Solemplex To me, this movie is perfection.

BlazeLime Strong and Moving!

Lawbolisted Powerful

GazerRise Fantastic!

PWNYCNY This movie depicts a dark, somber, chilling New York City, a place in which light is starkly offset by shadows. This sets the mood for the story about a man who is wants happiness but fails to find it. Nothing he does brings him joy. He hates his job, gest involved in hopelessly morbid relationships, deceives himself into believing that his so-called friends actually care about him, and is incapable of showing real anger. He feels rage but cannot let it out. Instead he directs his rage against himself by repeatedly putting himself in social situations in which he allows others to humiliate him. Now, what makes this movie so wacky is that it is billed as a comedy. This movie is supposed to be funny, clever, witty and arguably Woody Allen's best movie. This dark movie is anything but funny. The main character, Isaac, played by Allen, is suffering. Isaac is so lacking in self-esteem and so determined to punish himself for wanting to be happy that he gets involved with a high school girl. And the moment the girl indicates she cares for him, he pushes her away. Only belatedly does he realize what he has done, but by that time it is too late. he has lost her. He suffers another rejection from a woman who is the mistress of his married best friend. Isaac deludes himself into believing that this woman, who is fickle and emotionally flighty, cares about him. When he shows that he cares about her, she dumps him. She is utterly incapable of commitment. But the worst blow to Isaac's already shredded ego occurs when he is forced to realize that his best friend, Yale, the one person who Isaac believes really cares about him as a human being, and who Isaac idolizes, is a self-centered narcissist who uses people. And remember: this is supposed to be a comedy. Where is Laurel and Hardy and Abbott and Costello when we need them? The thing about this movie that makes it so unique is that it attempts to present self-loathing as a form of humor. One cannot help but feel sympathy for Isaac who really deserves better treatment. But to call this comedy is a bit of a stretch.

suite92 The Three Acts:The initial tableaux: The film features some fine shooting in black and white. Isaac, 42, has drinks with his long time friend Yale, Yale's wife Emily, and Tracey, his current girlfriend, who is 17 (yikes). Isaac's ex Jill, who left him for another woman, is writing a tell-all book about their marriage. Isaac decides to quit his well-paying job to write a book.Delineation of conflicts: Isaac is not thrilled with Jill's book, but she is adamant about getting it published. Yale is having an affair with Mary, while Emily seeks the deeper commitment of children. Yale puts her off. Tracy would like Isaac to be happy, which is not ever going to be an easy thing. Isaac would like Tracy to have a normal happy youth; Tracy would like some commitment from Isaac. Isaac would like to be with his son more, but his obsession with intellect would probably never allow that. The triangle of Yale, Mary, and Isaac takes a number of turns, and has repercussions.Resolution: The personal connections move forward, some for better, some for the worse. Yep, that is about it, but it's well done.

d_m_s Found this to be dead self indulgent and really boring. Woody Allen is a neurotic 40-something, having a fling with a 17 year old girl. Dumps her, dates a woman his age, she dumps him and he goes running back to his 17 year old girl. Pointless and dull and I didn't like a single character.Also, the cinematography, as great as it was, was not suited to the subject matter. It needed naturalistic lighting but it looked like a film noir. For me, it didn't work as the visual tone was in conflict with the tone of the subject matter.I've seen much better Woody Allen films. I've seen some poor ones but this is probably my least favourite of his. I can't help but wonder how this film has achieved such critical acclaim and such a high score on IMDb.

simon-mcdonald Nobody denies what a superb director Woody Allen is his status is that of America's premier director in my opinion and if your familiar with his work then surely you must agree with me if I said that Manhattan is his greatest work? There is only one word that can be used to describe this film and that is a true masterpiece both intellectually and visually. In my opinion this film shows Woody Allen at the absolute peak of his career, its shot in Black and White but yet in Widescreen format and it really worked well it makes for breathtaking cinematography. I must say that even Woody Allen's command of the situation and the dialogue are just really top notch if possible even better than his usual legendary performances. There is a real bitter-sweet heartfelt angst between each of the characters. I think this film is a real tribute from Woody Allen to the city he loved so much.