Allen is easily our most literate comic, and may just be our most comic littérateur, as readers of his humorous sketches know. But his new film is painful in three separate ways: as unfunny comedy, poor moviemaking, and embarrassing self-revelation.

Annie Hall is bracingly adventuresome and unexpectedly successful, with laughs as satisfying as those in any of Allen's other movies and a whole new staying power.

Annie Hall is not only Allen's newest film, it is also his best. It seems the most directly and obviously autobiographical.

... a rough draft for Manhattan.