Woody Allen Loves Dreary London
Published
Woody Allen says he loves London's famously dreary weather and its residents' ever-expressive slang.
Allen was in the city on Sunday for the British premiere of his new film "Match Point," which swaps the director's beloved Manhattan settings for the gray streets of London.
"I let the cast improvise a lot, especially with the slang, where they would say 'g and t' for gin and tonic. I wouldn't say that," said Allen. "I would say 'dicey' when they would say 'dodgy.' I learnt a lot."
"Match Point" charts the fortunes of an Irish tennis player, played by Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, at the hands of an upper-crust English family.
It is Allen's best-received film in years and has gotten Golden Globe nominations for best picture, best director, best screenplay and best supporting actress, for Scarlett Johansson.
"The weather was absolutely superb for photography," Allen said. "Gray skies photograph beautifully, the light it casts is very soft.
"Filming in New York can be so hot in the summer but here it was perfect for my melancholy spirit."