Woody Allen's career has always been a struggle to balance his talent for comedy and his ambition to produce 'art' films. When his films work, they have redefined cinema with their confessional tone and sophisticated humour. When they fail, his efforts have been easily forgettable.

He began his career writing for television and performing stand-up comedy until his big break in 1965 when Clive Donner hired him to write the screenplay for "What's New Pussycat?". After directing a few short films, his feature debut was 1971's revolution comedy "Bananas".

In 1977, his 'serious comedy' "Annie Hall" was nominated for an Academy Award, and in 1979 he managed the perfect marriage of his comic and dramatic ambitions with "Manhattan". After these two critically acclaimed masterpieces he settled into a regular film-a-year production schedule that included the self-referential comedy "The Purple Rose of Cairo" (1985), more Oscars with "Hannah and Her Sisters" (1986), and serious drama such as "Another Woman" (1988).

By the 1990s he had found his niche. A strong cult following and encouraging producers allowed him to make whatever he wanted. His output ranged between the mediocre cinema-verite of "Shadows and Fog" (1992), to the award winning "Bullets Over Broadway" (1994) and "Mighty Aphrodite" (1995), even musicals with "Everyone Says I Love You" (1996).

Despite mixed reviews for his recent films such as "Celebrity" (1998) and "Sweet and Lowdown" (2000), Allen has continued undaunted and "Small Time Crooks" received his best notices in years. An unpredictable director in terms of the genre of film he chooses to make, this varied choice guarantees one thing: the next masterpiece will always be just around the corner...