan Community!   https://www.woodyallenpages.com & https://www.reddit.com/r/woodyallen   PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT on this or any other episode using our comment section video link here >>> https://bit.ly/warpcom   If you like the show, please consider buying us a coffee / giving us a tip via our Patreon campaign >>> https://www.patreon.com/woodyretro   Thanks for listening as always! We would also LOVE a review on iTunes or a 5-star rating via Spotify or whichever podcast platform you are listening on. Please find all our connected links below: https://linktr.ee/woodyretro

We begin this episode by acknowledging the passing of a truly incredible actress — one who played a pivotal role in the life and legacy of Woody Allen, among many others in Hollywood and beyond. Diane Keaton (1946–2025) will be deeply missed.     She passed away the very next day after we recorded this episode, and I (Don) actually found out during the editing phase. Soon after, James and I spoke about it briefly, and we’ll be dedicating a few special episodes to Diane — the next one after this, for sure.     Until then, we send our warmest thoughts to the Keaton family as we remember and celebrate a wholly original, endlessly inspiring woman — an actress, mother, friend, and creative spirit unlike any other.     ______________________________________________________     On this episode of Woody Adjacent, we’re taking on another Reddit request — and likely the last for a while since we’ve got a long list of adjacent films ahead!     French Girl (2024), starring Zach Braff, Evelyne Brochu, and Vanessa Hudgens, directed by James A. Woods and Nicolas Wright is our focus today.     It’s a film that’s divided audiences but also carved out an interesting little niche fanbase... it certainly gave us plenty to talk about!     James and I dig into whether it’s a modern Meet the Parents, a Canadian Two Days in Paris, or something else entirely — and how its blend of sincerity and slapstick comedy tries to makes a case that love really is the most confusing language of all.   Was this case made for the film.... well... let's discuss!   Links Mentioned In This Episode__________________   Woody Allen Free Press Interview   https://youtu.be/xc9tEipzWUk?si=zFlYjWKnnfL3wExb     Diane Keaton - Remembering Diane Keaton By ET   https://youtu.be/n9M6Z8Xnmus?si=kwox6GVaTK6KM785     For full cast details, user reviews, and more background on the film, check out:   📌 Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Girl   📌 IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23319892/   📌 Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/french_girl   ___________________________________________   A VERY Special Thanks to The Woody Allen Pages Website & The Woody Allen Subreddit for their continued support and info - check them out for the latest from the Woody Allen Fan Community!   https://www.woodyallenpages.com & https://www.reddit.com/r/woodyallen   PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT on this or any other episode using our comment section video link here >>> https://bit.ly/warpcom   If you like the show, please consider buying us a coffee / giving us a tip via our Patreon campaign >>> https://www.patreon.com/woodyretro   Thanks for listening as always! We would also LOVE a review on iTunes or a 5-star rating via Spotify or whichever podcast platform you are listening on. Please find all our connected links below: https://linktr.ee/woodyretro  

We’re back again — fresh off our little Not Woody Actually detour — with another thoughtful instillment of Woody Allen Adjacent!   This time, Donald and James turn their attention to Celine Song’s The Materialists. Marketed like a conventional romantic comedy, the film instead plays out as a melancholic character study about love, ambition, and the ways relationships risk becoming transactional rather than organic.   It’s a distinctly modern take on dating and connection — one that’s clearly split audiences, even as the critics seem to adore this one. (Critics vs. audiences… go figure. :P)   We ended up pretty mixed ourselves, but between the strong craft, the solid performances, and the themes at play, The Materialists made for another fascinating Woody Adjacent discussion.!       For full cast details, user reviews, and more background on the film, check out:   📌 Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Materialists_(film)   📌 IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30253473/   📌 Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30253473/   ___________________________________________   A VERY Special Thanks to The Woody Allen Pages Website & The Woody Allen Subreddit for their continued support and info - check them out for the latest from the Woody Allen Fan Community!   https://www.woodyallenpages.com & https://www.reddit.com/r/woodyallen   PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT on this or any other episode using our comment section video link here >>> https://bit.ly/warpcom   If you like the show, please consider buying us a coffee / giving us a tip via our Patreon campaign >>> https://www.patreon.com/woodyretro   Thanks for listening as always! We would also LOVE a review on iTunes or a 5-star rating via Spotify or whichever podcast platform you are listening on. Please find all our connected links below: https://linktr.ee/woodyretro  

