Manhattan

In 1979, Woody had the burden of trying to capture the "originality" of "Annie Hall," the Oscar-winning Best Picture of 1977.So when "Manhattan" was released, Woody's first "true" widescreen picture (so much so that Woody insisted this film NEVER be released on video or shown on television without the black bars on the top and bottom of the screen), I wasn't quite sure what to expect.I discovered that "Manhattan" had a completely different tone than "Annie Hall." It was more serious, but still hilarious. I became so enraptured by its themes, its music and its atmosphere that I felt, until I saw "Goodfellas" in the fall of 1990 and "Schindler's List" in late 1993, that I had witnessed something that comes along only once or twice a generation...and that's true greatness on film. I paid to see "Manhattan" at least four times during its initial run in 1979. I had never done this before, even when I include those popcorn pictures I had seen several times put out by Spielberg and Lucas during the 1970s. I found "Manhattan" simply incredible, so "on the mark," so revelatory about the weaknesses of people, especially so-called "intelligent" people.Rather than go over the plot, I believe "Manhattan's" themes include the following:1. intellectualism is overrated.2. romance is illogical and unscientific.3. words don't always match our actions.4. moral structure is a man-made invention.5. fidelity is an optimistic ideal.6. skeletons in the closet are better left unsaid.7. uncorrupted optimism is mostly found in young people.8. cynicism increases as you grow old.9. advancing years = more unnecessary baggage.10. The more you know, the more it can hurt you.That all of the above is delivered with humor is something only Woody Allen could accomplish.There was a time when Woody's life imitated his art so closely that I had to avoid this SPECIFIC film for awhile. But now the past is past and it doesn't matter. Woody's art remains and the messages in "Manhattan" haven't been diminished after so many years. It still holds up even though it was made during the late 1970s.Yes, Woody Allen's films are an acquired taste. People won't admit it, but when you pin down WHY they don't like "Manhattan" or anything he does, you find the reasons are rooted in conventional moral judgments, religious intolerance or even genetic issues such as his "whiny" voice and the fact he is one of the most non-photogenic actor-director-writers of our time (e.g., no one likes watching Woody "kiss" any woman on screen.)And when art becomes too closely reflective of an artist's life, it can make people uncomfortable. My response is if you are unable to separate an artist's personal life or lifestyle from his work, sometimes the world can be made the lesser for it. Woody Allen is among the list of artists who polarize because he's considered by some to be "unbalanced and immoral," e.g., like Hemingway, Picasso, Polanski, Van Gogh, Henry Miller, James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, Charlie Chaplin, Lewis Carroll, etc.Yet in my view, "Manhattan" and "Annie Hall" remain the benchmarks of all urban-based, non-screwball comedies made in America. That Woody was able to "re-invent," or more to the point -- to "invent" a new genre of comedy -- is more evident today by looking at everything that has come since 1979 that is clearly derivative from these two landmark urban films.Only smug elitists call people who don't "get" this film "fools." They're not fools. Again, Woody's films are an acquired taste. Fans who have followed him forever, candidly like the way he is on screen, even if it's the same nebbish, over-analytical character every time. We're comfortable with him in the same and opposite way that we didn't mind Cary Grant playing Cary Grant all of the time. Nobody delivers a punch line or joke better than Woody and when he's not in his own films, they don't seem as funny.Despite the paradox Woody's personal life presents to many film fans, "Manhattan" is not a film that should be dismissed. It is, in my opinion, the finest of Woody's "quartet" of masterpieces (the others are "Annie Hall, Hannah and Her Sisters" and "Crimes and Misdemeanors"). There is so much humor and truth woven into this picture, complimented by a glorious Gershwin score and wonderful black and white cinematography, that I'm 100 percent sure -- that Woody will never be able to top this film -- even if he lives to 100.The story of human attraction to forbidden, "untarnished" youth - and its relationship to conventional morality - has been written and debated for centuries. However taboo it remains - in the world of art - it is far from new.The end "smirk" on Woody's face speaks volumes about what's going on in this story, and why, unlike most of Hollywood's "mainstream" comedies, Allen refuses to give the viewer a standard cornball ending.Yet what he leaves behind as the credits roll, still leaves you satisfied. There isn't anything left hanging, in my mind, since you already know that Woody's character KNOWS how everything is going to end. That's the reason for the "smirk."How many filmmakers can get away with this and stay original? In my view, this is Woody's greatest film and it remains undated after all these years.

