Annie Hall

The other night I was skipping through Annie Hall, Woody Allen’s acclaimed romantic comedy. I didn’t want to stay up to watch the entire film, so I picked out my favourite parts instead (starting with the famous cocaine party scene). By accident I happened to watch two scenes close together in which Allen’s character (Alvy) comments on a word used by Annie, played by Diane Keaton. The first occasion occurs when Alvy visits Annie’s apartment for the first time, and their immediate friendship has just begun:

ANNIE
Right. Well, I don't know, I mean, uh,
some of her poems seem - neat, you know.

ALVY
Neat?

ANNIE
Neat, yeah.

ALVY
Uh, I hate to tell yuh, this is nineteen
seventy-five, you know that "neat" went
out, I would say, at the turn of the
century.
(Annie laughs)
Who-who are-who are those photos on
the wall?

At this point in their relationship, Annie is already attracted to Alvy. She respects his intellect and takes his ‘criticism’ of her use of language playfully, as it is intended. Alvy encourages Annie to get out of her flat: to pursue her singing career and broaden her mind with adult education. Their relationship grows in strength and romance blossoms. However, as time goes by, the relationship becomes increasingly strained. Alvy becomes paranoid about Annie’s change in character and the confidence he has helped her to find. Annie in turn becomes frustrated by Alvy’s neuroses, and her inability to change him and move their relationship on. In a seminal scene, Alvy vents his suspicions about Annie’s relationship with her Russian literature teacher. This is the second time he comments on Annie’s use of the word ‘neat’:

ANNIE
(Continuing to walk quickly)
We're not having an affair. He's married.
He just happens to think I'm neat.

ALVY
(Still walking next to her)
"Neat"! There's that- What are you-twelve
years old? That's one o' your Chippewa
Falls expressions! "He thinks I'm neat."

ANNIE
Who cares? Who cares?

This is the first point in the film where Alvy and Annie heatedly argue about the state of their relationship and threaten to go their separate ways. Allen marks this seminal moment by referring to a time in the audience’s mind when the couple had first met, juxtaposing two states in their relationship: past and present. By reproducing a familiar exchange with different overtones, Allen emphasises the changes in how the characters now respond to each other. Alvy’s neurotic nit-picking is no longer perceived or broadcasted in terms of affection, but frustration. In addition, Annie has become dismissive of Alvy’s opinions about her. This reflects the diverging goals of the couple. Alvy wants to further mould Annie into his image, whereas Annie wants to adopt her own course. Ultimately the couple split because they cannot reach a compromise about their future. Annie moves to California and Alvy stays in New York.

I did not notice this device on first viewing; it’s very subtle but works beautifully. Ultimately, what matters to me is the value of re-watching films and discovering things you hadn’t noticed before.