MANHATTAN (1979)

Directed By: Woody Allen
Written By: Woody Allen & Marshall Brickman
Cinematography By: Gordon Willis
Editor: Susan E. Morse

Cast: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Wallace Shawn, Mariel Hemmingway, Michael Murphy, Meryl Streep, Michael O’Donoghue


Woody Allen’s seminal masterpiece is a visual representation of his eternal love affair with New York City. The film takes the viewer on a picturesque black and white tour through the town presented as a glimmering cosmopolitan world.

The cast is good but this film is really nothing special it seems like the same old same old. Typical brainy language. This film to me is the epitome of pretentious. It seems more entertaining to the director himself then to the audience watching. It also feels like he is talking down to the audience there seems to be no joy in this film except for using the landscape to help tell the story. This film should have just been better I mean Meryl Streep is in it in a small role but still. So is Wallace Shawn who is more used for dramatic purposes then his expertise of smart comedy in fact he is used in comedy but only as a sight gag for a scene.

overrated!!! sure it has great cinematography and great iconic shots of new york landmarks. but really that's about it i'm a woody allen fan and i really disliked this film the story is typical allen and seemed like a great idea with a bad follow through. some of the one-liners are good. The only reason for the black and white film instead of color was to try and make this film seem like a classic that seemd to fool the critics. it's a love story that has no love this film is great more for fans of existentialism and philosophy then a good film


Woody romancing a underage girl who seems to be the only character who is emotionally mature would certainly be a forshadowing not only of his personal life but also as he got older and ended his relationship with Mia Farrow in real life his co-stars in the movies that he appeared with romantically were noticeably younger then him. Of course all the women were in there mid thirties which were usually the age of his female characters before but he kept getting older in his fifties and sixties. I give him respect for his output he writes a comedic script in a month and it takes him 2 months to write a drama but either ay he makes a film a year and I respect him for that and with that kind of work of course some will falter but he has a pretty good average. And obviously he has a audience to keep getting the funding. he also gives actors plenty of material to work with as most of his films are not only all star films but also ensemble pieces. but this is one of those films that shows what I don’t like about woody allen films but having said that he is still one of my favorite filmmakers

Even woody allen hated this film he was so disappointed he asked the studio to pull it and keepit on a shelf and he would direct another movie for the studio for free. This is his least favorite of his films.

Though you will be haunted by the crisp images so sharp they could cut you. They could burn into your retinas.

GRADE: D