Annie Hall (1977)
Studio: MGM
Theatrical Release: April 20, 1977
Blu Ray Release: January 24, 2012
PG
Review by James Klein
Considered to be one of Woody Allen's best films and known by many movie geeks to beat out Star Wars for the Academy Award of Best Picture, Annie Hall is finally out on blu ray. Split by many people as you either love him or hate him, I fall in the former. While I haven't been very fond of Allen's more recent films, I do love most of his films from the 70's and 80's. A comedy about a doomed relationship, Annie Hall is one of Allen's best films.
From the very beginning, we are introduced to Alvy Singer (Allen) who is just turning 40 and is a comic living in Manhattan who has a tendency to see the world in a different light than most people. Nervous, pessimistic and sarcastic Alvy even as a child was never happy. The one thing that did make him happy was girls. Even at a young age, Alvy loved girls. In one sequence, Alvy kisses a girl in class and is repremanded by his teacher. Alvy as an adult argues with his teacher and other students in the class who tell the viewers where they are now. The film breaks the third wall but does so without being too jarring or disruptive, thus giving this comedy a different approach and something that is original.
As Alvy goes from one relationship to the next, he is paired up with Annie, a ditzy and silly gal who is a struggling nightclub singer and is nothing like Alvy. However, they fall in love and the rest of the film shows us the ups and downs of a relationship and what its like when two people in love soon fall out of love. Alvy's insecurities turn Annie off while Annie's outgoing and adventerous personality just causes Alvy headache after headache. When Annie travels to Los Angeles to start a singing career, Alvy knows that the relationship is over and tries to win her back but can't seem to capture that same spark or fire they once had.
Diane Keaton as Annie really shines in this film. Not only is she beautiful but her voice is amazing. When she sings the song, "It Had To Be You" one almost melts listening to her. Annie is also very funny at times from her erratic driving to her now iconic saying, "La Di Da." It would be very hard not to fall in love with this girl. Allen's quick rapid fire one-liners and jokes are also fantastic. He spits out joke after joke without hesitation and I still crack up at him at a party where he is about to snort cocaine and sneezes, blowing it everywhere. Although my favorite moment in the film is when Alvy stand sin a movie line with Annie and a man behind him is talking about a film director and thinks he knows it all while Alvy tries hard not to say something to this guy. This reminds me all too well of some of my friends who get upset over a blow hard or know it all when talking about a film or director (you know who you are!).
While the film is funny, the movie does drift into dramatic territory without being too disruptive in tone changes. This feels like we are watching a documentary about two people who fall in and out of love. There is no huge fight over something awful or devestating, it just happens. Even when Alvy is trying to date someone new and tries desperately to recapture the same magic that he had with Annie while repeating a certain memory just back fires. And the bitter sweet ending of Alvy and Annie running into each other one last time is a perfect way to end a perfect film. Even his final line explains what a relationship really is:
"I thought of that old joke, y'know, this guy goes to a psychiatrist and says, "Doc, uh, my brother's crazy; he thinks he's a chicken." And the doctor says, "Well, why don't you turn him in?" The guy says, "I would, but I need the eggs." Well, I guess that's pretty much now how I feel about relationships; they're totally irrational, and crazy, and absurd but I guess we keep going through it because most of us... need the eggs."
MGM's blu ray is just as good as the film: perfect. The movie still holds its grain while being crystal clear and not overly bright. Alvy and Annie's walk by the Brooklyn Bridge looks beautiful in its twilight and seeing Shelley Long wearing a see thru white shirt had me question the PG rating of this film. I have seen Annie Hall numerous times and I don't remember ever seeing Long's nipples sticking through her shirt. The blu ray's sound is presented in mono only, as originally intended. Being a dialog heavy film, it sounds just fine. There is only a trailer added as a special feature but Allen has always been against commentaries and behind the scenes footage of his movie. Too bad too because the original running time for Annie Hall before its release was over two hours. I would love to have seen what was cut out.
Well directed, a very funny and yet sad screenplay, a tremendous cast which also includes Tony Roberts, Paul Simon, Carol Kane, Christopher Walken and a cameo by Jeff Goldblum; Annie Hall is an almost flawless film. For those that like a little pessimism in their romantic comedies, this movie is for you.
