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Alesa Roti Film Review Zach Saltz October 29, 2013 In the film, Manhattan , Woody Allen plays Isaac Davis, a pessimistic, self- obsessed man, whose characteristics are ultimately the demise to the longevity and success of any relationship he pursues. Isaac’s first wife gained a drug addiction in the midst of their marriage, which ultimately led to the two to depart. Isaac’s second marriage also concluded in divorce, in which his wife left their relationship to pursue one with a woman instead. The failure he experienced in relationships finally came to a halt when he met Mary. Isaac meets Mary through his best friend, Yale, who is having an affair with her. Yale eventually feels great regret for pursuing a woman when he is married so he leaves Mary and stays with his wife. At this time, Mary and Isaac start dating. However, in the beginning of their relationship Mary urges Isaac to run away from their relationship because “she’s trouble.” Ultimately, Mary begins seeing Yale again and realizes that she is indeed still in love with him. Yale leaves his wife and Mary leaves Isaac. Leaving Isaac heartbroken, he eventually realizes the situation he was involved in was complete and utter trouble, in which nothing good could come out of it. Because of this, he realizes that he rather be with someone that has an undying compassion and respect towards him, in which this someone is Tracy, a seventeen year old. In the end of the film, Isaac grows a sudden infatuation for Tracy. Instead of pursuing acting school in London, he begs her to remain in Manhattan, in hopes that they can finally begin their relationship together. Tracy ultimately denies Isaac’s proposal, but remains hopeful for a future relationship to arise between them. Manhattan focuses on the relationships and the powerfulness and the magnificence and mysticism that New York emulates. By doing so, director Woody Allen, constructs this film in such a manner that it harbors obvious similarity between this film and previous films he directed. The similarities that are shown throughout Allen’s films are indeed what identifies and separates his films from others. This overwhelmingly existence of similarities within his films leads
audiences to easily observe Woody’s use of mise-en-scene throughout Manhattan. Thus noticing this, audiences can gain a better understanding of the film, ultimately leading audiences to perceive several ideologies that are communicated within the film. Throughout the extensive list of films Woody Allen has directed, each share several underlying similarities amongst them. In particular, he has communicated humor in a similar notion within his films, Manhattan , Annie Hall and Interiors. Moreover, he has always based his humor on the divergent relationship between himself (“Woody”), whom is always a spectacled, anemic, exceedingly bright, yet tortured by self doubt and his aspirations, which are either writing literature, television skits or gaining the love from an untouchable women (www.rogerebert.com). Moreover, this class of humor is very apparent in Manhattan. Isaac, a man infiltrated with self-doubt, leading him to terminate a relationship with a woman who sincerely loves him. He is aware of the compassion this woman has for him, but he lacks a confidence in parading such a woman of her age around. Isaac fears he would appear to be a joke society, despite the immense accomplishments he has conquered through his professional life. The combination of his self-doubt and lack of confidence is the ultimate demise for the possibility of Isaac experiencing true love. It is certain that the characters within Woody Allen films are maintained to be rather consistent in film after film. As stated before, they continuously appear as distraught, self absorbed and anxious. These attributes would lead many to conclude these characters as losers. However, Allen halts this conclusion to be made by constructing the characters in a manner that doesn’t confine them to just being known as the “loser”. They all demonstrate success and reveal qualities of honesty, sensitivity, and complexity (Girgus, 13). In Manhattan , Isaac demonstrates erratic actions when he suddenly quits his job. He curses his employer and acts in a complete immature manner. After such a scene, many would conclude Isaac as a loser, however at this time, Isaac is in the process of writing a narrative. Because of this, many back away of concluding Isaac to be a “loser.”
