Annie Hall (Woody Allen, 1977)

Wood Allen's semi-autobiographical account of growing up in New York City. I really enjoyed this one. I loved it when Woody would break the 3rd dimension and talk directly to audience about the stuff that was happening around him. Appealing them to understand where he is coming from. Those were my favorite moments during the film. Allen has some of the most interesting insights into man's habits and shortcomings.

The narrative focus of this film jumps around in time quite a lot. Examining his childhood. His pervious wives. His mistakes. His triumphs. I think the most depressing moment is when he attempts to recreate with a new girl the time he spilled lobsters all over the floor with Annie. Originally it was such a touching and heartfelt moment, but the new girl just sat there smoking a cigarette not understanding what his deal was. It showed him how much Annie really meant to him. I think Allen hits the nail on the head about how when you are in a relationship with someone you can just get caught up on the minutia. Getting annoyed by petty things. Expecting your partner to be exactly who you want them to be.

Woody ends his film with a great monologue "...it was great seeing Annie again. I... I realized what a terrific person she was, and... and how much fun it was just knowing her; and I... I, I thought of that old joke, y'know, the, this... this guy goes to a psychiatrist and says, "Doc, uh, my brother's crazy; he thinks he's a chicken." And, uh, 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; y'know, they're totally irrational, and crazy, and absurd, and... but, uh, I guess we keep goin' through it because, uh, most of us... need the eggs."

I've only seen a couple of Woody's films; Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008), Match Point (2006), Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989), and Zelig (1983). I felt that this film was eerily similar to Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Almost to the extent that Crimes and Misdemeanors mirrored Match Point. In both Annie Hall and VIcky Cristian Barcelona Woody shows how humans cannot ever seem to be happy with what they have. We are always looking over to those greener pastures.

The same is true of Match Point & Crimes and Misdemeanors. Only those films are direct parallels in that they both deal with a rich man killing the woman he truly loves to maintain his social status and orderly lifestyle.