“Annie Hall” starring Woody Allen & Diane Keaton / Z-View
Annie Hall (1977)
Director: Woody Allen
Screenplay: Woody Allen, Marshall Brickman
Stars: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts, Carol Kane, Paul Simon, Shelley Duvall, Janet Margolin, Colleen Dewhurst, Hy Anzell, Russell Horton, Dick Cavett, Mark Lenard, John Glover, Bernie Styles, Jeff Goldblum, Shelley Hack, Beverly D’Angelo, Sigourney Weaver, Walter Bernstein and Christopher Walken.
Tagline: A nervous romance.
The Plot…
Alvy Singer (Allen) looks back on his romance with Annie Hall (Keaton) trying to figure out where it went wrong. There are many possibilities. Alvy is a twice divorced, middle-aged, Jewish stand-up comedian from New York who over-intellectualizes. Annie is younger, never married, insecure, WASP from the Midwest who dreams of being a singer.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Annie Hall was nominated for five 1978 Academy Awards and won four…
- Nominee for Best Actor in a Leading Role – Woody Allen
- Winner for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen – Woody Allen, Marshall Brickman
- Winner for Best Director – Woody Allen
- Winner for Best Actress in a Leading Role – Diane Keaton
- Winner for Best Picture – Charles H. Joffe
Sigourney Weaver’s feature film debut in a non-speaking role as Alvy’s date near the end of the movie. Shelley Hack also made her film debut in Annie Hall in as a “street stranger”.
Alvy’s (Woody Allen’s) sneezing into the cocaine was reportedly an unscripted accident.
With Annie Hall Woody Allen became the first person to give an Oscar nominated performance in a film for which he won Best Director. Interestingly enough, Annie Hall features Woody Allen’s only Oscar nominated performance and the only film directed by him to win a Best Picture Academy Award.
I liked Annie Hall, but it didn’t resonate with me like the majority of folks who love it. Your mileage, as always, could vary.
Annie Hall (1977) rates 4 of 5 stars.
