Woody Allen, the now 89-year-old American filmmaker, was 41 when he wrote, directed, and starred in the cynical, dramatic, and satirical romantic comedy, “Annie Hall.” Allen began as a comedy writer in the late 1950s, famous for the hit comedy show “Your Show of Shows.” Eventually, he switched to movie-making, where he originally made gag-filled, slapstick comedies. “Annie Hall” marked his transition into slightly more serious films. Allen explained this himself in an interview from 1977. “I’ve always tried to make films that were laugh machines… “Annie Hall” is a film based on real relationships in my life,” Allen said.
The film centers around Allen’s character, Alvy Singer, reflecting on his failed relationship with the title character, Annie Hall (played by Diane Keaton). The movie begins unconventionally, with Alvy breaking the fourth wall, as he speaks directly to the audience about his childhood and adolescence, mixing jokes with bittersweet observations about life. While still incorporating unique stylistic elements, like subtitles revealing characters’ thoughts, split screens, an animated segment, and a constant switch between past and present, the movie shifts to a more traditional format, ultimately telling the story of Alvy and Annie’s tumultuous on-and-off relationship.
How Does It Hold Up?
Like most movies that came out almost half a century ago, this movie has some aspects that would simply not fly today. The biggest being Allen himself, who was accused of sexual misconduct in 1992. Though no legal charges came from this claim, it irreversibly tarnished his public image. Aside from this major detail, there are several jokes within the movie itself that would (rightfully) raise some eyebrows today.
What has it inspired?
In an interview with the American Film Institute, filmmaker Rob Reiner described “Annie Hall” as “the gold standard of romantic comedies.” So it comes as no surprise that he drew inspiration from it in his 1989 film “When Harry Met Sally.” Both of these movies are classic romantic comedies that tell the story of a realistic, complex relationship from beginning to end. Other famous examples of projects inspired by “Annie Hall” include: “Sex and the City” (1998-2004), “Sleepless in Seattle” (1993), and “High Fidelity” (2000).
There are countless other films that “Annie Hall” could be credited with influencing, though. Because of its creative format and narration, iconic dialogue, and less-than-perfect ending, “Annie Hall” is commonly agreed to be the first modern romantic comedy.
