Woody Allen rip-off - When Harry Met Sally... (1989) Discussion

[–] piapaya 10 years ago

I couldn't disagree more... there is a very stark difference in the writing.
Personally, I like Woody Allen's earlier work (pre-Midnight in Paris), but I find that over time his work has become inflated with praise. Annie Hall is a great movie, but its wit is VERY different. Not to mention that the characters both writers have created and the way they play off one another are totally different.

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[–] hogarbgd 7 years ago

This cracked me up:

"I like Woody Allen's earlier work (pre-Midnight in Paris)"

It's like saying "I like The Beatles earlier work (pre-Let It Be)"

I am NOT criticizing! Just saying that it made me laugh. :-)

Peace

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[–] rlaad 10 years ago

Right from the titles to the dialogues to the situations and the depiction its all Woody Woody Woody

Still it is a nicely done movie

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[–] rlaad 10 years ago

The even stole the song from Annie Hall

Good movie but still couldnt they have something original..

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[–] rochelle-rochelle 10 years ago

Interesting comparison. I need to rewatch this movie to see what you're talking about. I love this movie.

---
Wonderful, but forgettable. It sounds like a film I've seen. I probably wrote it.

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[–] spookyrat1 10 years ago

Let's not forget Nora Ephron was a writer of renown in her own right. The film tips its cap certainly towards Woody Allen movies like Annie Hall and Manhattan, but hardly rips them off. The Allen films both have quite different stories than this and Sally in particular IMO, could hardly be more different than Annie Hall.🐭

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[–] JohnS-37 9 years ago

Agreed, but this movie is also very enjoyable. Annie Hall created the Romantic Comedy genre so you can see where the dialogue is similar. But Meg Ryan's costume in this movie was based off Annie Hall. Same opening credits and same song as Annie Hall. Then you have the running at the end of the film as seen in Manhattan.

We can love all of them separate but it's hard to deny every time I watch them movie, I see so much of Woody's work being imitated.

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[–] snelling 9 years ago

Another similarity is the "post-breakup trying to have the same kind of fun with a new person" scene. And yet another is the interstitial breaking of the fourth wall by talking directly to the camera.

"I will not go down in history as the greatest mass-murderer since Adolf Hitler!" - Merkin Muffley

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[–] chilidoggg (13053) 3 years ago

"breaking of the fourth wall by talking directly to the camera."

Did I miss this? Is this the part at the very end when they're on the couch telling their story like all the old couples?

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[–] jcosyn-1 8 years ago

"Annie Hall created the Romantic Comedy genre...."

Can you actually believe that statement??? Are you telling us you have never heard of Katharine Hepburn, or Audrey Hepburn, or Marilyn Monroe, or Claudette Colbert, or Sophia Loren, or Cary Grant, or Spencer Tracy, or Rock Hudson, or Doris Day, or Jimmy Stewart, or Gary Cooper, or James Garner, or ... ANYBODY who starred in all the romantic comedies for decades prior to 1977?

Seriously? You really thought the genre began in 1977?

Absolutely mind-boggling.

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[–] chilidoggg (13053) 3 years ago

Deliverance was 1972

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[–] nashknight-1 9 years ago

Agreed. It's like Woody Allen for dummies.

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[–] SandyR (7347) 2 years ago

Very true.

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[–] prplayer 8 years ago

when you have to steal, steal from the best

so many movies, so little time

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[–] snelling 8 years ago

On the commentary, they say it's the first film with old standard songs on the soundtrack. Are they for real? Even the song, "It Had to Be You" was also used from "Annie Hall."

"'Extremely High Voltage.' Well, I don't need safety gloves, because I'm Homer SimpzzzZZZ--" - Frank Grimes

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[–] rdaily-88302 7 years ago

Yeah this movie is kind of fun, but I would enjoy it much more if Rob Reiner admitted it that was an homage to The Woodman.

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[–] pepetoony (1536) 2 years ago

Totes! The entire time I was watching this (just watched it for the first time) I couldn't believe I wasn't watching a Woody Allen movie. Woody does 'em better.

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[–] SandyR (7347) 2 years ago

It was definitely meant to be the Annie Hall of the late 80s.

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