Annie
Hall (****)
review by Jon
Waterman
This is a simple story of love. Alvy Singer meets and falls
for Annie Hall. The two get together and progress through a
normal relationship. However, something goes astray when they
begin sharing the same apartment. They both start to realize
that their future doesn’t seem quite so bright anymore.
Alvy searches for meaning and answers everywhere he can possibly
find them. And oh yeah…it’s a comedy.
Director/co-writer Woody Allen (along with “Sleeper” collaborator
Marshall Brickman) creates a very unusual yet satisfying film
in the form of a romantic comedy tinted with despair. The approach
draws most of its most comedic moments from its post-modern
approach. The film opens with Singer looking into the camera
and opening this biographical account. Frequently throughout
the picture, he flashes back to various turning points or other
moments from his past to be used as supporting arguments, while
at the same time, inserting himself. He takes the “A
Christmas Carol” gimmick one step further by actually
interacting with these memories. For instance, when he wonders
aloud what happened to his childhood classmates, the little
kids take turns telling us their fates.
And we need these off-the-wall scenarios to lighten the mood.
The film tells the story of a relationship with incredibly
brutal honesty, from beginning to end and beyond. Allen picks
up on all the little things that make love so goddamn amazing
and so goddamn irritating and most importantly, so goddamn
complex yet necessary. It’s bitterly frank, but mesmerizing
due to its reflective nature. This is the kind of film that
could be watched many times over at various stages in life
with the same level of connection and ability to relate. That’s
how accurately it hits those core emotions and how wonderfully
it’s all presented.
Woody Allen has simply created a masterpiece with this film.
He does and says what many wish they could. He lives out your
fantasies in the most grounded and self-effacing manner imaginable.
How many times have you wished you could pull the pseudo-intellectual
guy out of the crowd and force him to confront the artist he’s
talking about? How many times have you wanted to grab total
strangers on the street for honest analysis of your problems…and
get it? This is a hint of the subtle brilliance you’ll
find here. “Annie Hall” is a must see for anyone
interested in films, because it accomplishes so much with what
appears to be so little. It’s a must see for the rest
of you for its amazing ability to fit any and every mood perfectly.
respond to jon@filmbrats.com
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