Hate him or love him, Woody Allen is a legend. BLEND\BUREAUX had the pleasure of being invited to the EYE film Institute for the 1st public screening of Woody Allen’s latest film: Irrational Man. Useless to say, we were extremely pleased to have the chance to view this film so soon and we want to share yesterday’s insider’s look with you too!

So, why was the 1st public screening of Irrational Man in Amsterdam, even before NY or any other American cities? ( Irrational Man will screen in the US only on the 17th!). Because Amsterdam is just that great! And of course because this city is the hub of many a great events in the world of the arts.  Like the ones hosted by the amazing and ultra modern looking EYE film Institute. (see below)

After a sort of secretive selection of envelopes, guest listed people were randomly selected to view either the newest film by Woody or one of his old ones. BLEND\BUREAUX got lucky and we got the right envelope!  Sat in room1 of the EYE, we watched a different array of people-from elegantly dressed  to mostly casually dressed- seat in the room as we anticipated the viewing of Irrational Man. Can we give you spoilers of the film? Yes. But we’re nice, so we won’t.  We will just say that this time around Woody Allen has really step his game up from minor flops of the later period. Irrational Man is not only extremely aesthetically pleasing, but it carries the certain intellectual quality which appealed to the public in Allen’s first films, as larger themes of existentialist philosophy are explored with unpretentiousness and a much more lighter way than in for instance in Blue Jasmine. Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone are certainly an odd screen pairing, but their performances were really believable and top notch. Definitely a must see!

This summer from the 9th of July to the 9th of September, the EYE Institute in Amsterdam is hosting a special on Woody Allen’s works in honor of the creator of our favorite neurotic intellectual 80th birthday. The event is called “The Comedies of Woody Allen” and the EYE is now exhibiting a selection of approximately 25 films mostly from the EYE collection and on celluloid, just like Allen prefers films to be shown. And of course now Woody Allen’s new film will also be available in the theatres.

Yesterday’s event was more than just the film viewing, (which in itself was quite amazing considering that Irrational Man will screen in the US only the 17th!).  Along with the screening premiere of Irrational Man, guests had the chance to do tons of creative activities, from taking part in a cool “Dear Woody” panel installation on which fans wrote letters to Woody asking him to direct his next film in Amsterdam, to a perfectly well-suited art-therapy/psychotherapy corner on which a Freud looking therapist listened to your thoughts and then drew them down.

We had a great time at the EYE, and you should too!

Visit their page to read more about the special on Woody Allen.