Annie Hall

Annie Hall. 1977 United Artists; now owned and distributed to DVD by MGM.
Starring: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts, Carol Kane, Paul Simon, Shelley Duvall, Janet Margolin, Colleen Dewhurt, Christopher Walken, Jeff Goldblum
Director: Woody Allen
Available from Amazon as a single DVD, or as part of the Woody Allen Collection.

A winner of four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and Best Director for Woody Allen. Annie Hall was a turning point for Allen, who began moving away from the slapstick and zany comedy of his previous films.

Allen is the neurotic comedian Alvy Singer, who is attempting to maintain in a relationship with Annie (Keaton). The movie chronicles the relationship over a period of several years, with flashbacks into each other's history. Eventually, Alvy and Annie realize that they are fundamentally different, so they split up. Annie moves in with a music executive named Tony Lacey (Simon) in California, a state that Alvy hates.

Alvy realizes he still loves Annie after seeing Children of Paradise, and unsuccessfully tries to win her back. He returns to New York to write a play about their relationship, in which he does win Annie's heart once again. In real life, though, Alvy and Annie are still able to remain friends.

Highly, highly recommended.