Manhattan (1979)

Manhattan is a bittersweet comedy-drama about midlife confusion, complicated love, and the contradictions of romanticizing one’s life. The film follows Isaac Davis, a twice-divorced, neurotic television writer who has just quit his job and is insecure about his future as a book author. He’s dating 17‑year‑old Tracy but doubts the relationship’s longevity. When he meets Mary Wilkie, the intellectual mistress of his married best friend Yale Pollack, attraction and moral entanglement follow: Isaac is torn between guilt, desire, and his own self-image while exes, alimony, and competing books amplify the chaos. Watching Manhattan, you’ll experience a mix of wry humor and melancholy—sharp, witty dialogue about love and compromise, but also moments of awkwardness and real emotional pain. The film evokes a romanticized but ambivalent portrait of New York life, with lingering conversations about age, fidelity, and identity. Expect character-driven scenes that probe moral ambiguity rather than tidy resolutions, a tone that flits between satire and sincere reflection, and an ending that feels elegiac rather than pat. This is a movie for viewers who appreciate dialogue-led, adult relationship dramas with a strong sense of place—equal parts comic discomfort and wistful insight into the complications of modern romance.

Actors: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Mariel Hemingway

Director: Woody Allen

Runtime: 96 min

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance

8.1 /10 83 /100 7.8 /10 8.1 /10