ZAP! BAM! POW! Hero or Anti-Hero?

I spent my entire weekend hanging out with my personal hero, Woody Allen, a man who inspires me endlessly. Don’t worry, I haven’t gone off the deep end. I simply connected with him in ways I didn’t know existed.

I discovered a fascinating tribute to his work, Woody Allen: A Documentary. It chronicles his life beautifully with compelling interviews and clips throughout. Even today, the man uses a typewriter he bought when he was 16, cutting and pasting with—wait for it—scissors and a stapler.

ZAP!  I think no matter who you are, whether you like him or not, whether you like his films or not, you have to respect him as one of the greatest innovators of our time.

As an aspiring writer, I look up to him, and I see a little bit of myself in him.

• He uses his natural rhythm as a musician to his advantage, creating a sense of flow and timing in his writing. As a dancer, I aim to do the same.
• Speaking of aim, he’s a Sagittarius, as am I.
• He’s a tireless go-getter, and as such, is rarely satisfied.
• He will do and say anything he wants.
• He’s often misunderstood.

My hubby and I saw To Rome With Love Saturday night. This alone is a testament of my love for Allen’s work as I do not spend money on overpriced movie theater tickets for anyone else. The last time we went was a year ago for Midnight in Paris, a true gem.

I’m not going to review To Rome, because I’m not a critic and everyone has a right to their own opinion. All I’m going to say is that once again he delivered another ballsy, whimsical experience. I was not only entertained, I somehow felt different when I left.

BAM!  That equates artistic genius.

I’m part of a new generation of Woody enthusiasts. Before I saw any of his films, I thought he was a peculiar looking fellow with a Brooklyn accent. I found my rightful place as one of his quirky, adoring fans somewhere between Match Point and Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

These are two of my favorite stories of all time. Not flicks…stories.

POW!  To many, Woody Allen is an anti-hero, the guy people love to hate. But, I see him differently, as a genuine hero.

• He doesn’t rely on a cape to get things done, he just does them.
• He uses his intellectual superpowers for good.
• He takes chances, and sometimes he fails.
• He sacrifices in the name of passion.
• He saves the world with his voice, reminding us that life is far from boring…it’s extraordinary.

My favorite Woody quotes…

“If you’re not failing every now and again, it’s a sign you’re not doing anything very innovative.”

“The talent for being happy is appreciating and liking what you have, instead of what you don’t have.”