SHOWTIMES THRU 6/11: 8:15p | 10:15p (ENDS 6/11)
WINNER: 1978 Academy Awards USA: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Writing, Best Leading Actress
WINNER: 1978 Golden Globes USA: Golden Globe Best Actress
WINNER: 1977 New York Film Circle Awards: Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actress
A wonderful, semi-autobiographical take on modern-day relationships, the price of fame and why New York will always be better than Los Angeles. Alvy Singer (Woody Allen) is a neurotic, insecure, difficult comedian (as usual) who works for TV in Manhattan. Having just split up with his long-term lover Annie Hall (Diane Keaton), Alvy takes us back through their time together with brief stops at his childhood and failed marriages. Brought up in Brooklyn, in the shadow of a giant roller-coaster, Alvy was always a little different from his classmates. Even at the tender age of six he was lusting after girls (explored in a great children-acting-as-adults scene) and worrying about the fate of the Universe. In parallel with his rise as a comedian, Alvy gained and lost two (unsuitable) wives. However, the first meeting between Annie and Alvy is a moment to treasure for ever. Annie manages to take Alvy back to her apartment (in a death-defying car journey) where they talk the intellectual, philosophical conversation of adults. However, their real thoughts are shown as subtitles - a terrifically earthy contrast.
As their relationship deepens, a critical flaw emerges - Annie is changing and maturing while Alvy seems to be running on the spot. Therapy has shown Annie that she needs to cater for her own needs, which is why she jumps at the chance when Tony Lacey (Paul Simon), a music mogul, offers a recording contract. This means moving to California but Annie's ready for the change of pace and an excuse to split up with Alvy. He kids himself that this is a mutual decision but, eventually, the longing becomes too great and Alvy travels to his nemesis - LA. This smog-ridden, soft-living town fundamentally rubs against his chosen lifestyle (anywhere that serves alfalfa and grated yeast must have a problem) but he'll do anything to get Annie back.
Love stories are rarely this honest, amusing, uplifting/depressing and easy to identify with. It's a testament to Woody Allen's skills as a writer, director and actor that ANNIE HALL is such a witty and penetrating film on the topics which are close to Allen's heart (romance, New York and death). ANNIE HALL is not a pure comedy, which works to its advantage, but a human drama with plenty of comical moments and a wealth of real emotion. Fragile, beautiful and painfully funny.
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