Woody Allen is a workhorse of epic proportions; the man averages a movie a year, and his latest film, Midnight in Paris, just opened the 2011 Cannes Film Festival a couple days back (and was very well received). Admittedly, not everything Allen touches is gold, but hey, with that rate of production, the man can't be expected to be churning out perfection. Allen is, however, responsible for some of the greatest films of the past 45 years or so, including arguably the greatest romantic comedy of all time (a genre that produces trash at a rate unlike any other), as well as one of the finer tributes to Alfred Hitchcock you'll ever see. Recently, The Browser conducted an interview with Allen where he set out five books that have resonated with him. His choice of literature is of course interesting in itself, but the commentary from the eminently quotable Allen does not disappoint, either.
, but only the paperback edition is available. This feels like a book where a paperback edition simply won't do, so head over to 
caused immense controversy for its graphic portrayal of female sexuality and purportedly misogynist leanings. Never one to shy away from controversy, let alone criticism, von Trier plans to head right back to Cannes and debut his new film, Melancholia, at this year's festival. The official trailer for the film launched this morning, and it doesn't look like they were bullshitting about the 'beautiful' part.