The Woody Allen Reboot You Won’t See at the Oscars (or Maybe Anywhere)

Overall, I think Woodie Allen makes interesting movies. Not great. Just movies that earn their cost back. Now, if this movie is as good as the original, everyone will benefit. Here's to the elderly (85 and up).

I think Woody Allen is being treated shamelessly. The input of Mia Farrow in this makes normal calculations. She considered Allen marrying Andre Previn's and her adopted daughter a sin beyond all others. What he did might be unseemly, but it wasn't a crime (and they're still happily together Why won't Ronan Farrow take a paternity test? He's obviously Frank Sinatra's son. He looks exactly like him, down to the blue eyes. So hasn't she lied and bilked Woody Allen all these years? She's no saint herself and maybe in some psychoanalytic way is punishing Woody for the guilt she feels over a lie she can't easily recant.

As a senior in a facility with many older than me, I really appreciated this article. We are frequently ignored or treated like children by relatives or caregivers. It should b e an eye opener to your readers that at least some of us still have our marbles and can not just exist in the modern world but sit on top of it.

Funny no matter how old we get the "girl" is supposed to be 20-30 years younger.

I love the clip. Please make the movie available on line!

Loved the article. Please release this movie!

As an old codger myself I found this piece and the reboot charming. It's good to see we old folks being portrayed on film as more than mere side characters there to flesh out the plot. Recently, I saw the reunion of Jane Fonda and Robert Redford, who fifty years ago starred in the film version of Neil Simon's play, "Barefoot In The Park", re-create their magical chemistry in a film on Netflix titled "Our Souls At Night". Leave it to we seniors to make younger audiences realize there's a lot to be said for bringing their vast experience and nuanced performances to film. Makes me feel young at heart. DD Manhattan

I would love to be able to get a copy of that poster to go with my other Annie Hall poster.

Wonderful project....congratulations all around!

A super article--the elderly need more than care, they need purpose--they need success.

Love this idea as well as all the collateral benefits. Yesterday 8 retirement home residents suggested places for me to visit and film with my iPhone so that I could share the journey with them as virtual travel. They're rocking chair ramblers and adventure makes them come alive!

I smiled a lot while reading this lovely article and watching the clip. Smiles have been rare lately. Thank you.

This is such a lovely story; the connection to seniors, a creative project connecting two generations and a reason to get up everyday! The familiar neurosis of Alvy Singer/Woody Allen captured charmingly by the elderly Harry adds a stamp of reality to the original character. I hope the finished movie will be available soon.

That is such an unexpected and adorable story! I love the clip and hope the film will be made available online. But more importantly, it's wonderful that the fullness of life that is in older people is shining out all over this piece. That is how it should be, and if the world were a better place it would be. I really wish for more of such endeavors involving older people and artistic pursuits, as well as more stories of this nature in the New York Times. Totally charming and well done!

So glad that Lenox Hill Neighborhood House and their wonderful director, Jessica Balboni, took a chance on this project. Even projects that initially engage just a few participants can have a huge impact on the community- and an even bigger impact on the public and the politicians who need to discover the value of arts programs for older adults- and keep it funded!

The clip is marvelous and it takes only a few seconds to see how timeless the original screenplay is. Please release the entire film.

Great! Hope this movie is made available on u tube or streaming. At age 75, I first saw "Annie Hall" in 1976, I have the poster from a now defunct movie house in Auburn, Alabama. From the trailer, this movie may be better than the original.

Lovely. Thank you very much.

Re: "...Shula Chernick and Harry Miller stroll by the river, shooting a scene in the remake of Woody Allen’s original 1977 film..." I have AVOIDED 'all, things W. Allan' since he married his adopted daughter; I have avoided 'all thing's Cosby', since he was outed as a self-admitted drugster-fiend! In avoiding these tainted individuals I am ALSO avoiding the commercial advertisements accompanying their...'products'!

I became a member of this center at age 60. I was taught how to play Canasta from a 92 year old Holocaust survivor and a 82 year old store Accountant. They have taught not only how to play Canasta but how to appreciate life with all it's ups and downs. They are an important part of my life . Thank you for making this movie with such talented members.

He went on paid unemployment to fulfill an art project?

LOL!

This is so heart warming. I love the way the project seems to have brought the two seniors to life, to put them more in touch with themselves and the world around them. Too often seniors are stuck in hospital-like settings with nothing even close to this level of engagement. Bravo to Mr. Starr and Ms. Sachs and to Lenox Hill for saying YES.

Next, they should do "Death Wish." It's gotta be better than the new Bruce Willis remake. And many of the locations are right across the park.

So charming. The actors did a great job in the short clip you have here, and I would love to see it. Why not put it online and charge for viewing? I sure would pay. Great idea.

Harry is a renaissance man. He's been in a ski club fot many years and can say almost anything in French. Maybe the young filmmakers should create a vehicle for him and Isabelle Huppert. I believe that would be acceptable to him.

