My wife made a startling confession recently by saying that she'd never seen Woody Allen's arguable meisterwork "Annie Hall." We rented it with all speed. Peg loved it, of course. Personally speaking, I'm partial to Woody's more absurdist work ala "Sleeper," "Bananas" and "Take the Money & Run" (yes, I know, he didn't direct that one, pedants). In any case, this episode started us on a bit of a Woody Allen kick. Earlier this week, when Peg went out to visit some family, I popped in the DVD of another of Woody's more celebrated films, "Manhattan." Still co-starring Diane Keaton as his primary foil (Mia Farrow hadn't crept into the scene yet, though her sister Tisa has a fleeting cameo in a party scene), "Manhattan" isn't half the film "Annie Hall" is, but it's still pretty compelling. I don't totally buy the sexual chemistry and romance between Woody's character Ike and 17-year-old Tracey, played with smoldering cuteness by Mariel Hemingway. I also found it somewhat sobering that I'm virtually the same age as Woody's crisis-laden protagonist.
While the film may be inherently flawed, it's still a lovely depiction of Manhattan from a bygone era (see also Woody's images of a since radically facelifted Soho in "Hannah & Her Sisters"). And there is simply no arguing with the film's opening montage (see below).
While you are at it, you MUST revisit Broadway Danny Rose. My all-time fave Woody Allen pick and a great chronicle of circa 1984 Manhattan.
Great detail of the Carnegie Deli and old-skool comedians of the era. A true treasure.
Posted by: hntrnyc | March 12, 2009 at 01:52 PM
Ah, lovely...
Posted by: EV Grieve | March 12, 2009 at 04:00 PM
IMDB seems to think Woody Allen DID direct "Take the Money and Run".
Posted by: Rob B. | March 12, 2009 at 04:47 PM
Really? There's something about that film that sets it apart from the rest of his canon. Can't think what it is.
Posted by: Alex in NYC | March 12, 2009 at 07:36 PM
I think TTM&R the first film he acted in, AND wrote AND directed.
I know he didn't direct "Scenes from a Mall". I always though it odd he took *that* as an acting role, especially at that point in his career.
(Not that I ever saw it.)
Full appreciation of Woody, and New York herewith:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNEZpbBspQU
Posted by: Rob B. | March 12, 2009 at 09:59 PM
I'm one of those people who find "Annie Hall" a bit cloying but absolutely love "Manhattan." Love the manic early stuff too; my favorite of those used to be "Sleeper" but the past few years has seen "Bananas" rise to the top. Sadly, but amazingly, it seems just as relevant as ever after all these years.
Posted by: Erik | March 13, 2009 at 10:12 AM