I explored the reasons why Woody Allen is famous.

Starting his career as a comedy writer in the 1950s, he gained recognition for his witty writing and TV scripts, publishing several books of short, humorous pieces.

By the early 1960s, he transitioned from traditional humor to a monologue-style stand-up comedy centered around his thoughts and stories.

While it is undeniable that he holds an important position as a director in film history, from today's perspective, there are many moments that make one wonder, "Was that really so innovative?"

For the younger generation, watching his films for the first time, the dialogues are long, the characters are all nervously focused on their own stories, and the humor is so dry that it often leaves one unsure if it's funny at all.

One reason people call Woody Allen a genius is that he thoroughly reimagined the city of New York in his films, but honestly, from today's viewpoint, it can sometimes feel like a bit of "intellectual self-pity."

In his representative works like 'Annie Hall' or 'Manhattan', the protagonist always seems like another version of Woody Allen himself. He is neurotic, clumsy in love, cynical about the world, yet incredibly self-centered. In the past, such a character was interpreted as an 'intellectually tormented man', but now it seems more like just a 'talkative man.'

The humor in the dialogues often pretends to be smart while subtly revealing a sense of superiority, and the female protagonists are always positioned to understand that man. It's natural for the younger generation to react with, "That kind of person is really exhausting" when watching such films.

Of course, those who acknowledge Woody Allen's greatness say that he elevated everyday conversation to art. His style of unraveling human inner lives, relationships, and neurotic emotions through dialogue without grand events was rare before him.

Now, there are so many dialogue-centered films that his approach feels less like something new and more like an 'old style.' To be honest, just watching a few Netflix dramas shows that the psychological dramas or playful dialogues Woody Allen aimed for are now available in much more sophisticated versions.

Moreover, his personal history complicates the evaluation. The controversies surrounding his adopted daughter and his relationship with Mia Farrow are old stories, but they indeed make it difficult to view his works purely as art.

Honestly, every time I hear someone say Woody Allen is great, I can't help but tilt my head in confusion.