Annie Hall (1977) ***1/2

Rating: 9/10 (15 June 2011)

Woody Allen's Oscar-winning film which at the time was extremely thought-provoking and took him from just making funny movies into becoming hailed as something of a cinematic auteur with something to say. It's a very funny interplay between a neurotic and pessimistic stand-up Jewish comic named Alvy Singer (Allen, naturally) and his equally screwed up girlfriend Annie (Diane Keaton). These two eccentrics seem made for each other, and through a series of consistently well-written humorous dialogue and New York situations, we watch their relationship begin and fizzle out. I'm not sure there's as much of a point about the nature of relationships here as some reviewers make out, but what works is simply Woody's cynical character and the unrelenting humor. Some of ANNIE HALL's effectiveness may be reduced these days, since after its success and Woody's Oscar, he began repeating himself with future films and so there's a good chance you've already seen Annie and Alvy in other later Woody Allen movies by now. But for its time, this was quite an innovation. I wouldn't consider the movie worthy of its Best Picture award though; I would have given that honor to THE GOODBYE GIRL. A slight demerit is also added because I don't feel the character of Annie Hall herself is very likable or even interesting; it makes one wonder why she was significant enough to have the movie named after her. ***1/2 out of ****