Rating: 
Summary: What was the point?
Review: As with any book, I would expect a certain amount of author bias toward the subject. From the first few pages it is obvious that Marion Meade doesn't respect Woody Allen professionally, believes his success a matter of luck, detests his films, and thinks even less of him as a person. So why bother writing about him?There is a lot of biographical information about Woody's childhood, his family, his stand-up career and his filmmaking--which is the only reason I gave this book 2 stars. I did force myself to finish the book. However, every topic the author covers is tainted by her low opinion of Mr. Allen. I don't agree with the personal choices Woody Allen has made with regard to the Mia Farrow, Soon-Yi fiasco, but at the same time, I do like Woody Allen's films and respect him as a director. Ms. Meade doesn't, so her book is a difficult load to swallow. If you're looking for a biography that gives Woody Allen credit for his contribution to American cinema, avoid this one.
Rating:
Summary: What was the point?
Review: As with any book, I would expect a certain amount of author bias toward the subject. From the first few pages it is obvious that Marion Meade doesn't respect Woody Allen professionally, believes his success a matter of luck, detests his films, and thinks even less of him as a person. So why bother writing about him? There is a lot of biographical information about Woody's childhood, his family, his stand-up career and his filmmaking--which is the only reason I gave this book 2 stars. I did force myself to finish the book. However, every topic the author covers is tainted by her low opinion of Mr. Allen. I don't agree with the personal choices Woody Allen has made with regard to the Mia Farrow, Soon-Yi fiasco, but at the same time, I do like Woody Allen's films and respect him as a director. Ms. Meade doesn't, so her book is a difficult load to swallow. If you're looking for a biography that gives Woody Allen credit for his contribution to American cinema, avoid this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyably scandalous
Review: Bright as he was, or perhaps because he was so intelligent, Woody (born Allan Konigsberg) was a difficult child at school, often playing hooky, his mother making numerous trips to school to explain his behavior. He was a reluctant reader, although he would devour as many as fifty comic books per day. He was addicted to movies, plunking down 11 cents for a double feature in the air-conditioned comfort of the neighborhood theater, a rather forbidding place with rats scurrying around the floor. Despite his self-depiction in his movies, Allen was not bashful nor repressed as a child, and he was considered a bad influence by the parents of most of his friends. He would practice magic tricks for hours each day, becoming quite proficient. His mother could be quite a nag, but Woody would often dish it right back. Once, when she had a patch over one eye because of a cataract and she was haranguing him about something, he shot back, "Shut up Mom, or I'll blind your other eye." His first marriage, to Harlene, was not a success. Married in their teens, they had to move back in with her parents after the Colgate Show folded. He had been writing for them. Neil Simon's brother, Danny, took an interest in him and taught him that writing jokes was not enough; he needed to learn how to write whole sketches. It was about this time that he began therapy, insisting he was constantly depressed. He used to joke that his wife's cooking tasted like coffee, everything, even the eggs. The marriage was strained, but his career was beginning to take off, and he wrote for Sid Caesar's Show of Shows. He was soon working around the clock. His jokes about their marriage were borne silently by "Mrs. Woody" as she was rather derisively called. He remarked she looked like Olive Oil in the Popeye comics. She was studying philosophy and German, however, and she encouraged him to broaden his reading. They realized the marriage was a mistake and his belittling of his wife did not help. (For example he made comments that he almost choked to death on a bone in her chocolate pudding and he gave her an electric chair disguised as a hair dryer for her birthday; she was so bumble-brained that after burning herself it took her two minutes to think of the word "ouch;" or his wife was raped, but knowing her it was not considered a moving violation.) They were divorced after six years, just before Woody made it big. Soon he became enamored with Louise Lasser, a talented actress and singer. Her mother was a depressive and never forgave Louise for preventing her suicide, something she was to eventually succeed at. More grist for Woody's therapy mill.
Allen's comedy was evolving into the self-deprecating analysis of Allen Konigsberg ("My parents rented out my room after I was kidnapped," and "My mother nursed me through falsies.") By 1969, he had gotten over his stage fright and become the hottest comic in the U.S. Meade, author of a very good biography of Eleanor of Aquitaine, goes into considerable detail concerning the accusations and counter-charges related to Woody's affair and subsequent marriage to Sooni, Mia Farrow's adopted daughter. Bizarre doesn't even begin to describe the hate that resulted from this ill-advised liaison. Meade also describes Allen's movies, although most after the Sooni debacle and media frenzy hardly seem worth watching. It must be hard to write a biography of a living person and we'll just have to watch and see what happens in future years. Stay tuned.
Rating:
Summary: An Interesting Page turner.
Review: I have to admit that it was delicious to dish into Woody's enigmatic, complicated, and flawed life. Even though this unauthorized bio is highly subjective and Ms. Meade can get downright catty at times, I couldn't resist reading an account of Woody that dispels the "Woody" myth, even after the whole Mia/Soon-Yi affair. However, as a person of Korean descent, I came across some errors when Ms. Meade was describing Soon-Yi: 1) "Not only did [Soon-Yi] lack the dainty features of a Chinese or Vietnamese woman, but she was also chunky and large-boned, with a head that was not in proportion to her torso..." (pp. 211, hardback). Comment: Not only is this a stereotype, it is racist and sexist. Obviously, Ms. Meade doesn't know many Koreans, or Asians for that matter. 2) "In [Woody's] imagination, [Soon-Yi] must have remained the wretched war orphan whom he could indulge and pamper..." (pp. 273). Comment: Soon-Yi was never a "war orphan." She was born ~20 years after the Korean War! (Her exact birthdate is not known.) This is the only "Woody" book I've read, so I don't know how it stacks up against the others, although I've heard that the authorized ones gloss over the real "Woody." At the least, this book definitely held my interest throughout!