Well.. it seems Woody Allen just recently had a podcast 'interview' with Bill Maher which you should check out here if you have not already....   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaNryNkjPm0   Erm... this interview was a pretty big missed opportunity that the fans are quite frustrated with.. and for good reason.. i mean, you can just read the youtube comments.. anyhow.. here's our take on things before our next adjacent episode currently in the editing phase :)    

Welcome back to the Woody Allen Retrospective Podcast for another episode of Woody Allen Adjacent!   This time around, Donald and James are diving into Jeffrey (1995), Paul Rudnick’s adaptation of his own stage play — a gay romantic comedy that mixes humour, fear, and tenderness against the backdrop of the AIDS crisis.    It was another thoughtful conversation where we went a bit off script and had a mini extended chat on our first expereinces with queer cinema - as such we wanted to highlight and also recommend:   Chuck & Buck Philadelphia I Love You Phillip Morris But I'm A Cheerleader Brokeback Mountain Shortbus Dallas Buyers Club DICKS: THE MUSICAL    *We will update the list above as we remember more we wanted to spotlight!   Suffice to say we would love for you guys to jump in and leave a comment in our 'comment section video' >>> https://bit.ly/warpcom   _______________________________________________   For full cast details, user reviews, and more background on the film, check out:   📌 Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_(1995_film)   📌 IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113464/   📌 Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/jeffrey     ___________________________________________   A VERY Special Thanks to The Woody Allen Pages Website & The Woody Allen Subreddit for their continued support and info - check them out for the latest from the Woody Allen Fan Community!   https://www.woodyallenpages.com & https://www.reddit.com/r/woodyallen   PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT on this or any other episode using our comment section video link here >>> https://bit.ly/warpcom   If you like the show, please consider buying us a coffee / giving us a tip via our Patreon campaign >>> https://www.patreon.com/woodyretro   Thanks for listening as always! We would also LOVE a review on iTunes or a 5-star rating via Spotify or whichever podcast platform you are listening on. Please find all our connected links below: https://linktr.ee/woodyretro    

Welcome back to another episode of Not Woody Actually — where we go somewhat off the rails and discuss things even more loosely related to Woody Allen than our Adjacent series.   In this episode, Don takes a solo deep-dive into a long-overdue topic: Patrick McGilligan’s 2025 biography of Woody Allen, A Travesty of a Mockery of a Sham.   This is no light read — we’re talking 848 pages or 34 hours on Audible of dense, detailed Woody Allen history. But it might just be the most comprehensive biography of Allen ever written not by the man himself. Don lightly unpacks the book’s tone, structure, strengths, and shortcomings — and shares a few surprising insights along the way.   With help from our trusty AI Assistant, we introduce the author, explore the book’s critical reception, and — as a bonus — Don reveals how reading Sham led him to a rare, long-forgotten Woody Allen biography… which in turn became a side project that true fans will definitely appreciate.   We also want to apologize to those of you who’ve been waiting a while for this discussion. As mentioned in the intro, James and Don have been deep in conversation about the podcast’s future — and that made this the perfect moment to release this solo recording instead of another Adjacent episode.   We hope you enjoy this shorter-than-usual but long-awaited episode — and if you’ve read Sham or have thoughts of your own, we’d love to hear from you. Drop your comments in our special tracked comment section linked below.   Thanks, as always, for your continued support and patience. 😊       🔗 Links Mentioned In this Episode:   Full Interview with Patrick McGilligan on the Kingdom of Dreams Podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnwW6GhLy9g   _______________________________________________   For full cast details, user reviews, and more background on the film, check out:   📌 Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_McGilligan_(biographer)   📌 Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Woody-Allen-Legacy-Travesty-Mockery/dp/B0BSVR9C7W   📌 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/134283650-woody-allen   ___________________________________________   A VERY Special Thanks to The Woody Allen Pages Website & The Woody Allen Subreddit for their continued support and info - check them out for the latest from the Woody Allen Fan Community!   https://www.woodyallenpages.com & https://www.reddit.com/r/woodyallen   PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT on this or any other episode using our comment section video link here >>> https://bit.ly/warpcom   If you like the show, please consider buying us a coffee / giving us a tip via our Patreon campaign >>> https://www.patreon.com/woodyretro   Thanks for listening as always! We would also LOVE a review on iTunes or a 5-star rating via Spotify or whichever podcast platform you are listening on. Please find all our connected links below: https://linktr.ee/woodyretro

