We look at Annie Hall, focusing on Woody Allen’s career, the Hollywood Renaissance, how Allen affected postmodern storytelling, and why Annie Hall has resonated with so many people. Besides being hilarious, of course.
Episode 47: Most of us need the eggs.
CORRECTION: Alex compares the Hollywood Renaissance to New Hollywood, stating that the latter featured the rise of the modern blockbuster, like Jaws and Star Wars. However, the Hollywood Renaissance and New Hollywood are actually the same thing: they are both terms for the auteur-driven Hollywood that was influenced by the French New Wave. This period began with Arthur Penn’s Bonnie & Clyde and continues on until the early 1980s, or more specifically with the colossal failure of Michael Cimino’s Heaven’s Gate. This period is also often referred to as the American New Wave, with Jaws and Star Wars generally being considered the beginning of the end for the period.
