Neither entertaining nor a masterpiece of film making.

Rating: Null/10 (16 May 2001)

The Academy Awards Broadcast in 1978 charted one of the top 3 Oscar tune-ins ever, and I've no doubt if Best Picture had been the first presented award of the night it would have also charted the largest and fastest viewers tune-out in history.
Annie hall is no more than a dressed up romantic comedy, the only new twist even for the time was that he didn't get the girl. I am surprised that it took her that long to realise that he is a winging, inconsiderate, and negative little pessimist. He uses gags like the sub text communicating thoughts, and talking to people in the street like a roving reporter to hide the fact that otherwise he has a tiring, run-of-the-mill screenplay.
He prattles on with "meaning of life" drivel all through the movie which is another vain attempt to bring depth to this sickly uninteresting flick. One true highlight is seeing Jeff Goldblum make a one line appearance at the party towards the end.
And the now notorious times when he narrates, talking to the camera that have been sent up numerous times since, he looks dead set like he is acting, he tries to assume a nervous air air but it comes off as a presumptive performance. I know it is tradition for academy members to nominate the lead actor in the flick you are voting Best Picture but in this case it is a great detraction from the credibility of the Academy. The movie is neither entertaining nor a masterpiece of film making. Handing it Best Picture over the entertainment giant Star Wars was beyond ridiculous. It really does just have nothing to recommend it.