Mini movie marathon

What do you do in your spare time when you stay without your internet connection for a few days? Read? Go out for a walk? I decided to watch some older movies which were luckily already downloaded on my computer and were waiting for my attention. I love old movies, especially classics from 50s and 60s with Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe. I also admire thrillers from Hitchcock and if I leave all that sex scandals behind endless monologues from 70s written by Woody Allen. My best part is to closely observe fashion, makeup, scenes and environment.

This mini marathon was focused on Woody Allen and Marilyn Monroe. I already watch all three movies before and knew the story, but that never stops me from watching again. Each time I discover something new and still get excited. I like to watch Marilyn’s acting, her sexy confidence and vulnerability at the same time. Woody is interesting and makes life often so complicated. He always represents relationships as complex and realistic and never ads sugar coating what I like about him.

Annie Hall 1977

Oscar winning Annie Hall a year ago celebrated 40^th anniversary and that was my last year’s inspiration to watch it, this year at about the same time I did a reprise. 

Annie is strong, independent, but emotionally very unstable person. She likes art, books and has her strong believes and opinions. Firstly, she gets involved into affair with married man, and then she falls in love with his best friend (character played by Woody Allen). Annie tries so hard to find her happiness with him; she also loads herself with work, but doesn’t succeed. Such dynamic life and turbulent relationships are too much for her.

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Diane Keaton who played Annie said that this was the easiest movie to film in her entire career and I believe that this shows up. She is so authentic, dialogs are realistic and interesting. There’s again a lot of small talk, typical for Woody, which never sounds fake or direct from such stiff script. Movie is also visually appealing, because of Annie’s interesting fashion choices. Her wardrobe became very popular at that time. Annie Hall is Woody’s most commercialized film and won two Oscars.

Manhattan 1979

Another Woody’s gem, probably my favorite. Gorgeous long intro, dedicated to New York, accompanied with Gershwin music, all recorded in black and white. I don’t mind black and white movies, although you can’t see so many details. It beautifully captures the pulse of the city in late 70s along with sentimental view to old WTC. Selection of complicated past and present love stories with yet standard cast, Woody Allan and his former real life lover Diane Keaton, this time joined by young Meryl Streep. We also follow, especially for that time, a bit controversial love story between 42 years old man and 17 years old girl. Can this type of relationship have a happy ending? Is this king of love real, or is just an example of so called daddy complex? Movie is dynamic, full of energy, small talk and undulating dialogs.

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Seven year itch 1955

This is Marilyn’s most recognizable movie. It involves that famous scene, when her iconic white dress get’s uplifted by air of passing subway train. This scene was supposedly on of the cause of a divorce from her second husband. Anyway, it’s a romantic comedy where Monroe plays sexy new neighbor of middle aged man, who stays home alone after sending his family on summer vacation out of the city. He is strongly trying not to get involved with her and destroying his marriage, but invites her to his apartment for a drink anyway. They also got out for a date and later he feels strong regret and even gets slightly mad at some moments. He lives ˝dangerously˝ and on the edge for two days and then decides to rather join his wife and gets out of town. Simple, often predictable, but still effective and humorous scenario. I like Marilyn’s soft, occasionally whispering voice and how she can act so silly. I enjoy watching her thoughtful onscreen movement; I just wish I had her confidence. Her private life was allegedly the whole opposite of this, but I like her with all her flaws and attributes.

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