Woody Allen is at his best when he isn’t trying to be funny like in “Casino Royale” and “Sleeper” but when he’s doing a harsh yet honest analysis of the human psyche as seen in “Blue Jasmine” and “Annie Hall”; “Manhattan” is one of his great movies.

“Manhattan” is essentially the same as “Annie Hall” in terms of the plot as it centres on a nervous writer played by Allen and one of the main women in his life has Diane Keaton (“Something’s Gotta Give”) filling the shoes. Like the other really good movies by Allen, this one is all about real people and dissecting life. On one layer, it’s a biting satire but to me at least it seems at its best when you see at an almost cynical perspective (a lot like “Full Metal Jacket”).

Woody Allen is someone so already fascinating that he requires little change from his real-life persona to bit fit for a character in one of his own movies. When he stops trying to be the next Charlie Chaplin (“The Kid”) and does what he does well, you can’t help but be entertained. Keaton is good here and the interactions between her and Allen are really well done. The other characters in this movie are alright but everyone in here is given superb dialog and delivers it well enough to convince you that you’re listening to an actual person’s conversations.

You may see this film as an almost remake of “Annie Hall” but if you enjoyed that film like I did then this is just an excuse to hear some more of that fantastic talking. Allen can make a certain type of film very well and like most people when you deviate from what you’re good at, you fail so I can understand why he played it safe with this one.