In 1977, Woody Allen was not as controversial as he is today. There was no off-screen scandals, divorces or paparazzi books dedicated entirely to bad stuff about him. In 1977, he was a young filmmaker who had a list of
In 1977, Woody Allen was not as controversial as he is today. There was no off-screen scandals, divorces or paparazzi books dedicated entirely to bad stuff about him. In 1977, he was a young filmmaker who had a list of slapstick “Marx Brothers” and Charlie Chaplin-style movies to his name (“Sleeper,” “Bananas”). “Annie Hall” would be the maturing film for the now 75-year-old director who is working on his 48th film in just over 40 years.
“Annie Hall” was a simple story — a story everyone knows, a break-up between Alvy (Woody Allen) and Annie (Dianne Keaton). What makes this film important is the things it pioneered in basic cinema. Now remember this was the year of “Star Wars” and many people debate how “Annie Hall” pulled off big wins at the Oscars over George Lucas and his FX epic. What makes “Annie Hall” stick out is that it relies on basic tools of cinema to tell the story. No explosions, effects and the score isn’t more remembered than some characters like “Star Wars.” I love “Star Wars,” however, at the time people loved character-driven movies more then genre pictures.
Woody Allen examined relationships in such an honest, blunt, sad and hilariously truthful way. A huge fan of European cinema (especially Sweden’s Ingmar Bergman), he managed to bring us a film that puts us right in the characters’ angst and through incredible cinematography of NYC’s streets. Using never-before-seen techniques like talking to the camera, subtitles for comedic relief instead of translating a language, and one scene involving Woody Allen and Dianne Keaton standing in line for a movie that had never been seen in cinema (guaranteed!).
For film lovers and especially filmmakers, many feel Woody Allen peaked with his late- ‘70s and early-to-mid-80s work. He managed to pop out a few good gems in the ‘90s, and the true Woody Allen fans can appreciate some of his work in the 2000s. But nothing beats “Annie Hall,” “Manhattan” and the ‘80s film “Hannah and H er Sisters.”
• Paul Booth, of Lihu‘e, is a KCC graduate, film producer and consultant. He can be reached at pkb_1@hotmail.com.
