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Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Michael Murphy, Mariel Hemingway, Meryl Streep ... see more see more... , Anne Byrne (II) , Karen Ludwig , Michael O'Donoghue , Victor Truro , Tisa Farrow , Helen Hanft , Bella Abzug , Kenny Vance , Charles Levin , David Rasche , Damion Sheller , Wallace Shawn , Frances Conroy , Bill Anthony , John Doumanian , Ray Serra , Karen Allen , Mark Linn-Baker , Gary Weis

On the heels of Annie Hall, the Oscar-winning romantic comedy that rocketed Woody Allen to the front ranks of American filmmakers, Manhattan continued Allen's romantic obsessions in a slightly darker,... read more read more... more pessimistic vein. Allen stars as Isaac Davis, a TV comedy writer sick of the pap he is forced to churn out and harboring dreams of being the great American novelist. His love life is in barbed-wire territory: he is tormented by his second ex-wife Jill (Meryl Streep), a lesbian who has written a tell-all book about their marriage, and he is dating teenager Tracy (Mariel Hemingway), to whom he refuses to commit, and keeps hinting that a breakup may be imminent. Isaac's disillusioned (and married) best friend Yale (Michael Murphy) has begun an affair with the cerebral writer Mary Wilke (Diane Keaton). While Isaac makes a last minute, sink-or-swim decision to quit his job and devote all of his time to book writing, and neurotically moans about what the lack of a full time job will do to him ("My parents won't have as good of a seat in the synagogue," he moans. "They'll be far away from God... away from the action") Yale is crippled by his lack of resolve, as indicated by his inability to leave his wife Emily (Anne Byrne). Meanwhile, Isaac and Mary begin to fall for one another. Tracy then tells Isaac the basic truth that none of his hung-up friends and past lovers fully realizes: "You have to have a little more faith in people." Manhattan is both a seriocomic dissection of perpetually dissatisfied New Yorkers and an ode to the city itself, filmed in glorious black-and-white by ace cinematographer Gordon Willis, and set to a score of rhapsodic George Gershwin music. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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91% liked it

46,441 ratings

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98% liked it

49 critics

R, 1 hr. 36 min.

Directed by: Woody Allen

Release Date: March 14, 1979

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DVD Release Date: July 4, 2000

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Flixster Reviews (2,846)

  • moonrivers
    May 17, 2012
    moonrivers
    With lush background Gershwin tunes done by the New York Philharmonic and the foreground being the city itself shot in noir-ish black and white, and one has the makings of a classic cinema showpiece. Only at the heart of all this hugeness are intelligent people (who go to museum... read mores, discuss books, paintings, philosophical ideas, even sex ...) who know everything but themselves, lonely souls bitterly confused by their empty lifes, empty because of their low opinion of themselves. The smartest person in the film hasn't gone to college yet, is only 17 years old, only knows that when she is happy: keep it. What's Allen trying to say? Its an interesting conversation ...
  • spielberg00
    March 24, 2012
    spielberg00
    Despite it being an artistic film, MANHATTAN is not in black-and-white to look like a pre-1960s film. I won't try to say that there haven't been these kinds of films; we've had YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK, and PLEASANTVILLE as crystal clear proof. The reason th... read moreis 1979 comedy is in black-and-white is to illustrate the beauty of Manhattan, the most populous borough in New York City. The film opens humorously with a voice-over of our main character: "Chapter One. He adored New York City. He idolized it all out of proportion. Eh uh, no, make that he, he romanticized it all out of proportion. Better. To him, no matter what the season was, this was still a town that existed in black-and-white and pulsated to the great tunes of George Gershwin. Uh, no, let me start over." While Woody Allen is delivering this opening narration, we actually hear George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" in the background. In fact, the entire soundtrack to MANHATTAN consists of performances of 20th century jazz musician George Gershwin by both the New York Philharmonic and the Buffalo Philharmonic. The film is practically a love letter to Manhattan, the area in which it is set, and George Gershwin, Allen's inspiration for the film. It's by far the most artistically-fueled Allen work yet.

    There's so many things that make MANHATTAN a great movie, but it's a mystery to me why it's so lovable. Anyone who has seen two or three of Woody Allen's films is probably used to his wry humor. Maybe it's because of his subtle, sarcastic admittances, such as in one scene, when he confesses to his struggling teenage girlfriend about his "wry sense of humor." Or that other scene: "Bergman? Bergman's the only genius in cinema today." Yeah, right.

