When Woody was Young and Fresh

Rating: Null/10 (16 September 2002)

Why is this his best film? Because he is still showing his wonderful love affair with New York City, because he is showing the great Diane Keaton in her like-Buster put-ons. Because he knew then how to make indelible images in your mind: think of Annie in her goofy hat and tie and mannerisms.
Because they were new, we didn't have other images of him reproducing the same thing, the same tics, the same stale routines. And of course, we didn't have to have our minds clouded with sordid images of his personal life. Not that an artist's private life (or a politician's for that matter) should affect the power of his works: Picasso's 'Guernivica" is still magnificent despite his brutality to women; Woody is still a master of photography, comedy and nebbishness, despite his psychological incest.
I understand that if I were Jewish I would 'get' even more of the movie than I did: when Annie orders a corned beef sandwich on white bread with mayonnaise, she is violating some Jewish deli more. Guess I'll have to watch it with a Jewish friend of mine so he can point out such things to me.
So, see 'Annie Hall' again: the test of a great movie is that it is great no matter WHEN you see it...immediately, 10 years or 20 years after (what about 'Metropolis'?) It is WE who have changed, and there's nothing like a great movie to show us surprisingly how.
And, Woody, it's time for you to make another NYC movie: a post 9/11 one with your choice of theme......a comic tragedy, maybe? that would highlight the heartless mercenary/political uses of the tragedy being made by Big Business and Bush?