When Woody Allen won the Oscar (in abstentia) for writing and directing "Annie Hall," which also won the Oscar for Best Picture, it was assumed the stand-up comic turned auteur had reached the pinnacle of his career. Then Allen proceeded to go out and make an even better film with his next effort, "Manhattan." Filmed in glorious black & white (and widescreen) by the great cinematographer Gordon Willis, the opening sequence combining indelible images of New York City with Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" is a paean to city Allen loves and the most rhapsodical sequence in any of his films.Rather than talking about the plot per se, "Manhattan" is best explained as a convoluted series of wrecked and ruined relationships centering around Allen's character, Isaac Davis. Isaac is divorced from Jill (Meryl Streep), who is now living with Connie (Karen Ludwig), and planning to write an expose on her marriage. Isaac is having an affair with 17-year-old Tracy (Mariel Hemingway), but then he meets Mary (Diane Keaton), the mistress of his best friend Yale (Michael Murphy), who is married to Emily (Anne Byrne). Ultimately, however, this is not a film about love, but rather a film about loss, because you just know that forced to make choices, Isaac is going to make the wrong ones. Tracy and Mary are characters constructed as such polar opposites and it never dawns on Isaac to focus more on what each has than on what they lack.Of course, today this film is obviously open to reinterpretation given Allen's very public personal life and it is now assumed that the Isaac-Tracy relationship was a sign of things to come rather than a dramatic construction. If you can get away from the film's Freudian implications then you can appreciate Hemingway's Oscar nominated performance, which is not only at the heart of the film but provides its heart as well. In contrast, Keaton's Mary is rather soulless (the anti-Annie Hall if you will). When the choice is so clear the fault is clearly not in the women, but rather in the character of Isaac (or lack of character, as the case might be). The ending is certainly the most bitter sweet of any Allen film to date.Most Romantic Lines (remember, this is a Woody Allen film): (1) "I think people should mate for life, like pigeons or Catholics"; (2) "Yeah! I can tell, a lot. That's, well, a lot is my favorite number", and, of course, (3) "Why is life worth living? It's a very good question. Um...Well, There are certain things I guess that make it worthwhile. uh...Like what... okay...um...For me, uh... ooh... I would say ... what, Groucho Marx, to name one thing... uh...um... and Willie Mays... and um ... the 2nd movement of the Jupiter Symphony ... and um... Louis Armstrong, recording of Potato Head Blues ... um ... Swedish movies, naturally ... Sentimental Education by Flaubert ... uh... Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra ... um ... those incredible Apples and Pears by Cezanne... uh...the crabs at Sam Wo's... uh... Tracy's face ..."If you enjoyed "Manhattan" then check out these other films on the AFI's list of 100 Greatest Love Stories of All Time: #11 "Annie Hall," #25 "When Harry Met Sally," and #35 "Gigi." Why? The first because it is also Woody Allen, the second because it also takes place in NYC and involves making the wrong choice and then running to the woman to do something about it, and the third because it also thanks heaven for little girls...

