Barbara Kopple’s fantastic 1998 documentary Wild Man Blues is worth a look at even if you’re not a Allen devotee. Kopple follows Allen and his New Orleans Jazz band on their 1996 tour through Europe. Throughout the film, we get to see the notoriously private director be remarkably unguarded. He talks openly about his relationship with Soon-Yi Previn, family and music. We see him nearly crumble in front of the rabid press, confess his inability to experience contentment and try in vain to control his many neuroses.
The film is at times insightful, funny and kind of sad.
Oh yeah, the music is pretty great as well.
