TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2014 - BOLLYWOOD

We are nearing the end of yet another year, and as is the norm at this time of the year, its the time to pen down the list of the BESTS and WORSTS of the year. So, why would Bollywood be left behind???? Below are my choices for the TOP 10 BOLLYWOOD films for the year. 

But, before jumping into the list, I must say this has been a really difficult list to come up with. No, Its not because I had the problem of plenty. In fact, the reason is that it has been an abysmal year for Bollywood. There has been only a handful of films which would be etched in the memory of the viewers by the end of the year, and maybe only a couple which would be remembered even 5 years down the line. The gap between ECONOMICS and CREATIVITY kept on increasing as was the case last year. Many of the highly anticipated films were utter disappointment (BANG BANG being a major culprit) , and the 200 Crore club kept on growing (Though the lukewarm response to JAI HO and ACTION JACKSON was a welcome relief, if only temporary).

But all is not lost. There is always a silver lining and there were things to cheer about as well. The greatest among them being probably the rise of Alia Bhatt. She completely turned around her image- from a Dumb Plastic girl to a woman with elegance and maturity. It was shockingly pleasant. She gave 3 of the greatest leading performances of this year and a YOUTUBE VIDEO which was the ultimate icing on the cake. Other than that, some smaller films prevailed among the numerous big budget mess which were offered to us week after week. And right at the end of the year, Anurag Kashyap proved to us once again why he is regarded so highly by fans like us. So, let me dive into the list without further delay......

10. FILMISTAAN

Majority of this vast country called India is united by two things - Cricket and Cinema . Many of us call ourselves film buffs, but have we really infected our heart and soul with the film bug? Filmistaan is the story of one such guy - Sharib Hashmi as Sunny. His only lifeline at the face of a major adversity is his love for movies and his friendship with a salesman of Pirated DVDs .At its core, Filmistaan is a heartwarming story of how films bind two warring nations India & Pakistan. It has some funny as well as heartwarming moments which explore the sentiments of the people of both the nations well. There are numerous well acted and genuinely hilarious moments and Sharib Hashmi gives a stellar and utterly grounded performance. Go and watch this movie before it is forgotten with time.

9. MARDAANI

It is always good to see one of your favorite actors to come back after a while, and it is even more satisfying if the comeback film is a good one. I have been a fan of  Rani Mukherjee , and to see her give a strong and raw performance as inspector Shivani Shivaji Rao in Mardaani was welcome relief . It was special on two counts - one being the thought that AIYAA was really an aberration and secondly that she has still got the acting chops to carry out a very different role than what she has usually been portrayed on screen. The film itself was a gritty one handling the topic of girl trafficking via a well scripted screenplay which played out as an edge of the seat thriller. A special must be made for the chief antagonist - Tahir Raj Bhasin - who did a wonderful job.

8. MARY KOM

After the success of BHAG MILKHA BHAG  last year, we were presented with yet another biopic this year. This time it was the turn of the story of the famous puglist Mary Kom to grace the silver screen. There was a lot of Buzz about Priyanka Chopra playing the titular character and the hard work she has put in for the role. At the end of the day, it must be said that she did justice to the character and gave a strong performance. As for the film, its nothing spectacular, but certainly motivating and better edited than its counterpart last year. The songs are good and one of the few films this year which sort of lived up its hype preceding its release.

7. 2 STATES

We all appreciate what Chetan Bhagat has done in the literary world of Indian fiction. It can be argued that his stories are rather a hit or a miss nowadays, but there is no denying the fact that 2 States is one of his finest novels and it was semi autobiographical too. So, it was natural that sooner rather than later, this would be made into a movie. The result is the wonderful film which truly keeps true to the book and is helped with fine acting from all involved and specially Alia Bhatt who had already proved her talent by then with HIGHWAY. This  is a complete masala movie with wonderful light hearted moments and touching bits all aided by some wonderful songs and the narrative style of the movie. 

6. HUMPTY SHARMA KI DULHANIYA

This one was a surprise for me. The trailer of this movie was not too exciting and I was still reeling from the acting of Varun Dhawan in MAIN TERA HERO. To top it all, it was projected as a new take on DDLJ which was sort of blasphemous in its own way. But, it turned out to be fun. The story was DDLJ , but there was so much more to it. Varun Dhawn proved that he can be great comedic actor if given a right script. And we got to see Ashutosh Rana after a long time giving a stellar performance. He could have been the only one to step into the shoes of Amrish Puri, it seems. I know many of you reading this would not agree with this choice, but this movie was a fun ride which I was glad I took.

