Once more I am made to admire the work of a disgusting old white man
This has age so poorly, they even say WC Fields movies are good
Cinematography is certainly exceptional, but the creepiness of the relationship with a 17 year old its just too much, there are some misogynist moments regarding both Diane Keaton and Meryl Streep characters
It could be better if it wasn't for people openly encouraging pedophilia, and the ending just ruins any growth the main character might have gottten
Sometimes funny
As a story, Woody Allen's Manhattan is, especially in retrospect, incredibly self-serving, but then so are a lot of his films.
His character dates a 17-year-old (who will go out of his life by the time she's 18), falls for a more age-appropriate woman (Diane Keaton), and when the relationship falls apart, goes back to the teenager who he should never have left in the first place. If he hadn't taken it to the extreme of having her be a minor, I would instead be calling it a bold self-examination, not just of what an older man (and him in particular) finds attractive in someone who isn't on his level (power), what he finds difficult but also enriching about a more equal dynamic, and how pathetic the older man is in a relationship with a younger woman (as the ending does have a certain emotional ambiguity). It's there, or used to be there, but we know too much for it not to be cringy AF, a kind of manifesto against women with "baggage" in favor of empty but beautiful molds you think you can fill with whatever plaster you like (and if the film retains some power as a story, it's in that "think").
If I make abstraction of all that, Manhattan contains some of Allen's wittiest dialog, and of course, the cinematography is gorgeous, making cityscapes epic, and filling interiors with composed perfection.
So good. Woody Allen really captures the restless nature of the search for love. The seemingly never ending collage of desires and the tiring of those desires. The familiarity of an old love can be at once inticing to want to return to but is also the very same thing that creates the urge to seek new relationships. Many films seek to say something along these lines but this is a standout.
Woody Allen’s dramedy lampoons the inconsequential urban neuroses that would popularize Seinfeld a decade later. Inasmuch as it indicts cafe society’s hollow peccadilloes — intellectual, artistic, relational, financial — Manhattan might be understood as La Dolce Vita’s playful younger sibling. The Writers Guild of America included it (and six [!] other Woody Allen scripts) in its list of 101 Funniest Screenplays.
Perhaps more important than its plot — in which longing and regret constitute and reconstitute various romantic pairings — the film is an atmospheric love letter to New York. Cinematographer Gordon Willis’s Gotham is a series of widescreen postcards edited by Susan Morse to complement the music of George Gershwin. The city’s monochromatic timelessness is easily reason enough to justify Manhattan’s 2001 induction into the National Film Registry.
Manhattan is a beautifully shot piece of film with stunning, black-and-white, haunting images and the supporting performances in this movie are spectacular, especially the sweet Mariel Hemingway. Woody Allen plays his usual neurotic and self-centered urbanite. He is the protagonist of the movie and as such should hold our sympathy during the entanglements in the latter part of the movie, but because of his selfish streak, he becomes quite unbearable. There is much truth and identification-material in his character however, though unpleasant as that may well be. Woody Allen's trademark comedy flows as an undercurrent throughout the movie, usually derived from his character's snappy remarks and well-crafted dialogue, but is more clever than funny.
After watching a good amount of films starring Woody Allen; I discovered that I tend to become repelled by seeing him on screen. I love all his other films, the ones he fortunately did NOT star in.
The film is very enjoyable with some incredible shots of Allen's favorite city. The shots are mesmerizing. I also lately realized that Woody Allen uses a LOT of Lock Down shots in his films and I'm glad because I personally am a fan of this particular camera shot.
All in all good, very close in style, characters and acting to Annie Hall which I liked but didn't love.
Some of the dialogue was interesting but, come on, it was boring and Mariel Hemmingways character at 17 years old attraction to Woody Allen, 42, is bewildering. I even found him hanging outside the high school creepy. Think of it this way, why was her character 17? What did it add to the movie that a 23 year old character in college couldn't have done for the story.
Woody's more neurotic than ever.
Enjoyed this better than Annie Hall, but still don't 'bond' with his movies.
There are certain times when it makes me laugh out loud, and others when its pretentious lines really annoy me.
D'ya think Allen's Isaac - and Allen himself - is unaware of the slightly "creepy" aspect of the relationship with Tracy?
Next to the superb Sven Nyquist-influenced black-and-white photography and lighting by Gordon Willis, especially impressive in BluRay HD, the script and screenwriting is worth every minute of repeated viewings over the years. It ages gracefully and naturally, as Tracy comments in one of her many outstanding moments of unaffected intimacy.
To those commenters who would prefer to remain grumpily unmoved, on the surface of the film, so to speak, I'd say: "Persevere with repeated spontaneous viewings of this affectionate, humane and wise film, pausing to view the frame and replay the conversation, for the reward is very great."
