Pajiba

Wow. First?

I looooove this movie, and my cousin Amy is in it! She played the little girl Alvy tries to kiss in his flashback to first grade.

So many great moments. Some faves:
Shelley Duvall: "Sex with you is such a Kafkaesque experience."

Woody Allen: "I can do this. I've been killing spiders since I was thirty.....there's a spider in there the size of a Buick!"

Diane Keaton (thinking): "I hope he doesn't turn out to be a schmuck like all the others."

Whenever I park a little too far I always think, "It's okay. We can walk to the curb from here."

But, just as in all of Allen's films, I really can't buy all of those hot women going for him. Diane Keaton? Shelley Duvall (weird looking but pretty), that really cute girl who played his first wife? I mean, I know in real life he's had some very attractive wives and girlfriends, even outside of blood relatives, but I just can't understand why. Does this make me shallow? Anyway, in terms of realism and depth, I don't think Woody Allen came close for another couple of decades, until the uber-personal, awesome, "Deconstructing Harry."

I'm sorry, but I'll always retain a deep hatred of "Annie Hall", regardless of its quality, because it stole the Best Picture Oscar from "Star Wars" in '77.

Childhood grudges run deep.

At least he gave a shoutout back to Star Wars in the aforementioned "Deconstructing Harry". I only got to go to one bar mitzvah, and it definitely wasn't that one. Rats.

Ooh, Annie Hall! Love this movie! Remember back when Woody had muses that were actually talented instead of big-boobed mannequins who couldn't rub two brain cells together to light a cigarette?

deitybox, I feel exactly the same way about Woody Allen re: being way to big of a dork for these stunning women. He's not even, like, Seth Rogen cuddly cute, he's a bony little dweeb.

On another note, whenever I see this, it makes me want to start wearing vests and ties casually. How does she make it look so cool?

Was that a jab at ScarJo, Jeremy? If so...good job! I wouldn't have even thought of her.

Very nice review, John...I normally don't lie romcoms...but you make me want to see this one.

I've never seen this. Truth be told...I haven't seen very many Woody Allen movies. I think the only one I even remember seeing was Anything Else, the one with Christina Ricci and Jason Biggs. I liked it well enough...but I've never checked into more of his movies. I think my parents have this one...I may go by this weekend and steal it.

I absolutely adore this movie! In fact, just the other day, I texted my husband, "You're what Grammy Hall would call a real Jew."

Also, I only saw this movie for the first time about a year ago and immediately thought it HAD to be a main source of inspiration for Eternal Sunshine. Both films are a somewhat bittersweet retrospective look at a past relationship with the story often told through the main character's memories. Also, neither movie falls into the sappy traps of the typical romantic comedy.

I have hated almost all of Woody Allen's movies.

I have hated almost all of the romantic comedies I've ever sat through.

The only exception that fits both categories is Annie Hall, which is everything John W. says it is. It is delightful--genuinely funny, geniunely sweet.

I know I am in the minority of people, but I really hate Woody Allen. The only movie of his I have ever even come close to liking was "Purple Rose of Cairo" and the ending of that blew. He is a dork, and he should have NEVER been in his own movies. There, I said it out loud so everyone knows how I feel. Commence the hate.

Why is it that men think that attractive women, whether it's Diane Keaton or Katherine Heigl, won't go for less-than-perfect-looking guys? Is that a result of getting turned down by the prom queen -- or Heiiiiigl herself? I know this is hard to believe, with us girls thinking such things as "stripping is empowering" and whatnot, but sometimes we do enjoy interesting guys who can make us laugh.

Besides, if you're better-looking than your partner, he'll constantly feel the obligation to make it up to you. That's, like, the first thing they teach us when we first go to the bathroom in a group.

Sofia - I think the issue is more that one seldom (okay, never) sees the reverse unless it's the point of the whole damn movie, like "Circle of Friends." I think your reasoning in your last paragraph is actually quite sound. I know women who like to beat their not-so-cute partners/husbands over the head with how goddamned beautiful they are and need the security of not having other women going after their men. Newsflash: entitled nerds paired with pretty women are ALWAYS the first to cheat on your ass. You believe you've done them a favor, but they don't see it that way.

The Keaton/Woody pairing never really bothered me because he doesn't look *horrible* in that movie and he had a lot to offer: he was funny, worldly, intellectual, etc. Rogen et al., conversely, are hot messes with absolutely nothing to offer. Also, it was an age-appropriate pairing (at least they looked around the same age).

Anyway, "Annie Hall" is perfection, if you ask me. Absolutely hilarious and sweet. The "real Jew" comment is not to be believed and delivered so perfectly. And the scene where you see Woody as a Hassidic dude through Grammy's eyes! I don't know if you could get away with that in a movie today - frankly, you probably couldn't get away with it if you weren't Woody Allen.

