Movie review - "Annie Hall" (1977) *****

Still classic Woody Allen rom-com can almost make you weep at how he's declined - it really all came together for him with this film, which is so confident, funny, assured and imaginative. Watching it again I was struck how influential the film has been with its breaking of the fourth wall and observational humour. Woody is in tip top form and Diane Keaton is beautiful and charming. The amount of acting talent is stunning - Tony Roberts and Coleen Dewhurst were always good, but look at the newcomers: Jeff Goldblum, Shelley Hack, Chris Walken, etc. I once read the original script and it was fascinating how it had changed structurally (for instance there was a scene in Hell which Woody re used for Deconstructing Harry) but the basic material was all there. The film is fun to see again because you anticipate the classic bits - Woody taking on pompous critic in the movie line, Shelley Duvall at a rock concert, the visit to LA, Paul Simon dancing.