Review of Annie Hall (1977) by Asif K — 29 Jun 2011

Woody Allen's romantic comedy of the Me Decade follows the up and down relationship of two mismatched New York neurotics. Jewish comedy writer Alvy Singer (Allen) ponders the modern quest for love and his past romance with tightly-wound WASP singer Annie Hall (Diane Keaton, nà (C)e Diane Hall). The twice-divorced Alvy knows that it's not easy to find a mate when the options include pretentious New York intellectuals and lifestyle-obsessed Rolling Stone writers, but la-di-dah-ing Annie seems different. Along the rocky road of their coupling, Allen/Alvy weigh in on such topics as endless therapy, movies vs. TV, the absurdity of dating rituals, anti-Semitism, drugs, and, in one of the best set pieces, repressed Midwestern WASP insanity vs. crazy Brooklyn Jewish boisterousness. Annie wants to move to Los Angeles to find that fame that finally does in the relationship -- but not before Alvy gets in a few digs at vacuous, mantra-fixated California. Originally entitled Anhedonia (the inability to enjoy oneself), Annie Hall blended the slapstick and fantasy from such earlier Allen films as Sleeper (1973) and Bananas (1971) with the more autobiographical musings of his stand-up and written comedy, using an array of such movie techniques as talking heads, splitscreens, and subtitles. Within these gleeful formal experiments and sight gags, Allen and co-writer Marshall Brickman skewered 1970s solipsism, reversing the happy marriage of opposites found in classic screwball comedies. Hailed as Allen's most mature and personal film, Annie Hall beat out Star Wars for Best Picture and also won Oscars for Allen as director and writer and for Keaton as Best Actress; audiences enthusiastically responded to Allen's take on contemporary love and turned Keaton's rumpled menswear into a fashion trend.

I do remember watching this movie when I was young but I wasn't in to movies so much so I needed to watch this movie. this movie is just about everyone's favorite Woody Allen movie. and now mine too. to be honest I am not a big Woodyhollic but I really admire his work.

This movie was nominated for 5 Oscars, winning 4 including Best Picture, Director, Original Screenplay and Actress in a lead role Diane Keaton. the other nomination was for Woody Allen as Best Lead Actor. this is such a beloved movie, everyone loves it. I loved it too.

Directed beautifully and perfectly by Woody Allen, I can't imagine how he gets all the stuff in his mind as his movies are filled with dialogues and conversations how do he get them so perfectly? he indeed is a genius. excellent direction, screenplay was very good loved it. from start to end I was enjoying this movie, never a dull or boring moment. nice cinematography, art direction and costumes. superb editing and ofcourse amazing fantastic dialogues.

Diane Keaton as Annie Hall is just too good, she gave quite an impressive superb performance. I loved her in this movie so much. so beautiful she was and she is. a perfect match with Woody in his movies. Woody Allen did a good job too. good acting, and quite natural acting ofcourse by everyone. I noticed that in some of those hilarious scenes like those Lobsters scene you can clearly see Keaton and Woody both laughing naturally and their expressions are so real throughout. other actors are in some minor roles, Tony Roberts, Carol Kane, Paul Simon , Colleen Dewhurst , Janet Margolin , Shelley Duvall , Christopher Walken , Donald Symington , Mordecai Lawner , Joan Newman , Sigourney Weaver and others.

This is one of my all time favorite movies. one of the best movies ever, honestly. such a big delight to watch movies like. characters just talk and talk and still you enjoy them talking and you don't get bored because of the perfect written work. this is a romantic comedy and one of the best romantic movies. a very light movie for a perfect afternoon. the ending was shocking to me but that is what makes it ANNIE HALL. it is a Must watch.