film begins to have a distinguished rhythm to it (www.cod.edu) Towards the conclusion of the film, Mary ends her relationship with Ike. Rather devastated, Isaac is not only confused, but angry as well. To properly depict the magnitude of devastation, confusion and anger Isaac was witnessing at this time, Woody Allen includes music that is rather fast paced. A faster tempo prompts the audience in precisely understanding the significant effects a break up can have on one. It also entices the audience to be enraged with chaotic emotions that were similar to those that Isaac encountered. At this time, the audience begins to experience the aftermath of a terminated relationship, despite if they have been in one or not. Like many films, the departing scene within Manhattan is hoped to be one that is reminisced by audiences. For this to be true, Woody Allen incorporates music. In the final scene, Isaac is sitting on his couch, pondering on his past relationship with a seventeen-year-old girl, Tracy. His pondering led him to conclude her as “terrific kid”. After this realization, the scene is cut and an image of Tracy suddenly appears then immediately the focus is returns to Isaac slouching on his couch and music begins to play. As the music intensifies, Isaac is compelled and jumps off his couch, but only to retrieve a harmonica he was given from Tracy. After retrieval, he returns to sit on his couch and the music within this scene consequently begins to play slower. Moreover, the incorporation of the particular music within this scene embodies the emotional build-up, infiltrated with highs and lows that ultimately causes him to conclude Tracy as a lost love. As soon as Isaac made this conclusion, he jumped from the couch and immediately left his apartment to find Tracy. In the effort of finding Tracy, music within this scene transforms to an up beat, marching band kind of tune. Once he appears at her apartment, slower music intrudes, adding to the romanticism of this scene (woodyallen70s film.com) Delicate, peaceful and quite harmonious, the music emphasizes the compassion the two have for each other. Overall, Allen incorporates music to communicate the constant shift of moods the characters experience in Manhattan. By doing so, audiences can grasp a better understanding of the film, allowing them to perceive ideologies that are apparent within Manhattan.
In Manhattan , Woody Allen constructs the flaws within his male and female characters to be rather similar, in which a male or female character shall not be perceived as superior over the other, for they both demonstrate similar erratic traits. The entireties of Allen’s characters are self-obsessed, neurotic, uneasy, and hesitant. Focusing heavily on the female characters that appear within his films, it is apparent that he portrays women rather differently than other directors. Female characters within Woody Allen films are seen as intellectual and passionate beings. These women certainly don’t uphold the characteristic of being a bimbo by any means, in which their sole purpose is more than simply being a sex object. Although, Allen introduces an intimate relationship between an adult male and teenage female, he doesn’t do so to entice society to do believe this is tolerable, but to highlight particular attributes women have that are often unnoticed. Moreover, the relationship between Isaac and Tracy is neither seen as uncomfortable nor manipulative. Despite her age, Allen constructs Tracy’s character to elude an exorbitant deal of intelligence and independence in every instance within the film. Age remains not a factor for Tracy when she develops a deep love for Isaac, in which she is very satisfied with their relationship. When unfortunate situations came her way, she proved to be the only levelheaded and sincere character within the film. In particular, when Isaac ended his relationship with her, she refrained from displaying any acts of rage, but sadly accepted such news. Through Tracy’s character, Woody Allen attempted to urge society to change their thinking towards women. Men were no longer superiors to women. For him, women were much more than the beauty they exude, but an indeed intellect exists within them that he believes needs notice, for it can positively alter one’s surrounding culture. In Manhattan , Woody Allen realistically depicts the many dynamics within a romantic relationship. The audience is placed as a person of mediator, for he films his characters engaging in highly intensified arguments with their significant other. He also films his characters conversing with their partners about their sexual life, their extra marital affairs and overall desires each character has regarding this particular relationship. By filming these aspects, there is a significant realness that this film illustrates, encouraging audiences to accept the possible abnormalities or
Works Cited Girgus, Sam B. The Films of Woody Allen. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1993. Print. Ebert, Robert. "Manhattan." Robert Ebert. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2013. Bailey, Peter J. The Reluctant Film Art of Woody Allen. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print. "Mise En Scene Analysis of Woody Allen's Manhattan." N.p., n.d. Web. "Woody Allen Films in the 70s." N.p., n.d. Web.