Many years ago, there was a 60 Minutes piece on Woody Allen. They named all his girlfreinds, wives and other romances. I asked my mom, "How does someone like THAT get all these women?"
She replied, "He's funny and very intelligent."
I didn't understand then, but now I do. The older you get, the more important those two qualities are.
Of course, there is such a thing as too smart, like rationalizing that dating your stepdaughter isn't bad and maybe feeds your talent.

I'm totally stealing this from Chuck Klosterman (Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs remains one of my favorite books ever) but a lot of nebbish, dweeby, and nerdy guys are forever grateful for Woody Allen.

Sorry John but that was a pretty tepid review of an amazing movie.
Yep you are right, it is a romantic comedy with a difference, but that difference is that never before has a relationship been portrayed so touchingly real in all its angst and excitement(on film).
The juxtaposition of Alvy and Annie's happier times (the lobster scene, the nervous, flirty beginning) with the slow unravelling of their relationship (Annies dream about Frank Sinatra strangling her was interpreted by her therapist as signifying her feelings of being stifled by Alvy - Frank Sinatra=singer, Alvy's surname is Singer ;-) and the nostalgic fondness and slight regret that lingers after parting with someone you love.
I don't think i've ever seen a more realistic portrayal of romance on screen. The scene where Annie calls Alvy over to her house in the middle of the night to kill a spider after they have broken up, only to meekly admit that she just wanted to see him, i mean, god, i 've done that...or at least i've thought about doing that.

And Alvy's musing on what went wrong in the relationship only to re-write the end when he is given a chance to author a play in which the "theatrical" Alvy and Annie live happily ever after just highlights how bittersweet love can be and that happy endings can sometimes just pass us by.
But damn if those moments of love and affection and closeness (even if it is messing around in the kitchen cooking lobsters), don't sometimes make it all worth it.

I think i went into soppy territory there. Sorry, i love this film.
And i know you Pajibans are sentimental fools, so don't hide behind your zombie wars;-)

Frogofwar - I agree. I thought this masterpiece was given short shrift.

"It had to be you." Sigh.

Annie Hall-era Woody Allen is totally hot.

Samantha - My last paragraph was meant to be a joke. It doesn't represent my feelings on the subject at all. My four other sisters', perhaps, but certainly not mine.

Sofia - I had a feeling it wasn't you, but I think you're absolutely right in your observation!

Frogofwar- I agree with the sentiment that this is one of the rare (or only?!?) romantic movies that deals with the aftermath of realtionship *without turning it into the quirky plotpoint*--ie, the couple broke up eons ago and come together in some random or not so random way and they end up together again (the shirtless one has done this at least once).

Why has nobody mentioned Christopher Walken as Annie's brother? That ride to the station is one of my favorite scenes in movies.

Woody Allen isn't my cup of tea, but the answers to why women may have found his character attractive include intelligence and humor.

Stardust Memories is another favorite of mine.

brouhaha,
Sorry, I missed your comment when I posted, mine is rather similar.

As for the people posting how Woody was a dork etc, I think that's part of what his girlfriends liked about him. Also, to some degree this is Natural Selection at work. If women only ever had chose pretty but completely stupid guys the human race would be in trouble before too long. And at the end of the day, it's women who do the choosing.

This review is perfection: One of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite movies on one of my favorite sites.
"My grammy never gave gifts. She was too busy getting raped by Cossacks." Still causes me to burst out laughing my head off as if I had never heard it before!

i love this movie. it inspired one of my tattoos.

I know women who like to beat their not-so-cute partners/husbands over the head with how goddamned beautiful they are and need the security of not having other women going after their men. Newsflash: entitled nerds paired with pretty women are ALWAYS the first to cheat on your ass. You believe you've done them a favor, but they don't see it that way.

A favor?

Yep, sometimes I'm really glad I'm single.

Frogofwar:

You summed it all up perfectly.

I now feel heartache in a tiny quiet corner of my being.

TO THIS DAY there is one guy I have never forgotten, never speak about to anyone, and ten years after we first met and I found out he had finally married, I pulled out the old faded photo I had kept of him and cried until I couldn't breathe.

I knew we weren't the right match, I knew we wanted different things, and I knew the right and logical thing was for us to let each other go or risk hating each other. So we did.

As painful as our breakup was for both of us and as much as I'll always remember the first date, first fight, first kiss, every silly stupid thing that only meant something to us and it makes me feel empty to know I will never have that again with him.......I don't regret one second of knowing him.

This movie is such an amazing experience; everything you hate and yet everything you love about a person and never want to end is right there. Every romantic comedy should have such LIFE behind it!!!!

