Review of Manhattan (1979) by Stuart K — 23 Apr 2012
After his Bergmanesque drama Interiors (1978), Woody Allen returned in front of the camera with this romantic comedy-drama which is a love-letter to his native city. Filmed in a high contrast black-and-white, in full widescreen as well.
It's a film, to paraphrase the opening monologue, "pulsated to the great tunes of George Gershwin", it's passionate, romantic and has a good wit about it. Television writer Isaac (Woody) has divorced his second wife Jill (Meryl Streep), who has come out as a lesbian, and is living with Connie (Karen Ludwig).
Isaac is now seeing a 17 year old student named Tracy (Mariel Hemingway), it's a good relationship, and they have a lot in common. But, then Isaac meets Mary (Diane Keaton), who is the mistress of his best friend Yale (Michael Murphy), who is married to Emily (Anne Bryne), Isaac falls for Mary, and dumps Tracy, which leaves her heartbroken.
The relationship between Isaac and Mary starts after Emily becomes suspicious, so Yale calls it off, even though Mary's cultural snobbery rubs Isaac up the wrong way, but Yale leaves Emily for Mary, leaving Isaac stuck in the middle.
It's a good epic romance set in an epic city, with Woody showing maturity as actor, writer and director, and he has a good ensemble in this film too, with Hemingway showing maturity as the teenager.
Woody hated this film, and begged United Artists not to release it. They did anyways, just as well.
This review of Manhattan (1979) was written by Stuart K on 23 Apr 2012.
Manhattan has generally received very positive reviews.
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