Rodrigo Amaro 4 Oscars on his shelf and a great legacy as comedian and filmmaker that goes for more than five decades Woody Allen doesn't need to prove his geniality to anyone. Talented director, actor, writer and very creative, and at times surrounded by some controversial but still a genius. Barbara Kopple's documentary "Wild Man Blues" brings us a little more closer to the man who has an very enthusiastic passion for jazz, playing the clarinet with his jazz band, reason why he never attended the Academy Awards (he only went in 2002 to make a tribute to New York) or any other awards show. Following Woody along with Soon-Yi, we have the pleasure to watch the director of classics like "Hannah and Her Sisters" and "Bullets over Broadway" on a tour in Europe doing what he likes the most, playing music, showing his skills with the clarinet (and he's a good player by the way) entertaining audiences with the old New Orleans jazz (and boy, he got some really big crowds to his shows, treated like a rock star).More than just the tour, this is an intimate portrait of Woody Allen, his life and his work, his views on music and films, his relation with Soon-Yi, and even a family breakfast with Woody's parents. There's plenty of space and time to enjoy his hobby and watch the man making jokes all the time, at times a little depressed or a little bit cranky but never being snob or arrogant as some of his written interviews tend to sound. Some shocking revelations such as the fact of Soon-Yi watched all of Woody's films except "Annie Hall"; or when Woody discussed about getting a Life Achievement Award by the DGA when Fellini never got one, he (and us) can't understand that. Greater than all that is his jokes whatever the occasion, talking about the people he sees on the way ("They won't pay ten cents to see one of my movies, but passing in a gondola, they love it.") or talking to Soon-Yi about the concierge of the luxury hotel they stayed in. It's delightful to see when he talks about the films that failed at box-office in America but are a huge hit all over Europe ("Interiors", "Another Woman", and others). And if you pay attention to his opinions you'll see that most of them will be referred in his future films e.g. when he says about suffering of chronic dissatisfaction. He quoted that in "Vicky Cristina Barcleona". Or the way he richly describes Paris, place where he would make the film that gave his 4th Oscar this year, "Midnight in Paris". It's all there!Entertainment and reality at its best, "Wild Man Blues" allows us to know a little better about the creator of cinematic masterpieces, presenting the man in a different way than we're used to see (ok, he's less neurotic than the characters he play). Have fun! 10/10

selfparody A suspiciously pleasant portrayal is made of Allen in this documentary, which has absolutely nothing to say aside from "Woody Allen can play the clarinet fairly well" and "He also can crack wise." A very select collection of interviews try to establish him as still having a significant fan base, but there's a reason his movies don't do to well these days.Coming from the extremely skilled and seemingly quite compassionate Oscar-winner Barbara Kopple, maker of such credits to the documentary medium as HARLAN COUNTY U.S.A., this is an extreme disappointment, and I have to wonder how she decided to waste her time on this.

harry-76 If you thought you had be Jewish or from New York to fully appreciate Woody Allen, this movie proves otherwise.Documentarian Barbara Kopple took her hand-held camera on Allen's '96 European tour, in which he and his jazz band played a whopping 18 concerts in 23 days. She photographed him everywhere but in the "john": in airplanes, hotel rooms, lobbies, receptions, backstage, onstage, in the streets--everywhere. His deadpan quips and jousts buoy up what would have been a conventional travelogue. You're never sure whether Allen's being serious or satiric, but one finds one's self laughing at nearly all his comments. He's just an amusing guy. For comedic reasons, it certainly helps that Woody has one of the funniest faces around--even without his "vanishing creme and beauty gel" he comments is amongst his toilitry. As to his tour, this is a chance to see and hear what's been talked about for years. That is, an example of Woody's playing in that certain lower Manhattan pub where he's tooted his "licorice stick"--even being loyal to that group one year rather than bothering to go pick up an "Oscar."Playing the clarinet since age 15, Allen admits to practicing two hours daily--a "must," he says, "just to keep the chops in shape." It also helps that his playing is "only a hobby, to have fun." Judging from his New Orleans style jazz performance, he's probably being quite honest. But he also seems to be bringing some extra-musical attributes to his concerts--a whole range of associations with his past creative efforts. All the laughs, pleasures, joys, frustrations, and sorrows associated with his total body of work seem to be reprised as he--now a genuine icon--stands there, slim of body, pouring his heart out in every selection. Ably assisted by musicians on the trumpet, trombone, drums, piano, banjo and bass, Allen is clearly the star, appearing in a strictly all-musical format. There are only a few words of introduction and closing sentences from him. The rest is ninety minutes of pure music.How remarkable are his European followers! They simply love and adore him. They mob him outside his hotel, backstage and through the streets as he walks, taking endless photos ("It's the same photo," he quips). They wave ecstatically at him as he takes gondola rides in Venice. The staid English stand and cheer at the end of his London concerts. Nationalistic Parisians drool over his weak attempts to greet them in French. Europeans also love the more esoteric Allen films, like "Interiors," which flopped in the US. There's no doubt: Woody Allen is an overseas hero. An added final bonus is Allen with his mom and dad in their NYC apartment, they obviously proud of but publicly reserved about their son's accomplishments. "In spite of the fact that you beat me daily," Allen quips to his mom. We're fortunate to have this 105-minute documentary for posterity. It may prove increasingly valuable as time goes on.

julianb If it had been trimmed to about an hour (by removing some of the jazz) this film would have been very enjoyable. As it was, the natural, but dry, social humour of Woody Allen is annoyingly punctuated by long excerpts from indifferent performances. The best bit comes right at the end, back in New York after the gruelling whistle-stop tour of Europe, where there is some tickling repartee and friendly needling between him and his folks (who look about a billion years old). Only for die-hard Allen fans, who need a peek at the "real" person behind those heavy specs.