Review of Manhattan (1979) by George C — 22 Aug 2009

I have no idea why it took me so long to see this. My Woody Allen phase ended a few years ago, but Manhattan has always slipped through the cracks. Nevertheless, it's a stunning product of Woody Allen's two most fruitful collaborations: his writing partnership with Marshall Brickman and his cinematography with Gordon Willis.

Apparently Allen (who ended up hating the final product and sought to have the print destroyed) attempted to make a Romantic Comedy film that fused together Annie Hall and Interiors, and he was successful at doing so. The subtle, witty Romantic humor of Annie Hall is here in full force, but so was Allen's artistic side. The cinematography is very simple and elegant, and Manhattan has never looked so gorgeous. The city is a separate character altogether, and Manhattan's chaos, decadence, and beauty is represented in terrific detail. Allen does a better job applying his Bergman influence in this film more than Interiors, as it is less overbearing and pretentious. It's also a more enjoyable movie to watch.