5. UGLY

There is a reason some of us wait eagerly for the next film by Anurag Kashyap. He is a master of the dark tales. He makes us realize that there are two sides of every human being and it is important to showcase the Black and the Grey shades of our species. The result when put to film may not be pleasant viewing, but is necessary nevertheless. The plot of Ugly is very run of the mill to start with. A young girl goes missing and we are left guessing who is the culprit. But this is a study in human psychology and deceit. it is about how far can our ego take us - for better or for worse. It comes to a point where the missing girl is just a background for all the shockingly ugly characters to show their true color. This is not a film for everyone, but true film lovers would find the gem in this piece. 

4. QUEEN

Another one of the surprise hits of the year. Who would have thought that a film with Kangana Ranaut as the main lead would garner such critical and box office success. We knew she could act, but she went a step further with Queen. Her portrayal of the simple Punjabi girl Rani would strike a chord in the viewers heart right from the start. It is wonderful how we discover things we can achieve when placed in an alien situation.This is a story of self discovery and realization of dreams. Its fun to go on a journey with Rani where we don't know what would she do next We all cheer at her triumphs and feel sad at her loss. Wonderfully simple tale told in a superb way. And if you are not yet satisfied, it helps that it also has the amazingly hot Lisa Haydon appearing in a sizzling cameo

3. HAIDER

Vishal Bhardwaj can do no wrong when adapting the work of the Bard. This time he has taken on Hamlet, and his choice of Kashmir as the backdrop was a stroke of pure genius. While not as fast paced as his other adaptations Maqbool or Omkara, this one is probably his most nuanced film which tries to study the multi dimensional and unpredictable character of Hamlet through the portrayal of the titular character played by Shahid Kapoor who gives a restrained performance.Haider not only serves as a decent adaptation of Hamlet, but it also proves to be a powerful socio-political commentary on Kashmir of the 1990s. Also, it was great to see Tabu in a role tailor made for her and her awesome acting which was certainly one of the high points of this film.

2. HIGHWAY

Not many of us knew what Stockholm Syndrome was before this film. Not many of us knew Alia Bhatt would turn around her career with such elan with this film. Not many of us knew that our country can look so beautiful in film.Kudos to Imtiaz Ali for bringing us this tale of love and self discovery as experienced by Veera and Mahabir played by Alia Bhatt and Randeep Hooda respectively. These two find love in the most unlikeliest of places and most unexpected situation. Imtiaz Ali once again excels in his knack of presenting us with a different kind of love story and this film has been one of the standout movie of the year based purely on its script. It was so rewarding to take the journey on this Highway. 

1. PK

As I stated earlier, this list was hard to compile due to the poor qualities of film churned out this year. Thus, it is a no brainer that PK is the number one film of the year. But having said that, I can not honestly say that this was a great movie. Aamir Khan was outstanding in the film and his depiction of PK was nothing short of brilliant. It further re - iterated\the thought in my mind that he signed Dhoom 3 in a state of intoxication and it was just a small blot in his CV. But the movie had very less to offer other than him. Surely it is a fun watch, but we kind of expect so much more from the collaboration of Aamir khan and Raj Kumar Hirani. It did not help that we had already watched and enjoyed OMG last year which tackled the same theme and in a much smarter way. So while PK is surely head and shoulders above the films released this year, it just about sums up the tragedy that was 2014 for Bollywood.

SLEEP TIGHT - A Shocking Nightmare

What is the first thing that strikes your mind when someone says "HORROR FILMS"??? I am sure that for most of us it is a simple answer - GHOSTS. But, there are certain films in this genre which are terrifying and disturbing even without the presence of the paranormal. In fact, these films are more horrific as they tell stories of real persons and certain situations which may occur in real life, as opposed to the ghosts which are a thing of debates. SLEEP TIGHT by Jaume Balagueró  is one such film which is more nightmare-ish than many of the ghost stories out there.

César (Luis Tosar) is the superintendent in charge of a block of Barcelonan flats.He has a sick mother, an angry boss and a particular fondness for the lovely Clara (Marta Etura), one of those pleasant ladies who is always smiling at the world.Without giving too much more away, let’s just say César has motives so ulterior you simply won’t believe the lengths he goes to.The idea of someone seeing who we are when we think we’re alone is already a deeply disturbing one, and while Balagueró’s sunny visuals and swing soundtrack keep things deceptively peppy, Tosar quietly creates one of the screen’s creepiest, most shocking stalker.