Welcome back everybody to another instillment of Woody Adjacent!   this time we are switching things up a little and taking a Reddit Recommendation - particularly from the Woody Allen Subreddit, an awesome community if we do say so ourselves :)   As such, we’re diving into 2005’s The Squid and the Whale – a semi-autobiographical indie from writer-director Noah Baumbach - this movie explores the painful unraveling of a marriage and the lasting emotional effects on the two teenage sons caught up in the fallout.   With some really great performances across the board, this episode clearly contains two previous Woody Alumni in a film that blends dark humour with brutal honesty that definitely echoes some Woody Allen DNA - Let’s get into it!   _____________________________________________   Director Interview Mentioned / Played in Podcast:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubckvIqxBW0   _______________________________________________   For full cast details, user reviews, and more background on the film, check out:   📌 Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Squid_and_the_Whale   📌 IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367089/   📌 Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/squid_and_the_whale   ___________________________________________   A VERY Special Thanks to The Woody Allen Pages Website & The Woody Allen Subreddit for their continued support and info - check them out for the latest from the Woody Allen Fan Community!   https://www.woodyallenpages.com & https://www.reddit.com/r/woodyallen   PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT on this or any other episode using our comment section video link here >>> https://bit.ly/warpcom   If you like the show, please consider buying us a coffee / giving us a tip via our Patreon campaign >>> https://www.patreon.com/woodyretro   Thanks for listening as always! We would also LOVE a review on iTunes or a 5-star rating via Spotify or whichever podcast platform you are listening on. Please find all our connected links below: https://linktr.ee/woodyretro

Welcome back to the Woody Allen Retrospective Podcast – it's Adjacent time once again!   In this episode, Don and James tackle Stranger Than Fiction (2006), a film that finds Will Ferrell dialing things down and getting existential. None of the usual Ferrell cowbells, screaming or streaking here. Just wristwatches, looming death, and tasty baked goods ahead.   Expect a few Woody comparisons from our witty assistant, some literary musing, and hopefully more laughs than Harold Crick gets in a week.   ALSO, James stumbles across a gem of a find for all the Woody Allen defence supporters!   Hope you enjoy this one – and remember, it’s all in the wristwatch. :P   Please check out the links below for the full cast, user reviews, ratings and info you may find interesting   Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stranger_than_Fiction_(2006_film)   IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0420223/?ref_=ttnw_ov_i   Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/stranger_than_fiction   ____________________   Other video discussed in this episode:   Proving Woody Allen is INNOCENT (New Investigation)   https://youtu.be/2UwB5Bh5pqE?si=kbqGfhrN_wrpcMfW   ____________________   We now have a Ko-Fi Page where you can make a ONE TIME Donation / Tip, we as always, highly appreciate your consideration and support - click here:  https://ko-fi.com/woodyretro   _____________________   A VERY Special Thanks to The Woody Allen Pages Website & The Woody Allen Subreddit for the continued support and info – check them out for the latest from the Woody Allen Fan Community!   https://www.woodyallenpages.com     &    https://www.reddit.com/r/woodyallen   PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT TO THIS OR ANY OTHER EPISODE USING OUR COMMENT SECTION VIDEO LINK HERE   >>>>>>>  https://bit.ly/warpcom   IF YOU LIKE THE SHOW, PLEASE CONSIDER BUYING US A COFFEE / GIVING US A TIP VIA OUR PATREON CAMPAIGN  >>> https://www.patreon.com/woodyretro   Thanks for listening as always - we would also LOVE a review on iTunes or a 5 star rating via Spotify or whichever podcast platform you are listening on - please find all our connected links below.   >>>   https://linktr.ee/woodyretro

