Directed by: Woody Allen
Written by: Woody Allen
Starring: Woody Allen
Runtime: 93 Minutes
Release date: April 20th 1977
It was a warm, festive day when I finally took it upon myself to watch "Annie Hall." Woody Allen's film about an eccentric comedian who strikes a relationship with a struggling nightclub singer. Together they faced many adversities, which culminate in a pretty poignant ending.
In reality, I should hate the film. For one, it is a romantic comedy. It snubs the best picture statuette from Star Wars and I was practically coerced by my sister to watch it. But then a thought began to dawn on me, for a romantic comedy to beat out one of the most influential fantasy film of all time, it must have done something right.
Against all odds, the film somehow managed to not only entertain, but enchant me. Each scene brims with creativity, thought and wit. Which is surprising considering the fact that the film is basically people talking with each other. There are no action sequences, no pyrotechnics yet somehow, it manages to grab the attention of the viewer.
One of the main reason why it occurs is its usage of fourth wall breaks. Usually I find the technique to be the scapegoat of untalented storytellers that desperately tried to add some form of credibility into their story. But here it is done masterfully, it fully encapsulates the audience into the thoughts of the characters, making them relatable and giving a glimpse into their lives and views.
Just a small hint of the film's brilliant use of fourth wall breaks.
The performances are great as well. Woody Allen is perfect as Alvy Singer and Diane Keaton is mesmerizing as the eponymous character. They worked off their personalities really well, Alvy is the awkward yet brash man and Annie is the confident yet vulnerable, but still independent woman. The two characters have a great dynamic, and are always entertaining to watch. The acting did not feel like a performance, that in turn gives the film a sense of believability. The characters could exist in real life, or at least let the audience see themselves and connect with them.
The humor is also particularly well balanced, it gives the film a lighter tone in what could essentially be an overly dramatic film but at the same time, the film did not lose its merits by being too jokey. It is quite a challenging rope to walk on, but somehow, Brickman and Allen managed to pull it off perfectly. Due to this, the film felt relaxed, deft and wonderfully paced.
In conclusion, I enjoyed watching "Annie Hall." It is one of those films that demonstrates the fact that if a storyteller shows some respect for his or hers audience, putting effort into the story, and creating relatable characters, even the simplest of story wedged into the most derelict of genres can be an amazing, even life changing experience. The film also made me realized that the Roger Ebert quote on Woody Allen being cinema's greatest treasure has its own merits now. This is a chance encounter that I will never forget, and never regret and I will proudly hail this picture a masterpiece.
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