Book Review: Woody: The Biography

Received as a Christmas present, finally got around to reading it. I think this is the fourth Woody Allen biography I've read (after Marion Meade, Eric Lax and John Baxter). This is definitely the most pro-Woody one so far. Published in 2015, Evanier's book praises Allen at every turn. Evanier makes a point of not following a chronological sequence, he goes back and forwards in Allen's life. The result is somewhat confusing. At one point he devotes an entire chapter to a transcription of an interview with Dick Cavett. Much of the book critically examines Woody's films, books and plays in a detailed, considered manner, but the last few chapters turn into a tabloid expose of the Soon-Yi/Dylan/Mia scandal. Allen's later films are given scant attention.

Evanier's main theme is that Allen bounces back after every setback. The book was written before his biggest challenge when the #MeToo movement gave renewed vigor to the Farrow family's campaign to cancel Allen altogether. Despite Amazon canceling his contract, actors in his recent films denouncing him and contributing their salaries to charity, and his autobiography being nixed, Allen kept going. His book found another publisher and he continues to make films at 87. Reports of his retiring from moviemaking were evidently incorrect. His 50th film--Coup de Chance, entirely in French with a French cast--has found a distributor and will presumably be available in the US. The rest of the world is not rejecting him. I guess we won't get a definitive Allen bio until the subject passes away and the final movie is made.

Niels Schneider and Lou De Laage in
'Coup de Chance' 
Credit: GRAVIER PRODUCTIONS INC./
THIERRY VALLETOUX