That was beautiful, scorzi. Thank you so much for sharing it. It makes my heart break for you. I'm actually in an ideal version of that situation - I am re-involved with the girl I never forgot, never stopped thinking about, and let go ten years ago. We just happened to start talking again recently, and clicked even better than before. We're talking marriage.

I hope the best for you, and wish you nothing but love and happiness

Jay - other women's approaches, not mine. I do know women who shy away from what they perceive as appearance-competition, just like I know guys who shy away from what they perceive as humor-competition.

"I'm sorry, but I'll always retain a deep hatred of "Annie Hall", regardless of its quality, because it stole the Best Picture Oscar from "Star Wars" in '77."

YES. Perhaps the reason I still haven't seen this yet.

Ahhh...Diane Keaton, one of the original transvestites.

One prominent Chicago critic (I think it was Dave Kehr many moons ago) pointed out that Annie Hall was the movie in which Woody Allen first acknowledged that he was indeed attractive to women, and that just because he was a skinny Jew with a big nose and glasses he wasn't lovable or attractive. So, no great revelation there.

Two other things that are always worth noting when I think about this great film: That Keaton's real name is Diane Hall, and the working title of the film was "Anhedonia," or the morbid inability to enjoy oneself.

Why is it that men think that attractive women, whether it's Diane Keaton or Katherine Heigl, won't go for less-than-perfect-looking guys?

Because they don't.

Love this film, for all the reasons you've heard before - PLUS!!! shhhh...there is a cameo in the LA party scene featuring the apex of Jeff Goldblum hotness. "I forgot my mantra". This one brief glimpse explains everything I believe in regarding hotness.

Just in case anyone forgets, this son of a bitch was involved in one of the most lurid cases of debauchery in the history of Hollywood, but you all laud him as some sort of genius. Only in America can one fuck with impunity, as long as one can make a good movie.

This contradiction between Alvy's view of himself (as a charming, anti-intellectual lothario) and his real self (a smart, hand-wringing neurotic) is one of the built-in conceits that make everything in the movie funny.

Man, I wish I'd written that. I'll give Alvy this much -- that contradiction may have been his Achilles heel in terms of his relationships, but it served him well as a consumer of culture, both high and low. He was equally enthusiastic about The Sorrow and the Pity and the Knicks. I love that about him.

great review of a great movie.... a definite classic.

god, this movie makes me think of me and my ex. he naturally loves woody allen movies and i naturally hate his neurotic-yet-self-loving guts. but damned if i don't love this movie anyway. le sigh. good film indeed.

You know, I hate hate hate romcoms, but this actually sounds appealing. The whole "steaks don't have legs" thing sounds like something I can snicker at. I'll have to shimmy over to Blockbuster after work today.

Only in America can one fuck with impunity, as long as one can make a good movie.

*sigh*

Roman Polanski

I've always loved...no..luuurved this movie. When I did finally fall in love, "love" wasn't nearly a strong enough word just because of this movie. Although I can barely stomach any reference to Woody (pedophilia anyone????) Allen anymore, this movie still holds a very dear place in my heart. I simply pretend that the Woody Allen of the 70's was abducted by aliens (much like they did to Michael Jackson in the 80's) and replaced him with a very poor facsimile (aka child exploiting) version. Wonderful review and thank you. Now, back to my regularly scheduled loathing of this disgusting, incestuous, and moral-character-lacking deviant.

I recently watched this for the first time and while I love most of Allen's earliest films (Take the Money & Run, Sleeper, What's Up Tiger Lily and Love and Death are among my favorite comedies of all time) I really don't care for this one at all.

First of all, Alvy Singer isn't just an unattractive neurotic. He is a jerk. A complete, self-centered jerk. It is extremely hard to root for a character who actively sabatoges his relationship and then whines about what possibly could have gone wrong.

Also, most of the best lines in the movie were ripped off his stand up comedy routines in the 1960s. How this warrants an Oscar for "original" screenplay is beyond me.

I completely agree that Allen is sexually creepy, though "Manhattan" was a harbinger in that he was a 40-something dating a girl in high school! Boyfriend's got some problems, but I do love many of his movies.

And don't even get me started on Polanski. I love, love, love "Rosemary's Baby", but he drugged and sodomized a 13-year-old.

Wait, is this the 70's classic week going on? And nobody has bothered to review any of the Scorsese movies? Is there a darker, more complex character than Travis Bickle that came out of Hollywood in the 1970s? Or is it because Scorsese of the 1970s is not cool enough for Pajiba? Or may be he is just too hot to handle! But seriously, Woody Allen's Annie Hall?! I had to pull the year when I last saw it out of my ass.