Annie Hall - 9 stars out of 10

Annie Hall - 9 stars out of 10

"Annie Hall" is truly unlike any film that you have seen.  I can understand why this is most peoples' favorite Woody film, even though it falls behind "Radio Days" and "Midnight In Paris" for me.  If you are wondering how good this film is, just realize that it is the film that beat "Star Wars" for the Best Picture Oscar in 1978.  Woody provides the clever dialogue, situational irony, and interesting cinematography that we expect from his films.  My favorite aspect of "Annie Hall" is the moments that he strategically breaks the fourth wall, drawing the audience into the story.  The lead characters, played by Woody and Diane Keaton, provide an excellent reminder to appreciate the love of your life and show us why we should fight to keep the flame burning before it becomes too late.  Although I do not appreciate drug usage in movies, Annie's literal "out of body" experience when she smokes before bed is clever and very well done.  The script has a stream-of-consciousness feel to it, jumping back and forth throughout time so that we observe their relationship from a distance instead of following a chronological movie timeline.  The lobster scene, the split-screen psychoanalysis', and the first kiss are among the classic moments in this film.  Woody even appears as an animated character during an exaggeration of the rift in their relationship!  This film teaches a lot of lessons, and not necessarily on purpose.  Whether you realize that love is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity or that a happy ending isn't always the right ending, "Annie Hall" is a slice of life that will help you to see the world for what it is.