We are sorry to say there will be no podcast episode for this month April 2025!   While we, Don and James are out of town this month, we didn’t want to leave you completely hanging - so here’s a short update episode to keep things warm until we return next month in May.   In this bite-sized instillment, we discuss the curious and quietly revealed news of Woody Allen’s first-ever novel, What’s with Baum?, slated for release on September 23, 2025, and published by Post Hill Press.   The book centers on Asher Baum, a middle-aged Jewish journalist wrestling with anxiety, a fading career, and tangled family dynamics — a premise that feels like classic Woody territory.   We do wonder if this is a pivot away from filmmaking moving forward as allen slows down on the movie releases, honestly we are seriously wondering if is this book release even real.. or have WE BEEN DUPED BY Ai? :P   Well... as we all try to figure this out, you will of course, find the Amazon link to the book page below.   What's with Baum? UK Amazon Link   🎙️ Donald and James will return next month for a full Woody Allen Adjacent episode discussing Stranger Than Fiction (2006), starring Will Ferrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Emma Thompson.   As always, thanks for your support — and if you enjoy the show, be sure to leave a comment or rating, and check out our Linktree for all the ways to connect.   ___________________________________________   A VERY Special Thanks to The Woody Allen Pages Website & The Woody Allen Subreddit for their continued support and info - check them out for the latest from the Woody Allen Fan Community!   https://www.woodyallenpages.com & https://www.reddit.com/r/woodyallen   PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT on this or any other episode using our comment section video link here >>> https://bit.ly/warpcom   If you like the show, please consider buying us a coffee / giving us a tip via our Patreon campaign >>> https://www.patreon.com/woodyretro   Thanks for listening as always! We would also LOVE a review on iTunes or a 5-star rating via Spotify or whichever podcast platform you are listening on. Please find all our connected links below: https://linktr.ee/woodyretro

Welcome back to the Woody Allen Retrospective Podcast for another episode of Woody Allen Adjacent!   Following up on our discussion of Miller’s Girl, we turn our attention to 2024’s Babygirl, starring Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, and—somewhat unexpectedly—Antonio Banderas.   On the surface, this seemed like a fittingly ‘balanced’ follow-up to Miller’s Girl, but as it turns out… both films manage to disappoint - just in very different ways :P   Let’s get into it!   _____________________________________________   Director Interview Mentioned / Played in Podcast:   https://youtu.be/uU6s9Xz90no?si=lmoO_2Z6wHgFnMOD   _______________________________________________   For full cast details, user reviews, and more background on the film, check out:   📌 Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babygirl   📌 IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30057084/   📌 Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/babygirl_2024   ___________________________________________   A VERY Special Thanks to The Woody Allen Pages Website & The Woody Allen Subreddit for their continued support and info - check them out for the latest from the Woody Allen Fan Community!   https://www.woodyallenpages.com & https://www.reddit.com/r/woodyallen   PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT on this or any other episode using our comment section video link here >>> https://bit.ly/warpcom   If you like the show, please consider buying us a coffee / giving us a tip via our Patreon campaign >>> https://www.patreon.com/woodyretro   Thanks for listening as always! We would also LOVE a review on iTunes or a 5-star rating via Spotify or whichever podcast platform you are listening on. Please find all our connected links below: https://linktr.ee/woodyretro