Rating: 
Summary: Scrupulously researched and compelling reading
Review: Marion Meade's work is scrupulously researched and compelling reading.
It is sad, appalling and yet somehow fascinating to read of the absurd private life of one of the formerly great U.S. film directors and actors.
Meade exposes the real nature of Woody Allen, once loved by the middle-class film critics and their audiences, and it is an ugly sight to behold.
Further, Meade also reveals the uneasily close relationship between Allen and the influential critics he seeks to cultivate, whom are flattered by friendship with the "artist".
Ultimately, Allen's life is a parable of U.S. modern popular culture writ large.
Meade highlights how a talented artist of our time, perverted by fame and money, (a pervasive and potent combination), can forfeit his moral compass and lapse into decadence.
Essential reading.
Rating:
Summary: Not Deep, But Fascinating.
Review: Meade's book will never be mistaken for a work of great biography. The book is fascinating nevertheless. Particularly for all the gossipy stuff. We are spared the whining of Mia's own book, and the get rich quick trash of the maid who wrote a book about the one of '90s greatest scandals. I'm an enormous Allen fan and have seen each and everyone of his movies--Meade doesn't pretend to be a movie critic, but spins some interesting tales. I admit I enjoyed the gossip. It is actually pretty well balanced--there is no defending Woody's actions of course. But Mia has long since been martyred and Meade tells us just what a kook Mia is. While completely unauthorized, it is still accurate. Eric Lax's bio, with Woody's blessing, is the better of the two most famous one (including this) and has been reissued. They are fun to read as companion pieces however. I have not yet read John Baxter's recent bio, perhaps in the near future--so I cannot compare. If you love Woody's art, stick to the critical pieces by the academics (Reconstructing Woody, and countless ones from university presses). If you want gossip and some insight, start here. A fun read to learn more about own of our greatest artists--warts and all.
Rating:
Summary: Attacking Woody Allen
Review: Rather than a well rounded and critical book on Woody Allen, we get a hatchet job. Meade sets out to discredit Allen at every turn. She focuses on neighbors who found him to be aloof, reviewers who didn't enjoy his films, and the ex-wifes who despise him. If you're actually interested in Woody Allen as an artist this is not the book to read. If you want to read about the sad and pathetic life of a sad pathetic man, and only hear the sad and or pathetic parts, read this book. Maybe Meade should've focused her efforts on the Soon-Yi scandal exclusively.
Rating:
Summary: A mean, spiteful book
Review: The biographical points in this book are very interesting and well researched. But it seems as if on every point Margaret finds some unknown nobody with a nasty quote that should be taken as gospel. The facts are interesting, but the nasty commentary is just spiteful and irrelevant.
Rating:
Summary: Trashy Biography With Contempt For Its Subject
Review: Very rarely has an author of a biography shown such contempt for the subject than in this volume, written by Mariod Meade (who has authored “Buster Keaton: Cut to the Chase”). “The Unruly Life of Woody Allen” mostly seems focused on portraying Woody as a not-very-nice man. While I doubt he is, Marion Mead never misses an attempt. In fact, a whopping one third of the books pages are devoted to the sex scandal of the early nineties, while “Deconstructing Harry,” “Everyone Says I Love You,” and “Celebrity” are all crammed into one chapter. Frankly, “The Unruly Life of Woody Allen” reads more like a National Enquirer expose than a biography of a great filmmaker.
Rating: 
Summary: Visionary vs. voyeur, contributor vs. parasite
Review: What a great opportunity a Woody Allen biography represents. Here's one of the great masters of American cinema, an artist who has been producing prolifically for over thirty years. Before our eyes, he went through mastering various cinematic styles and then transcending them all, contributing as a philosopher, writer, comedian, actor, director, even musician. Along the way, Allen produced a body of work replete with a quality all too rare in any, particularly American motion pictures: a thinking, interesting approach. The audiences and critics speak for themselves: here's a true visionary. Unfortunately, those who make a name for themselves are destined to attract parasites. Enters Marion Meade, the voyeur. Unable to create worthwhile art or even advancing the cause of understanding it better or enjoying it more intelligently, she has nothing to offer that's pertinent to the art of Woody Allen. What she does offer is plenty of gossip and garbage. After having the Allen-Farrow "scandal" publicly dished out for too long, who needs more of this? Is it really a surprise to anyone after watching W.A. movies that the man should have character flaws, past pain and ongoing neuroses. Isn't the genius of his work to allow us to identify so readily with his character? If you need gossip to make yourself feel superior to a man who has had something genuinely great to offer, then don't pass this one up. If you prefer some degree of integrity in your writing, and are desirous to learn about subjects worth remembering, avoid this one at all cost.
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