    http://themoviefreakblog.wordpress.com/2012/03/24/review-manhattan/
  • TomBowler
    January 8, 2012
    TomBowler
    Truly amazing. Allen's most visually beautiful film with an incredible screenplay executed by a team of incredible actors. Full review later.
  • SirPant
    August 26, 2011
    SirPant
    In my original review I said I liked it although I wasn't a particularly big fan of Woody Allen. Well, the more I see the more I like and on a re-watch of Manhattan - after spending last summer there also - I've upped my rating. It's not my favourite of his films so far but it's ... read morevery of its time and like NY itself, has a certain magic about it.
  • mjgildea
    May 18, 2011
    mjgildea
    If Annie Hall has a less charming, pretentious but much more physically attractive sibling, then Manhattan is that sibling. Unfortunately this movie kind of personifies everything about Woody Allen that I've come to outgrow (the over-the-top neuroticism, the overtly pretentious c... read morearicatures/characters.) But for as annoying as Manhattan's characters are all is forgiven with Gordon Willis' truly, truly beautiful photography and Woody Allen's direction. Manhattan is definitely overrated but every hypnotic and mesmerizing work of art image puts you in a really forgiving mood by the end.
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    May 5, 2011
    DragonEyeMorrison
    Woody before going senile. My only problem is that this was one of the few times i felt Woody should had cast somebody else in the lead role. It was a bit hard to believe that a character like Isaac could attract several good looking and smart women. One of them being 17 years ol... read mored. Neverless, a good film about human relations.
  • fernandorafael
    March 6, 2011
    fernandorafael
    Not a bad movie, by any means, just not my favorite type of Woody Allen film. The caricaturesque Woody makes the screen shine every time he's in front of it, and from behind, he elicits wonderful performances from the incredible Diane Keaton and the underused Meryl Streep. Manhat... read moretan is based on a terrific, subtle script (albeit incredibly pretentious at times) and marked by the beautiful music of George Gershwin. The stunning black-and-white photography is the single greatest aspect of this classic film.
  • garyX
    February 2, 2011
    garyX
    A middle aged writer juggles relationships with a seventeen year old student, a journalist and his lesbian ex-wife to the backdrop of the New York City skyline. I don't think I can watch Woody Allen any more. Well, not the Allen responsible for this kind of self-absorbed, self-ju... read morestifying pretentious bullshit. Manhattan is basically just a soap opera populated with terminally self-involved people whom I just wanted to punch in the face. I hated very single one of the smug, pretentious, modern artist name-dropping, modern jazz loving, therapist discussing, insufferable lot of them. I've always despised people like this and listening to them drone on about their relationships with one another made me want to spray the screen with indiscriminate automatic weapons fire. It's very attractively shot and the opening montage featuring the sights and sounds of New York made me want to drop everything and grab a flight there right now, but what followed made my bile levels reach critical mass. If you're one of "them", you'll probably love it though.
  • stevenecarrier
    December 7, 2010
    stevenecarrier
    Oh "Manhattan", it's so great because it's not even awkward that Woody Allen is dating a 17 year old. It's not even awkward that that relationship is the healthiest in the film. It's not even awkward that she is the voice of reason in the picture. "Manhattan" is just so delightfu... read morel and unexpected and ultimately honest and funny. Allen and Diane Keaton are extremely memorable (a visit to the planetarium is unforgettable) and Meryl Streep is fun as his bitter, lesbian, ex-wife. Vintage Woody Allen in all the best ways.
  • lewiskendell
    July 16, 2010
    lewiskendell
    "Everyone gets corrupted. You have to have a little faith in people."

    First of all, I loved the decision to shoot this in black & white. It makes the city look completely beautiful, and it gives the whole thing a timeless feel. It suits the movie perfectly.

    Manhattan is basical... read morely about people that don't want what they have. Until they don't have it, of course. Then they want it desperately. Woody Allen's character Isaac is the worst offender. He tosses away jobs and girlfriends on a whim or an inkling of something more appealing on the horizon. Most of other main characters aren't much better. The story is encompassed within that circle of friends and relationships.

    I didn't find Manhattan to be as relatable and appealing as some of Allen's other movies that I've seen. The humorous dialogue didn't seem to be as sharp as I've come to expect, and there was really only one remotely likeable character out of the lot. The ending is strong, thankfully, and that lessened the mild sense of disappointment that I felt about the film.

    Okay, but I don't consider it to be one of Woody's best.

View All Manhattan Reviews

Critic Reviews

J. Hoberman
February 4, 2009
J. Hoberman, Village Voice

Manhattan is not just Woody Allen's dream movie. Wistful as it is witty, it's his dream of the movies. Full Review

Variety Staff
February 4, 2009
Variety Staff, Variety

Allen has, in black and white, captured the inner beauty that lurks behind the outer layer of dirt and grime in Manhattan. Full Review

Dave Kehr
February 4, 2009
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Woody Allen's great leap forward into character development and dramatic integrity. Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Mr. Allen's progress as one of our major filmmakers is proceeding so rapidly that we who watch him have to pause occasionally to catch our breath. Full Review

James Berardinelli
March 14, 2002
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

If Manhattan was only a romantic comedy, it would be a very good one, but the fact that the movie has so much more ambition than the 'average' entry into the genre makes it an extraordinary example of... Full Review

Roger Ebert
April 11, 2001
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Seeing it again I realize it's more subtle, more complex, and not about love, but loss. Full Review

Bryant Frazer
March 11, 2012
Bryant Frazer, Film Freak Central

Manhattan is one of the greatest films ever made, with a final passage that's truly devastating. Full Review

James Plath
February 15, 2012
James Plath, Movie Metropolis

In "Manhattan," Allen has more to say about people, relationships, and human nature than he does in "Annie Hall" . . . but what he says, apart from a handful of hilarious lines, isn't as consistently ... Full Review

Adam Lippe
February 13, 2012
Adam Lippe, Examiner.com

Manhattan is Allen's most fully realized film, especially in the way perspectives are developed. It's the rare movie that can be watched from a number of different points-of-view, without feeling chea... Full Review

Kevin Carr
February 6, 2012
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures

Allen's cynicism rears its head in this movie quite a bit, and in many ways he pokes fun at his own audience, though I doubt his die-hard fans catch it. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Tracy: Not everyone gets corrupted...you gotta have a little faith in people.
    • Isaac Davis: Well, a satirical piece in the Times is one thing, but bricks get right to the point.
    • Mary Wilke: But biting satire is better that physical force.
    • Isaac Davis: No, physical force is better with Nazis. It's hard to satirise a guy with shiny boots.
    • Party Guest: I finally had an orgasm, and my doctor said it was the wrong kind.
    • Isaac Davis: You had the wrong kind? I have never had the wrong kind, ever. My worst one was right on the money.
    • Isaac Davis: I think people should mate for life, like pigeons or Catholics.
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