Annie Hall (1977)

Alvy Singer talks for nearly all of 93 minutes and never quite figures out that he’s half the problem. That’s the catch with Annie Hall: it’s a breakup story told entirely by the guy who got left, so Annie is mostly seen through his complaints, and his complaining can be exhausting. The Los Angeles stretch is one long eye-roll at the West Coast. And yet it’s packed with tricks no romantic comedy had tried. Alvy wanders into his own childhood memories, and a split screen puts two very different family dinners side by side. Diane Keaton is the reason it lasts. Her Annie is scattered, funny, warm and quietly brave, and when she sings in a little nightclub, you can see her starting to outgrow him. The scene where they chase escaped lobsters around a kitchen is pure joy. It made $38.3 million worldwide on a reported $4M. An 8.5 because Keaton makes it timeless even when Alvy makes it tiring. $288.65 says you pass the lobster tank at the grocery store and give it a nervous little nod.

What works: Diane Keaton is luminous, and the playful tricks, from talking to the camera to split screens, still feel fresh.

What doesn’t: Alvy’s constant complaining wears thin, and since it’s all told from his side, Annie never quite gets to explain herself.

Who it’s for: People who like their romantic comedies talky, clever and a little sad, and anyone who has replayed a breakup in their head for years.