I would pay anything to see this wonderful movie, and certainly contribute to their next project. I would also pay to be IN their next movie [I am way old enough]...whether it be Casablanca or Gone With the Wind.

Will the producers confirm that Woody Allen had no part in funding or providing rights for this production? Also, will the Times confirm that the coverage of this article was in no way orchestrated by Mr Allen or his publicists?

I love it. Just like Mickey Moran (Mickey Rooney) and Patsy Barton (Judy Garland) gathering help to put on a show :-) Would love to see it. Woody, please say it's ok to release it.

Top notch! I really enjoyed this film & this is the types of art that the NY T Should be releasing in order for young filmmakers to have a platform for there art. Perfect timing as well for the Oscar's this weekend, BRAVO!

This was an extraordinarily sweet and informative article, and really brightened my day. Thank you!

Such a marvelous idea. The actors are charming and the filmmakers are brilliant. I can't wait to see the entire film.

What a marvelous story! Inventive filmmakers and wonderful actors. I really want to see the whole film!

This story reminded me a bit of the lovely 2007 documentary Young@Heart, about a group of seniors (average age: 80) who sing in a chorus... performing material by The Ramones, The Clash, James Brown, Coldplay, Allen Toussaint, Talking Heads and other unexpected artists. These elders, many of whom join the group just to fill time, really come alive from having a creative outlet, and from having expectations placed upon them at a time in life when the rest of society pretty much disregards what they have to offer. It's especially fitting that the filmmakers and cast of My Annie Hall forged relationships with each other that will continue past the completion of this project. Because wasn't the original Annie Hall all about relationships? For their next "senior project" I hope Ms. Sachs and Mr. Starr consider writing some original material -- perhaps based on their experiences getting to know Ms. Chernick and Mr. Miller.

Great piece.

This is the sweetest story and one in which something good is happening, what is wrong with readers that have to find a negative in this! Maybe they should try acting - it would take them away from their pessimistic reality!

If this idea catches on , please, please, please.......no superhero remakes. Why no streaming? This idea is smart, unusual, charitable, and interesting. A project like this would go right to the top of my Netflix list!

Terrific story but "experience working with old people"? Try "experience working in a senior citizens center. Old people don't like to be treated like babies or dogs.

"Annie Hall" is "somewhat blah"? Wow. For me it's by far his best movie, with one of the most original and wildly inventive screenplays ever written.

Please, make this movie available to a wider audience. Mr Miller, “ the male Betty White”, sounds too good for words! Lovely story.

Funny. And graceful response from Mr. Allen.

Believe me, that is not an accent from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.

I want to see this movie! Where are they having a showing? Symphony Space maybe? Is the famous split-screen episode included? Many questions.

I know I'm not the only one who would only love to see this. For those who shun Woody Allen, consider that this is not a tribute to him. It's a tribune to seniors and what they are game to do. Judy Markey Highland Park IL.

A delightful read to wake up to. The secret to happiness is purpose in life. Having something rewarding and fun to do. And, something to look forward to. Add in proper eating, physical activity, mental stimulation, rest, friends… human connection. And fun, fun, fun. Be silly at least a half hour a day. It will balance the dreadful and dreary. These two were lucky to get into this project. A great thing to replicate in senior facilities all over - in-house productions. And… let's go there…As for Woody Allen… is his transgression, if he even committed it, say as bad as the Holocaust? No. So we shun him but not bookstores that sell material about the Nazis. Offensive to keep that stuff in our face, no? Why do they keep doing that to us! We don't shun Steven Spielberg. He made a film that brutally threw the atrocities of the Nazis in our face with Schindler's List. How dare he offend us! I'm done with him! Woody. Is the verdict in? Does the concept of reasonable doubt still hold? That's the American way, right? What's our prescribed punishment for any crime, and once the debt to society is paid is the perpetrator welcomed back? Do we ever let go of our animus or does it feel too good to hate another person? And God forbid we should ever forgive anyone!! How would we survive and enjoy ourselves if we were deprived of the myriad daily hatreds that shape us? - son of a Holocaust survivor who learned that lightness of heart and love set you free at last.

What a fantastic project!! I loved watching the excerpt-- would love to see the entire film.

Great piece and a great story. Thanks for sharing what we could all use a little more of these days - perspective.

I hope this inspires Mr. Allen to remake his Annie Hall with the same cast as the original. But first, I hope this version gets released to the public.

A great story, quintessentially New York story. I do like NYT publish more such human stories.

I won't see it even if it plays in theaters because remakes are stupid. All of them. If the movie was good the first time, it's stupid to make it again. And if the movie was bad the first time, it's even stupider to make it again. Most American movie makers are some of the LEAST creative human beings on the planet. Why support them by watching the garbage they create? I watched two American-made movies during all of last year, "Lady Bird" and "Three Billboards..." "Lady Bird" was okay but the ending was a flop. "Three Billboards..." was good.

In light of the information about Woody Allen coming to the forefront of the news again, why is the NY Times putting this online. Woody Allen should be shunned.