Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Woody Allen | ... | Isaac | |
Diane Keaton | ... | Mary | |
Michael Murphy | ... | Yale | |
Mariel Hemingway | ... | Tracy | |
Meryl Streep | ... | Jill | |
Anne Byrne Hoffman | ... | Emily (as Anne Byrne) | |
Karen Ludwig | ... | Connie | |
Michael O'Donoghue | ... | Dennis | |
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Victor Truro | ... | Party Guest |
Tisa Farrow | ... | Party Guest | |
Helen Hanft | ... | Party Guest | |
Bella Abzug | ... | Guest of Honor | |
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Gary Weis | ... | Television Director |
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Kenny Vance | ... | Television Producer |
Charles Levin | ... | Television Actor #1 |
Forty-two year old Isaac Davis has a romanticized view of his hometown, New York City, most specifically Manhattan, as channeled through the lead character in the first book he is writing, despite his own Manhattan-based life being more of a tragicomedy. He has just quit his job as a hack writer for a bad television comedy, he, beyond the ten second rush of endorphins during the actual act of quitting, now regretting the decision, especially as he isn't sure he can live off his book writing career. He is paying two alimonies, his second ex-wife, Jill Davis, a lesbian, who is writing her own tell-all book of their acrimonious split. The one somewhat positive aspect of his life is that he is dating a young woman named Tracy, although she is only seventeen and still in high school. Largely because of their differences a big part of which is due to their ages, he does not see a long term future with her. His life has the potential to be even more tragicomical when he meets journalist Mary... Written by Huggo
I watched Manhattan recently because i had never seen Woody Allen's films and heard this was one of his best.
I can see why people love this film, it certainly is quite original and a convincing snapshot of a group of friends in New York, but I found Woody's character just too excruciating self-possessed and irritating to enjoy the film overall.
I guess you either love him or hate him, but he reminded me of George Costanza on Seinfeld - i just wanted to shake him and say 'get over yourself!'.
As for the humor, there were a lot of attempted wit there but nothing that made me laugh out loud. I won't be a hurry to see any of his other films.