Add your comment
Comments 1 - 15 of 31
Esnaider
Once more I am made to admire the work of a disgusting old white manThis has age so poorly, they even say WC Fields movies are good
Cinematography is certainly exceptional, but the creepiness of the relationship with a 17 year old its just too much, there are some misogynist moments regarding both Diane Keaton and Meryl Streep characters
It could be better if it wasn't for people openly encouraging pedophilia, and the ending just ruins any growth the main character might have gottten
Sometimes funny
Siskoid
As a story, Woody Allen's Manhattan is, especially in retrospect, incredibly self-serving, but then so are a lot of his films.dajmasta94
So good. Woody Allen really captures the restless nature of the search for love. The seemingly never ending collage of desires and the tiring of those desires. The familiarity of an old love can be at once inticing to want to return to but is also the very same thing that creates the urge to seek new relationships. Many films seek to say something along these lines but this is a standout.brian_fuller
Woody Allen’s dramedy lampoons the inconsequential urban neuroses that would popularize Seinfeld a decade later. Inasmuch as it indicts cafe society’s hollow peccadilloes — intellectual, artistic, relational, financial — Manhattan might be understood as La Dolce Vita’s playful younger sibling. The Writers Guild of America included it (and six [!] other Woody Allen scripts) in its list of 101 Funniest Screenplays.Perhaps more important than its plot — in which longing and regret constitute and reconstitute various romantic pairings — the film is an atmospheric love letter to New York. Cinematographer Gordon Willis’s Gotham is a series of widescreen postcards edited by Susan Morse to complement the music of George Gershwin. The city’s monochromatic timelessness is easily reason enough to justify Manhattan’s 2001 induction into the National Film Registry.
buteberry
Woody Allen, thanks for being so honest. And you are an...(When adding a comment, please be considerate, respectful and offer ....)
Alright.
Zeltaebar
Manhattan is a beautifully shot piece of film with stunning, black-and-white, haunting images and the supporting performances in this movie are spectacular, especially the sweet Mariel Hemingway. Woody Allen plays his usual neurotic and self-centered urbanite. He is the protagonist of the movie and as such should hold our sympathy during the entanglements in the latter part of the movie, but because of his selfish streak, he becomes quite unbearable. There is much truth and identification-material in his character however, though unpleasant as that may well be. Woody Allen's trademark comedy flows as an undercurrent throughout the movie, usually derived from his character's snappy remarks and well-crafted dialogue, but is more clever than funny.Joker of Gotham
Not so good as it looks.It is a classic movie, I like Woody Allen but I like more his recents movies.
3.75/5
NourNasreldin
After watching a good amount of films starring Woody Allen; I discovered that I tend to become repelled by seeing him on screen. I love all his other films, the ones he fortunately did NOT star in.The film is very enjoyable with some incredible shots of Allen's favorite city. The shots are mesmerizing. I also lately realized that Woody Allen uses a LOT of Lock Down shots in his films and I'm glad because I personally am a fan of this particular camera shot.
All in all good, very close in style, characters and acting to Annie Hall which I liked but didn't love.
Dieguito
Some great shots, but I've expected much morecrcurran
Some of the dialogue was interesting but, come on, it was boring and Mariel Hemmingways character at 17 years old attraction to Woody Allen, 42, is bewildering. I even found him hanging outside the high school creepy. Think of it this way, why was her character 17? What did it add to the movie that a 23 year old character in college couldn't have done for the story.I-M-Pulsive
Is it me? Or is this just an exact copy of Annie Hall? Didn't enjoy it at all.Henry K Hurtin
I'm not quite sure if I totally get Allen. I thought the film had a lot of great moments, still at the end I felt a little 'meh'.Nonetheless, it's quite good.
lionel42
Woody's more neurotic than ever.Enjoyed this better than Annie Hall, but still don't 'bond' with his movies.
There are certain times when it makes me laugh out loud, and others when its pretentious lines really annoy me.
Neville
D'ya think Allen's Isaac - and Allen himself - is unaware of the slightly "creepy" aspect of the relationship with Tracy?Next to the superb Sven Nyquist-influenced black-and-white photography and lighting by Gordon Willis, especially impressive in BluRay HD, the script and screenwriting is worth every minute of repeated viewings over the years. It ages gracefully and naturally, as Tracy comments in one of her many outstanding moments of unaffected intimacy.
To those commenters who would prefer to remain grumpily unmoved, on the surface of the film, so to speak, I'd say: "Persevere with repeated spontaneous viewings of this affectionate, humane and wise film, pausing to view the frame and replay the conversation, for the reward is very great."
NuclearPlanet
I Love Woody Allen. I remember watching this the first time and not liking it. Over time, I've learned to love it a little bit more.Showing items 1 – 15 of 31