It turns out this is another Woody Allen film, with him playing "Isaac," a man struggling through a mid-life phase while attempting to write a book. He’s not alone in his troubles; his former wife, now a lesbian named "Jill" (Meryl Streep), intends to publish an expose—or maybe something more spiteful—while still collecting alimony. Her behavior isn't going to change when he begins seeing "Tracy" (Mariel Hemingway), …

I opted to view this movie last week following Woody Allen’s recent visit here, complete with his jazz group and a private lecture at the National Cinematheque. I've seen several of his movies before, and while I wouldn’t call him a bad filmmaker, he has always struck me as being overrated. He received an Oscar for Best Director and was nominated multiple times, but after “Annie Hall,” it seems like he made quite a f…

After watching it repeatedly over the years, starting when I was younger, I’m certain that this serves as an ideal entry point to Woody Allen’s filmography. The visuals are remarkable; Gordon Willis, who also worked on *The Godfather* films earlier in the decade, was the director of photography, and that explains a lot. While it doesn't quite reach the level of depth or engagement found in *Hannah* or *Misdemeanors*,…