The main character's motive, or lack of motive, in this movie is what gives it such a chilling effect. Being incapable of happiness himself he only feels content when he can secretly destroy the happiness of those around him while outwardly appearing concerned and helpful. He has no connection to his victims and is not seeking revenge or retribution. He's not interested in killing them either because physical destruction is not his goal. He seeks total mental and emotional destruction resulting in a broken life, prolonging the person's suffering and unhappiness.Both the atmosphere and acting creates a feeling of total violation. Luis Tomar is as creepy as they come and he must be applauded for his performance in this edgy flick.

It is truly amazing how the movie manages to evoke such a feeling of suspense and awkwardness  from the audience.I am sure Hitchcock would have been proud of this film as this is one Rear Window  meets Funny Games kind of movie but is really so much more. Its creepy and suspenseful. It has wonderful twists and the chilling atmosphere makes it that much more unbearable. One of the top class Spanish films I have ever watched, and I hope more people watch this masterpiece and appreciate it. 

I have tried to give away as little away as possible about the plot, and I would recommend everyone to watch this film without reading anything about it beforehand as that would make the film all the more special.

MY VERDICT

**** - Beautifully creepy

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL - Grand but a little bland

Wes Anderson has a very specific type of movie making style. It seems more of a theater show rather than a feature film, and the cinematography is quiet different. Its more like reading one of those pop -up-books we read in our childhood. His latest offering-TGBH -is no different and its not a bad film by any means, but not grand.

GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL recounts the adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend. The story involves the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting and the battle for an enormous family fortune -- all against the back-drop of a suddenly and dramatically changing Continent. Its part comedy and part mystery thriller at the same time, but it never takes itself too seriously. It also manages to subtly reference issues such as racial stereotyping, effect of war, religion, but never scratches beyond the surface as everything is part of  a fast paced lighthearted journey. There is theft, murder, imprisonment, thrilling chases, and absurd jailbreaks in this layered story, and the list of actors who participate in this tomfoolery reads like a who's-who of Hollywood- with some of the directors favorite actors. Bill Murray, Jude Law, Owen Wilson(in a blink- and-you-miss-role) and Jason Schwartzman all show up for small parts and cameos, but it's Ralph Fiennes who steals the show as Gustave H with a superb, delicious performance that taps into his underutilized comic skills.

He carries the weight of the film on his strong shoulders from the moment he is introduced in the story. He has a penchant for poetry, the elder residents in his hotel and a particular brand of perfume.He is so energetic the whole while and the best part is he never loses hope and is supremely confident even in adverse situations. He has to be one of the greatest British actor I have ever seen. Tony Revelori as Zero does a good job, but his role is simply as the narrator and the voice of the journey he once took with his mentor. The conversations and interactions between Zero and Gustave provides this film with a nice emotional core and it has a bit of warmth.

Now, let us discuss the issue which plagues most of Anderson's films. He has often been accused of putting style before substance, and this film is no exception. There is no denying that the film is done with an aesthetic panache  which few directors in our time would be able to succeed in doing. The world he creates for this tale is like a fairy tale which transports us to Europe in the 1930s and it was so different with the war looming. But, this film was supposed to be a comedy. I was not looking forward to laugh out loud moments in this film , but even subtle comedy was missing. There were some funny interactions, but they were few and far between. The film is certainly light hearted, but not a comedy. The characters provide screwball moments of fun , but it cant be called comedy. Another aspect of the movie was being a murder mystery. Lets just say this mystery could have been solved by a seventh grader.

So, this is one of the films which looks beautiful but it flatters to deceive. I like this film, but if I have to be critical, I cant shy away from the shortcomings. Its a shame because the film really transported me to a wonderland of the Grand Budapest and I really enjoyed the ride with Zero and Gustav, but at the end of the day all these fall flat somewhere due to the lack of a solid script. This is a must see for Wes Anderson fans, at least  a one time watch for the rest. You will certainly love the world of THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL.

WORTHY MENTIONS

Look out for the confession scene between Gustav and Serge X.
Johnny Depp was Wes Anderson's initial choice for the role of M. Gustave.

