Review of Manhattan (1979) by Daniel B — 06 Sep 2010

Woody Allen has been making films since the 60's and has made many fantastic films in several different genres. He is now in his seventies and is yet just as prolific as he ever was and makes at least one film a year even now. He is without doubt one of the genuine film greats, a fantastic director and a brilliant actor and man.

In the seventies he made arguably his two masterpieces, his two best films and two films that always rank highly in best ever lists - 'Annie Hall' and 'Manhattan' - Both films star Woody himself alongside Diane Keaton and they are without doubt two of the wittiest films I have ever seen.

It is Manhattan however that to my mind is the slightly better film (I think usually Annie Hall gets the nod from most people) because I just love the way that New York has been artisically captured in black and white. The style of the film is something that many film makers have tried to copy over the years since this films release.

The opening to Manhattan with artistic imagery from around New York with a voice over by Woody Allen is among the most famous openings in film history -.

'Chapter One: He adored New York City. To him it was a metaphor for the decay of contemporary culture. The same lack of individual integrity that caused so many people to take the easy way out was rapidly turning the town of his dreams in - no, it's gonna be too preachy, I mean, you know, let's face it, I wanna sell some books here.

Chapter One: He adored New York City. Although to him it was a metaphor for the decay of contemporary culture. How hard it was to exist in a society desensitized by drugs, loud music, television, crime, garbage - too angry. I don't want to be angry.

Chapter One. He was as tough and romantic as the city he loved. Behind his black-rimmed glasses was the coiled sexual power of a jungle cat. Oh, I love this. New York was his town, and it always would be'.

Manhattan tells the story of 42 year old Isac Davis. Isac is a divorced writer of TV shows unhappy with his job. His ex-wife left him to live with another woman and is writing a book about her relationship with Isac. He is now dating a seventeen years old high-school student, Tracy, who is in love with him, but he feels the ridiculous age gap makes them look absurd together.

Isaac Davis: She's 17. I'm 42 and she's 17. I'm older than her father, can you believe that? I'm dating a girl, wherein, I can beat up her father.

When he meets Mary Wilkie, the mistress of his married best friend Yale, he immediately falls for her despite her many dislikable character traits.

As with most Woody Allen films around this time his character is a self depreciating Jewish man, neurotic but likeable, very funny with a sharp line ready for every situation -.

Isaac Davis: Has anybody read that Nazis are gonna march in New Jersey? Y'know, I read this in the newspaper. We should go down there, get some guys together, y'know, get some bricks and baseball bats and really explain things to them.

Party Guest: There is this devastating satirical piece on that on the Op Ed page of the Times, it is devastating.

Isaac Davis: Well, a satirical piece in the Times is one thing, but bricks and baseball bats really gets right to the point.

There are so many quotable lines in the film, the screenplay is more filled with witty lines than any other that I can think of. Woody Allen is a master at delivering a witty line and Diane Keaton his perfect foil for doing so. One of my favourite scenes in the film is when Isac and Tracy are walking around a museum and they bump into Yale and his mistress Mary (Isac's first meeting with her). Everything Isac loves Mary rips apart and then whenever Isac points out the pieces he hated Mary jumps in and explains why they were artistically brilliant. It's very funny and also gives an early insight into Marys character -.

Isaac Davis - Well, we didn't like it as much as we liked the plexiglass sculpture.

Mary Wilke - Really. You liked the plexiglass?

Isaac Davis: You didn't like the plexiglass either?

Mary Wilke: interesting. No. Um uh-uh.

Isaac Davis: Well it was a hell of a lot better than that steel cube. Did you see the steel cube?

Mary Wilke: Now that was brilliant to me. Absolutely brilliant.

Isaac Davis: The steel cube was brilliant?

Mary Wilke: Yes. To me it was very textual, you know what I mean? It was perfectly integrated, and it had a marvelous kind of negative capability. The rest of the stuff downstairs was bull***.

'Manhattan' has long been one of my favourite films. If you're not familiar with Woody Allens films then I think 'Annie Hall' is the perfect place to start out. It is slightly more accessible than 'Manhattan' and is also of course in colour which some people prefer. The black and white of 'Manhattan' works so perfectly that I cannot imagine it being in colour. The other part of 'Manhattan' that is extremely important to the whole feel of the film is the music, the music of George Gershwin is as much a character in this film as any of the people are and without it something would definately be missing.

'Manhattan' is Woody Allens tribute to New York, it's almost like his love letter to the city he adores. It's a truly wonderful film and it will long be remembered as one of Woody Allens greatest achievements, even if the great man himself refuses to see it as one of his best.