Review of Manhattan (1979) by Raül J — 09 Sep 2009

From the magical start, with the off voice "Chapter One. He was... " ensembled with the music of Gershwin and the astounding, gorgeous visuals of NY, you know you are in front of something special. Like Annie Hall, a cousin of this movie, Manhattan deals again with relationships, combining humour and sharp lines with grace and wisdom. Although one can say this one is darker (there are some poignants, bittersweet lines adddressing the upper-intelectual class of New Yorkers, about the inconsistency of people, the fragility of relationships, the idiocicy of TV) there's also space for pure romanticism in some scenes. So the tone of the movie is brilliantly balanced.

The movie is a superb, deeply self-critical tale about immaturity but also about realising and fighting for real love. Isaac (Allen) is involved between two women that represent, by contrast, several things: Tracy (lovely Mariel Hemingway) is honest, caring and open, but too young for the head of a frustrated Isaac, while Mary (great Keaton) is a neurotic intellectual, someone that, in principle, should fit (age, knowledge) better with him. It also shows the clash between cynism and disdain of middle age against the innocence and will of the youth. As a matter of fact, aside from Isaac, all the "adults" on the movie are pretty disfunctional. You can also say that the only thing that Allen portrays as something magnificent is the city of New York in all its -romantic- beauty (undoubtfully his most artistic film).

But aside from all that analysis, Manhattan is a WONDERFUL love song about a city, NY, about living and about love. It is a genuine moving love story, subtle, rich, deep, funny, but a touching love story. And this amazing lines very near the end are the best example of it, and one (imo) of the most touching and fantastic scenes cinema has given to us:

Why is life worth living? It's a very good question. Um... Well, There are certain things I guess that make it worthwhile. uh... Like what... okay... um... For me, uh... ooh... I would say... what, Groucho Marx, to name one thing... uh... um... and Wilie Mays... and um... the 2nd movement of the Jupiter Symphony... and um... Louis Armstrong, recording of Potato Head Blues... um... Swedish movies, naturally... Sentimental Education by Flaubert... uh... Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra... um... those incredible Apples and Pears by Cezanne... uh... the crabs at Sam Wo's... uh... Tracy's face...

Ok, I can't resist to answer the previous question (sorry I have a serious egotistical problem) myself.

Why is life worth living? It's a very good question. Um... Well, There are certain things I guess that make it worthwhile. uh... Like what... okay... um... For me, uh... ooh... I would say... what, some Allen's movies, to name one thing... uh... um... and the Lithuanian national team in the middle 90's... and um... Automatic for the People and Achtung Baby... and um... seeing Beth Orton's in Brooklyn... um... Lost in translation, Ghost World, Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind naturally... The heart is a lonely hunter by Carson McCullers... uh... walking with The National music, travelling...um... these prepared meals in Seville... uh... Rosa's face...

So if you are in love with NY, with life, and/or with someone. If you enjoy laughing but also think about ourselves, why we behave the way we do, what are our motivations, our concerns, our manias, our fears and our passions.....then Manhattan should be one of your movies. If you have made the previous question to yourself Manhattan is one of your movies. If you are a romantic, Manhattan IS one of your movies for sure. I know, I have no cure.