MY VERDICT

***1/2 - Visual treat

PIZZA - Surprisingly not as bad as you think

  

 

Recently, I am going through that phase where every Friday brings with it an urge to visit the theaters to catch the latest offerings cinema has to offer. But sadly good films are a rarity and its really the choice between the better of the half- decent films based on my gut feeling and early reviews. This week, I decided to watch PIZZA after reading the reviews and based on the fact that the original was a surprise hit down south and received much word-of-mouth publicity. The film as a whole is nothing path breaking in its genre, but it sure has its moments.

Kunal (Akshay Oberoi) is a pizza delivery boy who does not believe in spirits but has a wife (Parvathy Omanakuttan) who writes horror stories and is a believer. At one of his delivery points, Kunal encounter something that not only changes his beliefs but also his life.Yes, the premise is predictable for a horror film, but if you have not seen or read about the original, there are enough twists in this horror-cum-thriller to keep the audiences guessing.

The film has its genuine scary moments which are sharp and short and never stretches on.The 3D is used to good effect to explore the depth in scary parts.The thing about good horror films is that they retort to genuine creepy atmospheric elements rather than relying on gore or a disfigured caricature. This is where first time director Akshay Akkineni has to be applauded. He has used the spooky atmosphere of the big house to good effect with everything from the living room to the long corridor playing its part to add to the creepiness. For those of us who has seen it all in the horror genre, there is nothing new on offer with scenes being reminiscent of THE SHINING, SIXTH SENSE,etc , but it is far better than what BOLLYWOOD serves us these days in the name of horror.

That being said, there are elements of the films which really could have been handled better. Firstly, and most strikingly, the film takes its own sweet time to get on track and actually start the story. The pacing of the film is certainly not helped by the stiff acting of the leads and their almost robotic dialogue delivery.The side cast is good but their intentions are not clear. Overall, the audience will have to be patient with this PIZZA , because once it reaches its climax is the time it really delivers. The sting in the tail is the USP of this film and it certainly delivers in that as it will wow the audience.

Akshay Akkinen

Yes, it's a predictable enough premise for a horror film. But, provided you haven't seen or read about the original, there are enough surprises in the horror-meets-psychological thriller story to keep things interesting. - See more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/reviews/movie-review-pizza-3d-outdoes-most-bollywood-horror-flicks/article1-1241813.aspx?hts0021#sthash.7fX3HmJR.dpuf

Yes, it's a predictable enough premise for a horror film. But, provided you haven't seen or read about the original, there are enough surprises in the horror-meets-psychological thriller story to keep things interesting. - See more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/reviews/movie-review-pizza-3d-outdoes-most-bollywood-horror-flicks/article1-1241813.aspx?hts0021#sthash.7fX3HmJR.dpuf

PIZZA will not go down as one of the best horror movies in Bollywood, but it certainly is a unique offering which should be watched at least once before it surely takes backseat to the potential mega blockbuster KICK which would hit the screens next week.Try this PIZZA.

MY VERDICT

*** - Try It

THE BREAKFAST CLUB - A Delicious offering

There are certain movies which you hear of while growing up but somehow forget about or take a long time to finally watch it. And after you finish watching it, the first reaction is " How the hell did I miss this movie all these years......its damn gooooddddddd". Well, The Breakfast Club is one such movie for me. For years, I had been hearing the name of this movie being mentioned on and off, but it wasn't until last year that I actually gave it a shot and I am sure the experience of watching it will stay with me for years to come.

For those reading who honestly haven’t seen it , The Breakfast Club is the story of five high schoolers who are forced to serve detention on a Saturday. The five are seated in the school library and watched over by their angry principal, Richard Vernon (played by Paul Gleason). Vernon assigns them an essay to write, then heads back to his office, occasionally spot-checking back in on them but otherwise leaving the teens to themselves. The teens begin the day with nothing in common, as each of them come from distinctly different places and different strata of society. But the five bicker, banter, battle and bond and before the day is out, friendships and romances have formed. For a movie that is essentially five actors on a single set with no action and no clear antagonist, this film does an incredible job of engrossing the viewer.The Breakfast Club no-doubt presents stereotypical characters, and every member represents countless real-life examples. But what makes it so enjoyable is that applies a variety of themes to its context: prejudice/discrimination, acceptance/tolerance, diversity, class/status differences, family matters, group dynamics, etc. It also encourages us to look at others and ourselves beyond surface-level appearances. As the day progresses, the interchanges between them force reconsideration of their positions. Eventually, once the barriers have been broken and the teens have accepted that they can relate to each other after all, the common struggle that they’ve shared to arrive at that point leaves them with a strong bond. They wind up sharing amongst each other in an open and honest environment, revealing feelings and fears that they obviously would have never shared otherwise.

