otoh

I watched Annie Hall [refs here and here] this weekend. I’ve seen it before, of course, but I recently saw the DVD on sale for something under $10 and it was a complete impulse buy.

I’m not a huge fan of Woody Allen (or the whole “New York is the best and if you don’t live here or WANT to live here there’s something wrong with you” genre), but I’ve always liked this film. If nothing else it’s notable for winning a slew of awards including the Academy Award for Best Picture the same year that Star Wars came out and for spawning a fashion trend for women (layers with a tie). It was the 70s and incredibly that wasn’t even close to the worst fashion trend of the decade….

Anyway, like most other guys I luuurved Diane Keaton [watch the movie, it's in there]. There’s an early psycho character by Christopher Walken. And I’ve always enjoyed Carol Kane, who has a small part and a great line, “No, that was wonderful. I love being reduced to a cultural stereotype.” In fact, there are tons of quotable quotes from this film.

[after sex with Annie] Alvy Singer: That was the most fun I’ve ever had without laughing.

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[In California] Annie Hall: It’s so clean out here.
Alvy Singer: That’s because they don’t throw their garbage away, they turn it into television shows.

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[a guest is calling his meditation guru] Party guest: Hello? I forgot my mantra.

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Alvy Singer: Love is too weak a word for what I feel - I luuurve you, you know, I loave you, I luff you, two F’s, yes I have to invent, of course I - I do, don’t you think I do? [told ya it's in there]

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Alvy Singer: Lyndon Johnson is a politician, you know the ethics those guys have. It’s like a notch underneath child molester.

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Alvy Singer: Hey, don’t knock masturbation. It’s sex with someone I love.

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And my favorite scene:

[Alvy and Annie are seeing their therapists at the same time on a split screen]
Alvy Singer’s Therapist: How often do you sleep together?
Annie Hall’s Therapist: Do you have sex often?
Alvy Singer: [lamenting] Hardly ever. Maybe three times a week.
Annie Hall: [annoyed] Constantly. I’d say three times a week.

And, I hate to admit this, but there are times when I’ve been nearly as neurotic about relationships as Alvy Singer. I’ve learned not to try to recreate moments though [it's in there]. But I still wouldn’t want to belong to a club that would have someone like me as a member [it's in there]. Maybe I need fifteen years of analysis… or maybe I need another Annie….

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