(1977, Dir. Woody Allen)
In Short: A neurotic New York comedian considers his failed relationships. The original title for Annie Hall was Anhedonia, which is the term that refers to the psychological condition of being unable to feel joy. I see why they changed the title, in the end--Anhedonia isn't very marketable--but the original works really well. The movie's central tenet is that Alvy sabotages his own life and relationships. He lacks that ability to feel joy because he is looking for it in the wrong places. This is a romantic comedy but the film's romance and joy aren't in the moments that romcoms typically use to make everyone feel all warm and fuzzy. Annie and Alvy's first meeting is pretty awkward. Alvy buys Annie books about death. They're not romantic in the sense that other movie couples are, and that's why Alvy can't be happy. The scenes that stood out to me as representing the best parts of Annie and Alvy's relationship were the lobster scene and the spider scene. Though these scenes occupy very different emotional registers they really illustrate how Annie and Alvy work together as a couple. Therefore the other lobster scene towards the end of the movie was super affecting for me. It's in that moment that both Alvy and the audience realize what Alvy lost--something that seemed so mundane was actually unique. I loved Annie Hall. I loved it. Woody Allen's abject grossness aside I LOVED this movie. It was so intricate and weird and tongue-in-cheek in all the best ways possible. It mixed reality with fantasy in a perfect blend that made for something that felt true without just watching life on screen. The split screen, the breaking the fourth wall, the time travel, everything. Really good stuff. Really, really good.
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AuthorEileen here, writing reviews for film class. Archives
April 2018
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