Movie Number One. (see this post for an explanation)
The book says that this was the most celebrated film of 1977, won four Academy Awards and was a critical and commercial success. It is described as a ‘modern screwball comedy’. I had heard of this film after researching about fashion in film in my second year of university as the character Annie Hall was said to be a great fashion inspiration in the film. So I thought I would give it a try.
I have to say, I wasn’t bowled over. I was expecting it to be witty, the fashion to be great, and by the write up, a bit of a love story. Throughout watching this I felt awkward, you know when you’re watching an awkward situation on TV, and it makes you feel awkward, I felt like that. The character Woody Allen plays is so neurotic and anal about everything that it just really frustrated me. I felt like at the beginning the love story was quite sweet as they were both equally awkward, but as it progressed I just found it more awkward on his behalf, and not endearing whatsoever. Also, there is a strange narrative in this film whereby the characters see flashbacks of Woody Allen’s character’s past, and the characters themselves stand in the scene and watch it, I thought that just seemed weird and random. And if you ask me, the clothes weren’t exactly fashionable. Maybe I just didn’t get it, the write up in the book spoke a lot about pop culture and relevance to the time it was made, so maybe because I wasn’t born in the 70s I just didn’t get it.
I like a film to create an emotion in me, make me feel drawn to the characters, or leave me thinking about it for ages afterwards, this film did none of that for me. I wouldn’t say it was a bad film, but I wouldn’t say it was a good one, in my personal opinion. Clearly a lot of other people think differently to me seeing as it won so many awards. Basically, I wouldn’t watch it again, but I wouldn’t advise others not to. I’m completely indifferent to it.
5/10
Lets hope the next film I choose from the book is something I feel a bit more strongly about! 🙂