Theatrical Release: April 20, 1977
Blu Ray Release: January 24, 2012
PG
Review by James Klein
Considered to be one of Woody Allen's best films and known by many movie geeks to beat out Star Wars for the Academy Award of Best Picture, Annie Hall is finally out on blu ray. Split by many people as you either love him or hate him, I fall in the former. While I haven't been very fond of Allen's more recent films, I do love most of his films from the 70's and 80's. A comedy about a doomed relationship, Annie Hall is one of Allen's best films.
From the very beginning, we are introduced to Alvy Singer (Allen) who is just turning 40 and is a comic living in Manhattan who has a tendency to see the world in a different light than most people. Nervous, pessimistic and sarcastic Alvy even as a child was never happy. The one thing that did make him happy was girls. Even at a young age, Alvy loved girls. In one sequence, Alvy kisses a girl in class and is repremanded by his teacher. Alvy as an adult argues with his teacher and other students in the class who tell the viewers where they are now. The film breaks the third wall but does so without being too jarring or disruptive, thus giving this comedy a different approach and something that is original.
As Alvy goes from one relationship to the next, he is paired up with Annie, a ditzy and silly gal who is a struggling nightclub singer and is nothing like Alvy. However, they fall in love and the rest of the film shows us the ups and downs of a relationship and what its like when two people in love soon fall out of love. Alvy's insecurities turn Annie off while Annie's outgoing and adventerous personality just causes Alvy headache after headache. When Annie travels to Los Angeles to start a singing career, Alvy knows that the relationship is over and tries to win her back but can't seem to capture that same spark or fire they once had.
Diane Keaton as Annie really shines in this film. Not only is she beautiful but her voice is amazing. When she sings the song, "It Had To Be You" one almost melts listening to her. Annie is also very funny at times from her erratic driving to her now iconic saying, "La Di Da." It would be very hard not to fall in love with this girl. Allen's quick rapid fire one-liners and jokes are also fantastic. He spits out joke after joke without hesitation and I still crack up at him at a party where he is about to snort cocaine and sneezes, blowing it everywhere. Although my favorite moment in the film is when Alvy stand sin a movie line with Annie and a man behind him is talking about a film director and thinks he knows it all while Alvy tries hard not to say something to this guy. This reminds me all too well of some of my friends who get upset over a blow hard or know it all when talking about a film or director (you know who you are!).
While the film is funny, the movie does drift into dramatic territory without being too disruptive in tone changes. This feels like we are watching a documentary about two people who fall in and out of love. There is no huge fight over something awful or devestating, it just happens. Even when Alvy is trying to date someone new and tries desperately to recapture the same magic that he had with Annie while repeating a certain memory just back fires. And the bitter sweet ending of Alvy and Annie running into each other one last time is a perfect way to end a perfect film. Even his final line explains what a relationship really is:
"I thought of that old joke, y'know, this guy goes to a psychiatrist and says, "Doc, uh, my brother's crazy; he thinks he's a chicken." And the doctor says, "Well, why don't you turn him in?" The guy says, "I would, but I need the eggs." Well, I guess that's pretty much now how I feel about relationships; they're totally irrational, and crazy, and absurd but I guess we keep going through it because most of us... need the eggs."
MGM's blu ray is just as good as the film: perfect. The movie still holds its grain while being crystal clear and not overly bright. Alvy and Annie's walk by the Brooklyn Bridge looks beautiful in its twilight and seeing Shelley Long wearing a see thru white shirt had me question the PG rating of this film. I have seen Annie Hall numerous times and I don't remember ever seeing Long's nipples sticking through her shirt. The blu ray's sound is presented in mono only, as originally intended. Being a dialog heavy film, it sounds just fine. There is only a trailer added as a special feature but Allen has always been against commentaries and behind the scenes footage of his movie. Too bad too because the original running time for Annie Hall before its release was over two hours. I would love to have seen what was cut out.
Well directed, a very funny and yet sad screenplay, a tremendous cast which also includes Tony Roberts, Paul Simon, Carol Kane, Christopher Walken and a cameo by Jeff Goldblum; Annie Hall is an almost flawless film. For those that like a little pessimism in their romantic comedies, this movie is for you.
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