Even thoe Woody Allen doesn't like this film I would probably say it's the best film he ever made. It's impossible to make a selected, choice collection of Woody Allen films because even if you buy what are regarded or perceived to be his best films you start to think 'yes, but doesn't he say something funny in this film and this film also? And isn't this a great film even thoe he doesn't star in it?' And so my advice is, if you like Woody Allen, is to buy all the films he has acted in and directed in, it goes like this:1.What's New Pussycat?(1965),2.What's Up Tiger Lilly? (1966),3.Casino Ryale(1967),4.Take The Money And Run(1969),5.Banana's(1971),6.Play It Again Sam(1972),7.Everything You Wanted To Know About Sex(But We're Afraid To Ask) (1972),8.Sleeper(1973),9.Love And Death(1975),10.The Front(1976),11.Annie Hall(1977),12.Interiors (1978),13.Manhatten(1979),14.Stardust Memories(1980),15.A Midsummer Nights Sex Comedy(1982),16.Zelig(1983),17.Broadway Danny Rose(1984),18.The Purple Rose Of Cairo(1985),19. Hannah And Her Sisters(1986),20.Radio Days(1987),21.September(1987),22.Another Woman(1988),23.New York Stories(1989),24.Crimes And Misdemeanours(1989),25.Alice(1990),26.Scenes From A Mall(1991),27.Shadows And Fog(1991),28.Husbunds And Wives(1992),29.Manhatten Murder Mystery(1993),30.Bullets Over Broadway(1994),31.Dont Drink The Water(1994),32.Mighty Aphrodite(1995),33.The Sunshine Boys(1996),34.Everyone Says I Love You(1996),35.Wildman Blues(1997),36.Deconstructing Harry(1997),37.Antz(1998),38.Celebrity(1998),39.Sweet And Lowdown(1999),40.Small Time Crooks(2000),41.Picking Up The Pieces(2000),42.The Curse Of The Jade Scorpion (2001),43.Hollywood Ending (2002),44.Anything Else(2003),45.Melinda And Melinda(2004),46.Match Point(2005),47.Scoop(2006),48.Cassandra's Dream(2007),49.Vicky Cristina Barcelona(2008),50.Whatever Works(2009),51.You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger(2010),52.Midnight In Paris(2011),53.Paris Manhatten(2012),54.To Rome With Love(2012),55.Blue Jasmine(2013),56.Fading Gigilo(2013),57.Magic In The Moonlight(2014),58.Irrational Man(2015),59.Cafe Society(2016),60.Wonder Wheel(2017),61.A Rainy Day In New York(2019),62.Rifkin's Festival(2020). Whether Woody Allen is a genius or not I really don't know, maybe he is one.

For many, this is the quintessential Woody Allen film – it is certainly held in such high regard that it is in the film registry of America's Library of Congress.Visually stunning, it's black and white photography captures a romantic (if not wholly romanticised) vision of New York's Manhattan; It perhaps is the film that best encapsulates Allen's self-effacing, gently satirical portrayal of the white, middle-class creative community and it's milieu. It's funny, clever and engaging, though I remember it came in for criticism at the time of it's release over the age difference between Allen's character and his girlfriend, played by Mariel Hemingway.Combined with the evocative soundtrack of George Gershwin`s music this is one of Allen's best movies – if not THE best; that's for you to decide.Like all Woody Allen DVDs there are no extras other than the trailer; the quality of the transfer is showing it's age, it could do with a new digital transfer – but it remains quite acceptable, even on a large-screen TV.

I read Woody Allen's biography and he mentions all the films he made that gave him the greatest satisfaction. He isn't nostalgic per se, technically he finishes the product delivers it and moves on. This is a favourite and I missed it on it's original release. This is a splendid rendering and well worth your time.

This film is certainly one of Woody’s best films – winning a BAFTA in the process.It is now also his third highest grossing film, (126m $), in his magnificent career, behind the likes of Annie Hall (135m$) and Midnight in Paris which grossed 151m$.The film is famous for its ‘Allenisms’ - his liking for films about relationships, his liking of black & white cinematography and his quick fire wit, though this is nowhere near his wittiest flick. It is memorable for its shots of Manhattan and the music of Gershwin. Of course, it’s ironic in that it mirrors his future life and relationship with a teenage girl. In real life it led to marriage and they are still together to this day. I must say that I find the film utterly delightful; it has a crazy little storyline about complicated relationships within a social circle. Woody is fantastic as the oddball friend who's never stops talking! The script and wit are brilliant and `classic' is the obvious adjective to use for this film?It looks great in black & white and at 96 minutes was perfectly pitched.I loved it.

Bought this for a friend who is a Woody Allen fan. I've no idea if this film is any good or not because I haven't seen it but my friend was absolutely elated with this gift and exclaimed that it is "The best film ever made". I would doubt that as everyone knows that 'Notting Hill' hold that title, but each to their own I suppose!If you like Woody Allen films, this - apparently - is one of his best.