Welcome back to the Woody Allen Retrospective Podcast for another episode of Woody Allen Adjacent!   MASSIVE SHOUTOUT TO SUSAN C WHO GAVE SUCH A GENEROUS DONATION THIS MONTH - THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION SUSAN :)   On this episode, our dastardly co-host James has made his film of choice this month to be Miller’s Girl (2024), a film that sparked plenty of discussion and controversy upon its release. In the last episode Don actually mentioned the movie in passing and now here we are ... about to dig into this so called midfield of uncomfortable proportion's    The question is.. was this so called SHOCKING MESS simply overblown.. does it really deserve the hate it has been getting, is the writer / director just CONFUSED   To Love it, to hate it, or to feel somewhere in between, this was definitely another fun discussion here on Woody Allen Adjacent!   _____________________________________________   Director Interview Mentioned / Played in Podcast - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0hz-mY4B1Y   _______________________________________________   For full cast details, user reviews, and more background on the film, check out:   📌 Wikipedia:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miller%27s_Girl   📌 IMDb:  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8310486/   📌 Rotten Tomatoes:  https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/millers_girl   ___________________________________________   A VERY Special Thanks to The Woody Allen Pages Website & The Woody Allen Subreddit for their continued support and info - check them out for the latest from the Woody Allen Fan Community!   https://www.woodyallenpages.com & https://www.reddit.com/r/woodyallen   PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT on this or any other episode using our comment section video link here >>> https://bit.ly/warpcom   If you like the show, please consider buying us a coffee / giving us a tip via our Patreon campaign >>> https://www.patreon.com/woodyretro   Thanks for listening as always! We would also LOVE a review on iTunes or a 5-star rating via Spotify or whichever podcast platform you are listening on. Please find all our connected links below: https://linktr.ee/woodyretro

Welcome back to the Woody Allen Retrospective Podcast for another episode of Woody Allen Adjacent—the first one of 2025!   First of all, thank you for rocking with us for another year. We GREATLY appreciate our lovely listeners, loyal subscribers, and thoughtful supporters!   For those who don’t know, in Woody Allen Adjacent, our podcast hosts work their way through films they like to compare and contrast with Woody Allen’s filmography and/or writing style.   Recently, Donald has charged the AI Assistant of the show to dig even deeper and generate a wider list of interesting Adjacent movies—some of which may feel a little ‘out of the norm,’ so to speak.   As we rotate our turns for Adjacent every month, we’re slowly working our way through a fascinating list of films. We’ve already covered quite a few at this point, some obvious, some not so.   For the AI’s turn this month, it has chosen Claudine (1974), a touching romantic dramedy starring Diahann Carroll and James Earl Jones. Set in Harlem, Claudine offers a heartfelt yet sharp critique of the welfare system, family dynamics, and love in a time of financial struggle. While it arrived during the height of the Blaxploitation era, Claudine took a more grounded and human approach, telling a personal and deeply affecting story.   Incidentally, Claudine has a loose connection to Woody Allen via James Earl Jones, who later starred in The Comedians (1974), a film featuring Richard Burton, who worked with Woody Allen in Stardust Memories (1980)—a bit of trivia for those who like to make those six degrees of separation-style links!   So, join us for this deep dive into a film that may not be an obvious Woody Adjacent pick but certainly deserves its place in the discussion.   - Links Mentioned in This Episode -   THE MANIC EXPRESSION MOVIE TEASER TRAILER - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1Dl4-FDzq8   Please check out the links below for the full cast, user reviews, ratings, and any additional information you may find interesting:   Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudine_(film)   IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071334/   Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/claudine   A VERY Special Thanks to The Woody Allen Pages Website & The Woody Allen Subreddit for their continued support and info—check them out for the latest from the Woody Allen Fan Community!   https://www.woodyallenpages.com & https://www.reddit.com/r/woodyallen   PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT on this or any other episode using our comment section video link here >>> https://bit.ly/warpcom   If you like the show, please consider buying us a coffee / giving us a tip via our Patreon campaign >>> https://www.patreon.com/woodyretro   Thanks for listening as always! We would also LOVE a review on iTunes or a 5-star rating via Spotify or whichever podcast platform you are listening on. Please find all our connected links below: https://linktr.ee/woodyretro

