Annie Hall [M]

Alvy Singer is a famous New York comedian, great on the stage but not so great when it comes to relationships. Having been through two failed marriages and suffering from paranoia, an inability to embrace life, and a fascination with death, Alvy is introduced by his friend via a tennis match to the bubbly and irrepressible Annie Hall. The two begin an affair that starts out promising but soon Alvy’s insecurities begin to constrain and threaten the relationship. However, despite Alvy’s acute nervousness he is prepared to overcome fears and got to great lengths to try and keep the true love going. 

Critically acclaimed as Woody Allen’s magnum opus, Annie Hall is a lovely uplifting and raw romantic comedy that not only receives laughs but also gives the mind something to mull over. There are some strong messages about life and death in the mix and the perceptions and interpretations as to what we can do with them is something that provides the movie with a fair portion of its overt comedy and lengthy and meaningful dialogue. The entire thing is wholly charming and warm, but also unromantic to a certain extent, which gives the film a great sense of realism and relativeness. 

Alvy Singer is a famous New York comedian, great on the stage but not so great when it comes to relationships. Having been through two failed marriages and suffering from paranoia, an inability to embrace life, and a fascination with death, Alvy is introduced by his friend via a tennis match to the bubbly and irrepressible Annie Hall. The two begin an affair that starts out promising but soon Alvy’s insecurities begin to constrain and threaten the relationship. However, despite Alvy’s acute nervousness he is prepared to overcome fears and got to great lengths to try and keep the true love going. 

I’ve noticed this is a few of Allen’s films: his snappy and clear fast-paced dialogue blended with his gesturing is contagious. Quite a few of the actors in his movies adapt his veneer and we see imitations creep into the mix. Maybe it’s unconscious, maybe it’s intended who knows? But it’s noticeable and brings a certain level of appeal to the films, I think it’s the clarity of the dialogue blended with its exceptional timing: a great strength of Allen’s both as an actor and comedian. Well, that and his delightfully nonchalant delivery. 

The film harbours all manner of exciting little surprises including numerous asides, directly talking to the audience, flashbacks, animation, clever use of split screens, and a few fresh faces including Jeff Goldblum, and Christopher Walken. Love it. 

Starring Woody Allen, Diane Keaton who was just superb, Tony Roberts, Carole Kane, Paul Simon, and Shelley Duvall, Annie Hall is a wonderful film defined by its raw and real romantic story and its incredible script. Filled with sex, romance, insecurity, music, comedy, and lobsters, it really is a wonderful film, one that I really enjoyed because you can just sit and watch and even though there is a lot of dialogue, you naturally take everything in and don’t miss a trick. It’s utterly charming.