 As mentioned by someone, this movie has a universal appeal and is timeless - probably with the exception of the fashion sense. It doesn't matter if you have completed your high school 20 years ago or 2 years ago, these are issues that existed then, exist now, and will probably exist forever.Watching the kids slowly open their hearts out to each other and, the occasional song and dance thrown in makes this a pleasure to watch. Though the majority of the credit for this movie is often given to the director John Hughes, the 5 actors were just as brilliant.

Its really a shame that none of the actors, save Molly Ringwald, never went on to make it big. Judd Nelson as Bender was the Criminal whom everyone hates and he looks just like young Al Pacino and gives a nice performance. I thought the best of the pack was Emilio Estevez as Andrew Clark the Athelete who was intense to start with but really transforms to the most funny guy by the end of the movie. Ally Sheedy as the Basketcase was the cutest and the most unpredictable who brought a completely different dynamic in the group. Anthony Michael Hall as the Brain and Molly Ringwald as the princess are as different to each other as it can be possible, but by the end of their time serving detention, they too find a common ground. Every single actor gives in a commendable performance and it can be safely assumed that this was their finest performance in each of their career.

In the end, the writing, the acting and the exploration of universal themes make this movie a movie for the ages.  We have all encountered  the Brain, the Athlete, the Basket Case, the Princess, and the Criminal, but never had a chance to form the breakfast club. Lets just say this movie is a reflection of that wish within us and we would preserve it all our life.

WORTHY MENTIONS

John Hughes wrote the screenplay to this movie in just two days (4 and 5 July 1982). 

Molly Ringwald was originally asked to play Allison but wanted to play Claire, she eventually convinced John Hughes and the studio and was given the part. 

MY VERDICT

**** 1/2 - Ageless Movie

BEFORE MIDNIGHT - I wished the night never ended

For some of us, the on screen romance that has slowly played out between Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke over the course of two decades – and now three spectacular movies – is part of the fabric of our cinematic lives. We have sort of grown with them and feel the same feelings they felt at different junctures in their lives. Richard Linklater is probably the greatest storyteller of our generation who conceived this wonderful yet simple trilogy.

In Before Sunrise, the actors - whose improvisations and revisions added much to an original script by Richard Linklater- played two young travelers whose lives cross during a talk-filled night in Vienna. Nine years later, Delpy and Hawke were sharing screenwriting credits- and an Oscar nomination- for Before Sunset, wherein the couple meet for only the second time, their respective lives having moved on, but the brief encounter spark between them still clearly very much alive. That film ended on an ambiguous note – a teasing spine-tingler that left the audience to decide whether Jesse catches the plane back to his old American life, or stays in Paris for something more...

 Before Midnight takes place nine years after the events of Sunset. Jesse and Céline are still together and have managed to have twin girls, Nina and Ella, and are living in Europe. The film takes place at the tail end of a six-week vacation in Greece where Jesse has just dropped off his thirteen-year-old son Hank, from his previous marriage, at the airport for his return back to Chicago. Realizing that he's missing the formative years of Hank's teenage life, Jesse and Céline explore the option of possibly making a move to America, leaving opportunities and a life in Europe behind. Obviously there's no big fantasy battle or a near death experience for the meaning of life to be physically explained but in the power of words, and words alone, Before Midnight manages to become the benchmark for screen writing and brilliant storytelling for years to come. There are long takes for the viewer to be present whether it's in an airport conversation between Jesse and Hank or at a lunch with in the beautiful valleys of Greece or even in a hotel room where a man and a woman share intimacy like older lovers typically do.The whole film basically consists of these three scenes but if you are a follower of the series, you would know it would not feel boring for one single moment.

This film  is a lot more melancholic in tone than the previous two installments, but life is not all about the sparky romances and the excitement of impulsive decisions, is it???? Once life settles in, there are responsibilities and decisions are to be made which much thought behind them, and as Jesse and Celine finds out, it is often a case of conflicting choices and making compromises. Before Midnight portrays the not so romantic but practical side of a couples life after having kids and settling after marriage.Time was when they mesmerised one another with their ramblings about life and art; now, it's a disillusioned account of what they've done to one another. Is it fair for Jesse to ask Celine to move to Chicago with him? Is it justified for Celine to blame Jesse for her lack of development in her musical career?? Who has made the more compromises and sacrifices??? These are questions which are to be decided by the audience but somewhere some of these questions haunts the life of couples at one point or the other, and the two lead actors, as usual, has given a near realistic depiction of the situation. I was particularly impressed with Julie Delpy, who has given her best performance so far in the series. Her portrayal of  a bimbo and the Woody Allenesque one liners were just brilliant.

