Annie Hall (1977)
A near-Dickensian exploration of a self-defined intellectual's (Woody Allen) past by time traveling to scenes of his childhood and revisiting some scenes of his past loves; but where the mechanism is caused not by ghostly intervention but is instead psychoanalytically induced.
It is thus, then, that not only does he travel to the past and reappraise it, but he is also able to interact with it: He questions (as do companions he brings along with him,) but is also questioned by the projections of his subconscious.
His fourth wall-breaking extends to scenes in the present where other figures address his endless interior monologue/dialogue, (walking down a street, a random pedestrian will answer questions about his inner self.)
Ultimately, the story is about a short-lived Pygmalion-like romance he develops with the Annie Hall character (Diane Keaton.)
She initially pursues him, (which is necessary for the thrice repeated Groucho Marx joke about not wanting to be a member of the club that will have him, to apply,) he responds, and they start dating.
His 'unhealthy' obsessions become immediately apparent (he endlessly watches The Sorrow and the Pity,) but by exposing her to his own obsessions (which do not rub off on her) she begins to grow; so much so that eventually, she will outgrow him, when after fifteen years of psychotherapy, he's still stuck in the same emotional space.
Much is made of the New York/Los Angeles culture clash and how he cannot cope with the West Coast. She, however, learns she is fine with it and fully embraces it. They break up, get together again and, ultimately, decide to lead separate lives despite remaining on friendly terms.
The original, preproduction title Anhedonia supposedly indicated his character's inability to enjoy himself, but that simply is not true: He clearly enjoys many things, including feeling sorry for himself most of the time.
Supposedly near autobiographical, wisecrackingly witty, and still quite funny.
With Carol Kane, Tony Roberts, Janet Margolin, and Shelley Duvall.
Check it out.
A near-Dickensian exploration of a self-defined intellectual's (Woody Allen) past by time traveling to scenes of his childhood and revisiting some scenes of his past loves; but where the mechanism is caused not by ghostly intervention but is instead psychoanalytically induced.
It is thus, then, that not only does he travel to the past and reappraise it, but he is also able to interact with it: He questions (as do companions he brings along with him,) but is also questioned by the projections of his subconscious.
His fourth wall-breaking extends to scenes in the present where other figures address his endless interior monologue/dialogue, (walking down a street, a random pedestrian will answer questions about his inner self.)
Ultimately, the story is about a short-lived Pygmalion-like romance he develops with the Annie Hall character (Diane Keaton.)
She initially pursues him, (which is necessary for the thrice repeated Groucho Marx joke about not wanting to be a member of the club that will have him, to apply,) he responds, and they start dating.
His 'unhealthy' obsessions become immediately apparent (he endlessly watches The Sorrow and the Pity,) but by exposing her to his own obsessions (which do not rub off on her) she begins to grow; so much so that eventually, she will outgrow him, when after fifteen years of psychotherapy, he's still stuck in the same emotional space.
Much is made of the New York/Los Angeles culture clash and how he cannot cope with the West Coast. She, however, learns she is fine with it and fully embraces it. They break up, get together again and, ultimately, decide to lead separate lives despite remaining on friendly terms.
The original, preproduction title Anhedonia supposedly indicated his character's inability to enjoy himself, but that simply is not true: He clearly enjoys many things, including feeling sorry for himself most of the time.
Supposedly near autobiographical, wisecrackingly witty, and still quite funny.
With Carol Kane, Tony Roberts, Janet Margolin, and Shelley Duvall.
Check it out.