Welcome back to the Woody Allen Retrospective Podcast for another episode of Woody Allen Adjacent - the last one of 2024, in fact!   First of all, thank you for rocking with us for another year. We GREATLY appreciate our lovely listeners, loyal subscribers, and thoughtful supporters!   For those who don’t know, in Woody Allen Adjacent our podcast hosts work they way thought films they like to compare and contrast to Woody Allens filmography and or writing style.   Recently, Donald has charged the AI Assistant of the show to dig even deeper and generate an additional wider list of interesting Adjacent movies some maybe we may find 'out of the norm' so to speak.    As we rotate our turns for adjacent every month we’re slowly working our way through a very interesting list of films. We’ve already done more than a bunch at this point in time, some obvious, some not so.   Fittingly, for the Ai’s turn this month, it has chosen Spike Jonze’s film - Her (2013) - a well celebrated, Oscar winning, romantic drama, where Artificial Intelligence is at the core of the love story.   In this timely episode James and Donald dive into Her, exploring its poignant themes of love, loneliness, and technology in a near futuristic world that actually feels more relevant than ever.   We have standout performances by Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson and taking a look back now, we find a surprisingly well star studded supporting cast   Incidentally, the main leads here, do have ties to Woody Allen (Match Point, Irrational Man) and as a extra tid-bit of trivia, some people may not know, the original Ai voice that was replaced - Samantha Morton - is another Woody Allen alumni (Sweet and Lowdown)   With Joaquin Phoenix already in the spotlight earlier this year due to the Joker 2 box office disaster, we took 5 or so minutes to talk about that situation :P   Reality can be just as intriguing as fiction as this movie is drawing parallels to the ever-growing influence of advanced AI platforms like Character AI, in fact we even highlight a riveting mini YouTube documentary that showcases just how close we’ve come to living out the reality of Her: The Rise and Fall of Character Ai   So lets wrap up this year with this thoughtful discussion blending cinema, technology, and humanity, as we consider whether Her is still science fiction - or if we’re already living it.   Wishing you a very merry Christmas and happy new year 2025!    - Links Mentioned in this Episode -   The Rise and Fall of Character Ai   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynqAB9K4icg   The Real Reason Samantha Morton Was Replaced In ‘HER’ (2013)   https://www.thelist.com/428711/the-real-reason-samantha-mortons-voice-was-replaced-in-her/   My Complicated Feelings For ‘HER’ (2013) by Passion of the Nerd   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMJcbigcDJU   Please check out the links below for the full cast, user reviews, ratings and info you may find interesting   Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Her_(film)   IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1798709/   Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/her   _________________________________________   A VERY Special Thanks to The Woody Allen Pages Website & The Woody Allen Subreddit for the continued support and info – check them out for the latest from the Woody Allen Fan Community!!   https://www.woodyallenpages.com     &    https://www.reddit.com/r/woodyallen   PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT TO THIS OR ANY OTHER EPISODE USING OUR COMMENT SECTION VIDEO LINK HERE   >>>>>>>  https://bit.ly/warpcom   IF YOU LIKE THE SHOW, PLEASE CONSIDER BUYING US A COFFEE / GIVING US A TIP VIA OUR PATREON CAMPAIGN  >>> https://www.patreon.com/woodyretro   Thanks for listening as always - we would also LOVE a review on iTunes or a 5 star rating via Spotify or whichever podcast platform you are listening on - please find all our connected links below.   >>>   https://linktr.ee/woodyretro