Wild Man Blues (1997)

In 1997, Barbara Kopple gave us a true glimpse behind the Woody Allen persona, following him and his New Orleans Jazz Band on their tour across Europe. Kopple, an award-winning filmmaker (Harlan County, USA, American Dream), was able to make a highly entertaining documentary that allowed us to view Woody in life, rather than in film. Among the highlights are scenes featuring Woody and Soon-Yi ("This is the infamous Soon-Yi Previn"), wherein she admits to never having seen Annie Hall, scenes of Woody and Soon-Yi with his elderly parents at their house and, of course, the musical numbers featuring a highly competent Allen on clarinet.

Some audiences were put off by all the musical numbers throughout the film, but as the band's tour was half the point of the documentary, it was obviously wise for Kopple to include them; Allen and his band play Dixieland jazz, and they play it quite well. However, as you might have guessed it quickly becomes obvious in the film that most in attendance at the shows are primarily there to see Woody. Even though Allen has to know this, he is quiet and blunt at the shows, introducing the band briefly before becoming lost in the music before him.

Though he doesn't talk much about his films or scandals, he is quite humerous in his various rantings and quips, many of which seem to play out like one-liners from his funnier films. All in all, Wild Man Blues is a fascinating portrait of a famous recluse, presented to us by an expert filmmaker, and is a definite must-see for Allen fans.

Wild Man Blues Site (FineLine Films)

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