Manhattan
Manhattan

Manhattan

1979Movie96 minEnglish

Manhattan explores how the life of a middle-aged television writer dating a teenage girl is further complicated when he falls in love with his best friend's mistress.

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Insights

IMDb7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes94%
Metacritic82/100
Google Users87%
Director: Woody AllenGenres: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Plot Summary

A twice-divorced, neurotic New York television writer Isaac Davis is having an affair with his best friend's mistress, Mary Wilke. He also finds himself attracted to his friend's ex-wife, Tracy, a teenage debutante. The film explores his complex relationships and his philosophical musings on life, love, and the city.

Critical Reception

Manhattan was a critical success, praised for its witty dialogue, stunning black-and-white cinematography, and Allen's signature blend of humor and pathos. It is often considered one of Allen's finest works and a quintessential portrait of New York City.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its sophisticated humor and sharp dialogue.
  • Lauded for its iconic black-and-white cinematography capturing New York City.
  • Recognized for exploring complex relationships with Woody Allen's characteristic neuroses.

Google audience: Audiences appreciated the film's intellectual humor, romantic entanglements, and the compelling portrayal of New York City. Some found the characters' existential angst relatable, while others noted the film's unique visual style.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress (Mariel Hemingway). Won Best Cinematography at the César Awards.

Fun Fact

The famous opening scene, featuring Isaac's monologue about the city, was filmed at 5:30 AM on a Sunday to avoid traffic and crowds, and the iconic "taxi" shot was achieved by having a taxi drive past multiple times.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Well guess what? It's Woody Allen as "Isaac" - a man facing a series of mid-life crises whilst trying to write a book. He's not the only one. Ex-wife turned lesbian "Jill" (Meryl Streep) is planning on writing her own kiss-and-tell (or more...
Filipe Manuel Neto

Filipe Manuel Ne...

**In the shadow of “Annie Hall”.** I decided to watch this film last week, after the visit that Woody Allen himself made to my country, with his jazz band and an interesting lecture at the National Cinematheque for invitations only. Desp...
tmdb47633491

tmdb47633491

Having seen this four or five times now since I was a kid, I can definitively say this is the best Woody Allen introduction for newcomers. Visually it's his best work (for those who don't know, the cinematographer Gordon Willis did The Godf...