Woody Allen's Manhattan: A 1970 American Romantic-Comedy Drama
‘Manhattan’ Essay.
‘Manhattan’ is a 1970 American romantic-comedy drama film directed, written and starring Woody Allen. Allen plays a twice-divorced 42 year old comedy writer who is dating a young 17 year old girl (Mariel Hemingway). Isaac (Allen) then falls in love with his best friend’s mistress (Diane Keaton). Allan discusses the morality of infidelity and whether age is of importance in a romantic relationship. Along with these ideas, Allan tries to convey New York as a ‘character’ in herself - that inhabitants themselves are insignificant - and trying to show the transformative power of art. After its release, it was met with critical success and earned nomination for two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actress for Hemingway and Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen for Allan. One of the most visually striking and interesting scenes in terms of the dynamic between Isaac and Tracy (Hemingway) is when the two of them are in Isaac’s apartment and we witness a conversation between the two of them; the scene is met with powerful and alluring mise-en-scene, dialogue, lighting and editing which capture Allan’s wants to challenge our views over whether a middle aged man should date a young, teenage girl.
One of Allan’s most effective cinematic techniques is his use of mise-en-scene throughout ‘Manhattan’. Initially, we are shown Isaac’s apartment which is very dark and dimly lit; all that is really seen is Tracy sitting under a light reading a book; when Isaac comes in, more light is introduced and he sits next to Tracy and they converse in the corner of the shot. Allan’s use of anamorphic widescreen makes this scene startling to look at because it is visually pristine; he choose to do it this way because of: ‘all those war pictures with tanks and airplanes, and then we thought that it would be very interesting to do an intimate picture like that.’ This statement from Allan shows that he accomplished what he set out to do because it is
‘Manhattan’ is a 1970 American romantic-comedy drama film directed, written and starring Woody Allen. Allen plays a twice-divorced 42 year old comedy writer who is dating a young 17 year old girl (Mariel Hemingway). Isaac (Allen) then falls in love with his best friend’s mistress (Diane Keaton). Allan discusses the morality of infidelity and whether age is of importance in a romantic relationship. Along with these ideas, Allan tries to convey New York as a ‘character’ in herself - that inhabitants themselves are insignificant - and trying to show the transformative power of art. After its release, it was met with critical success and earned nomination for two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actress for Hemingway and Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen for Allan. One of the most visually striking and interesting scenes in terms of the dynamic between Isaac and Tracy (Hemingway) is when the two of them are in Isaac’s apartment and we witness a conversation between the two of them; the scene is met with powerful and alluring mise-en-scene, dialogue, lighting and editing which capture Allan’s wants to challenge our views over whether a middle aged man should date a young, teenage girl.
One of Allan’s most effective cinematic techniques is his use of mise-en-scene throughout ‘Manhattan’. Initially, we are shown Isaac’s apartment which is very dark and dimly lit; all that is really seen is Tracy sitting under a light reading a book; when Isaac comes in, more light is introduced and he sits next to Tracy and they converse in the corner of the shot. Allan’s use of anamorphic widescreen makes this scene startling to look at because it is visually pristine; he choose to do it this way because of: ‘all those war pictures with tanks and airplanes, and then we thought that it would be very interesting to do an intimate picture like that.’ This statement from Allan shows that he accomplished what he set out to do because it is