One of the very first movies I saw in a New York movie theater was Take the Money and Run. I was 6 at the time, and while parts of the movie went well over my head, I appreciated much of Woody's sense of humor. A few years later, I fell in love with Love and Death, a movie which not only introduced me to Prokofiev, but to Diane Keaton. By the time Annie Hall showed up, our household frequently utilized Woody Allen references (and yes, Robert Klein, Bill Cosby, and George Carlin were oft quoted as well).

Woody Allen stands by himself among his Hollywood peers. A staunch individualist, he has a manner, an approach, and a method which has worked not only for him but for his audience. The fact that these domains differ from the rest of the film industry's merely heightens our interest. But it also made him a target, just as all individuals who differ from established norms are targets. This starts in elementary school where children who are short, overweight, tall, or who otherwise differ from everyone else are teased. Teasing in school becomes civil procedure and criminal investigations later in life, and unfortunately the more in the public eye you are, the more likely such procedurals are to take place and cause harm.

McGilligan doesn't focus on the hardships, nor does he present an opinion as to "Did he or didn't he?" Rather, he presents the background material and allows us to watch Woody Allen as he goes through his nearly 90-year (and still incomplete) journey. He focuses on the films, the cast, and the production, but he does not shy away from the marital and family issues at all - spending almost as much time (as I imagine Woody did as well). I suspect that rather than his dying of a heart attack in the midst of filming his next movie, as Woody predicts, Death will show up in person during a winter walk through Central Park, say "It is time," and Woody will walk off into a cold fog and vanish, leaving behind a marvelous repertoire of 50ish movies and the unknowns of his personal life that may or not be relevant to his artistic content.

Rare is the individual who does not make a mistake in life. Even more rare is the individual who has not been accused of making a mistake. After reading McGilligan's work, whether I judge Woody Allen one way or the other, there is no denying that he has brought an astounding range of material forward, has done so in a unique manner, and that I now have far greater understanding of his work than I did prior to reviewing the text.

I have to be honest, although this book is very well written and incredibly well researched, I only read part of it. Like many people, my love for Woody Allen disappeared because of his horrendous personal behavior. I really haven't thought about him in years. When I saw this book, however, I was curious. I had been a huge fan at one time.

So I read the parts I was interested in--his early career and then the run of remarkable films in the 70s and 80s. I learned a great deal even though I had read many Woody Allen books back in the day. McGilligan uncovers many, many interesting tidbits I'd never heard before.

That said, I couldn't bring myself to read the portions from the 1990s onward.

But if you're open to reading a book about him, I can't imagine a better one that what McGilligan has produced.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an e-galley in return for this honest review.

Well written & intriguing read. With so much controversy surrounding the life of Woody Allen this book couldn't disappoint. A must read for any reader!