I had finished reading "Ishmael" (again) last week and them started looking at some of the recent releases available through the library. A book cover stood out amongst the grid of book covers in a visual grid. It was iconic and immediately recognizable, at least subconsciously. Black background. White typeface. The "Windsor" font, to be exact. Appearing much like nearly every title card in the author's vast catalog of films, many of which are personal favorites. A writer and director who's work has played a significant role in my own appreciation of movies, the simple title "Apropos of Nothing" stood below the author's name. Woody Allen.
I did an internal double-take, checking the release date and searching to confirm it was indeed HIS autobiography, because until the moment of having stumbled across it, much like most of his movies from the past decade, I knew nothing of it's impending release beforehand. Seemingly, by design. As I searched the internet for further details, it turns out the original publisher had backed out and abandoned it's release due to a backlash of disapproval from both within and external to their publishing company.
Yes, I find it a somewhat unsettling that he had a relationship with his girlfriend's adopted daughter and that there is a 35yr difference between them. It's a notch above the typical age-difference between older male stars and their younger 'trophy' wives (Seinfeld, Stallone, Kelsey Grammar, Eastwood, Larry King, Baldwin, Shatner, and more, to mention Sinatra and Mia Farrow ) of the nature of the relationship. I've not studied this in substantial detail, but my understanding is that the accusations, all of them, were thrown out in numerous investigations, and the nature of their origin and timelines, and even Mia's actions and timelines, are all highly suspect. And in the end, as he presents it, the nature of their relationship was one that came about after she was over 20, out of Mia's home, and in a manner independent of the relationship that was already problematic.
Denials, investigative acquittals and lack of evidence don't suffice in as highly sensitive and judgmental a society such as ours currently is. We don't "know" at all that the accusations are true, but we do know that multiple investigations showed them to not appear to have any substantial basis (investigative and psychological). Yet, the man remains aggressively despised, and since that moment his work and writing has found a fractured and fragmented audience.
This makes we really wonder about how perceptions and judgements are not necessarily reality. I like to believe that everybody, with limited and very isolated exceptions, is basically a good person, doing what they think is right or fair or just or reasonable. I can related. I'm sure in the views of my ex wife, her family and friends, I'm a horrible person, but in the views of my close relationship and friends, they know I'm not.
I'm going out on a limb, posting this "publicly" when there's been so much negativity built up just around the mention of his name. Just read comment on online reviews, people are so convinced without what I consider just cause, beyond presumption and relatively but likely hypocritical moral outrage.
I listened to and greatly enjoyed his autobiography. Especially given that the audiobook is him telling the story in a manner that feels like a casual monologue over coffee, and not the literal reading of words off a printed page. I highly recommend it to both fans, and those who've made presumptions of his guilt or character without giving him the consideration of hearing his own side of the story.