Feb 10 2009
Annie Hall(That was the most fun I’ve ever had without laughing)
“I know it sounds horrible, but winning that Oscar for Annie Hall (1977) didn’t mean anything to me” Call it his sardonic humor or his indifference but that’s what Woody Allen said about Annie Hall the movie that won the Oscars in four categories: Best Actress in a leading role, Best Director, Best Picture, Best writing, screenplay written directly for the screen. Probably little did Woody Allen realize that his movie would become one of the best reflections of relationships in any era, where the man is always confused why a woman always wants to talk in a relationship and where a woman just doesn’t understand why a man always wants sex, and wants to avoid any sort of talking. It also highlights the interesting phenomenon of a man and a woman having totally different points of view about why they broke up with each other.
The movie is about a neurotic comedian Alvy Singer and his experiences in relationships that is till he meets Annie Hall an equally interesting personality, the movie traces a path from the time the two meet the first time to post break up, throughout the movie Allen talks into the camera from time to time, this gives the movie another interesting dimension. The movie is also made certainly more enjoyable by Allen’s ready wit and Diane Keaton’s charm, the chemistry between the onscreen characters of Allen and Keaton is quirky and at the same time magical, it’s this chemistry besides Allen’s writing that brings the movie alive. The only thing that a fist time viewer of a Woody Allen movie might find a tad irritating is the part where he overplays the neurotic bit, but as you ease into the movie you realize that it somehow gels with his whole personality.
All in all a great watch especially if you are looking for some intelligent humor with a meaning. Or as Woody Allen would say” If my film makes one more person miserable, I’ll feel I’ve done my job.”
My rating 9 out of 10