 What the film conveys so impressively is the scene-by-scene, almost moment-by-moment uncertainty of what will happen to the couple next. Theirs has always seemed a passionate but fragile bond, and the way they stare at a slow-sinking sun towards the end casts an ambiguous haze over what their future holds. Will they get over their differences or the tension is too much?? I am not sure if there will be a fourth installment , but if there is not, some viewers may complain that the ending was not they expected . But life is not always as we want them to be, isn't it????

WORTHY MENTIONS

This movie was shot in 15 days.

Dedicated to the memory of Amy, the woman who was the inspiration for Before Sunrise (1995). Richard Linklater had spent a night walking and talking around Philadelphia with her, but eventually they lost contact. Some time between Before Sunset (2004) and Before Midnight (2013), he finally learned that Amy had died many years before in a traffic accident, so he dedicated the movie to her.

MY VERDICT

**** - Don't miss this if you are a fan of the series.

ANNIE HALL - A comedy classic

Woody Allen probably has the longest lead time for a director between my having heard of him and my having seen one of the films he directed. I’m fairly sure I first heard of him when I was a kid, seeing his name come up on occasion in the Academy Awards (why I was watching the Oscars when I was too young to understand any of the films is a question I cannot answer.) Yet the first time I watched a film he directed was maybe early 2005, with Match Point.  Of course, I knew something of what to expect from Annie Hall, about which I heard some rave reviews. I knew it was a romantic comedy, and by reputation an unorthodox one. And I knew Woody Allen would be playing a neurotic New Yorker, because Woody Allen is pretty much impossible to picture as anything else. What I wasn’t sure on was how well I would appreciate the humor. 

New York certainly has a strong presence in Annie Hall, but the humor is framed in a way that makes it more relatable. It’s a love story. A broken, fragmented love story about a relationship that we’re told right from the beginning has already fallen apart. Everybody’s had some form of relationship, doomed or not, and usually a fair mix of each. Not everybody has the same neuroses that Alvy (Woody Allen) or Annie (Diane Keaton) have, but we’ve all probably had some neurotic moments in a relationship. Allen shows these moments in multiple different ways during the film, from subtitling it with the characters’ thoughts, to having Alvy “interview” random passers-by to get their thoughts on his relationship with Annie. It’s as if each anecdote of their lives is a different experimental film. And though the story is told in bits and pieces and out of order — like a man’s rambling memories — we see the whole thing unfold, from their awkwardly cute meeting to the relationship’s eventual self-destruction as Alvy’s efforts to get Annie to grow into him cause her to grow away from him. Yet even most of the sadder moments involve some humor.

 

And along the way, it casually introduces New York City itself as a character - just like Tokyo in Lost In Translation. Not a major one. Just a minor but recognizable side character.  And as Annie spreads her wings to pursue a career in Beverly Hills, that city reflects hers. But it’s also more relaxed and more willing to embrace new things. By Alvy’s own admission, New York is stagnant. It’s shown a lot more briefly, but one gets the feeling that the Beverly Hills shown in Annie Hall is more pleasant than New York. But New York is a lot more Alvy, and one suspects more Woody Allen. There’s an autobiographical feel to the character of Alvy, which is seemingly confirmed when Alvy writes his first play — an idealized version of his relationship with Annie. The characters in the play get the typical romantic happy ending, but as Alvy says in the opening, he and Annie broke up a year before.

It’s not a typical romantic comedy. It’s not a typical anything. It’s more wistful than hopeful, more apt to go for the smile than the laugh (though it does score a few of those.). It’s purposefully disjointed in its storytelling, giving the impression of somebody very meticulously pounding puzzle pieces into the wrong spaces. And somehow, it all works to create an enjoyable film, one that probably requires more than one viewing to fully appreciate, but which is certainly appreciable on the first outing.

 

WORTHY MENTIONS

 

In winning the BEST PICTURE award in 1977 it edged out "Star Wars," an outcome unthinkable today. 

Diane Keaton's real name is Diane Hall and her nickname is Annie.

 

MY VERDICT

**** 1/2 - A Classic not to be missed