Film

Traversing the peaks and valleys of a love affair between neurotic New York comedian Alvy Singer (Allen) and the eponymous “la-de-da” nightclub singer (Keaton), this bittersweet romantic comedy was so instantly beloved that it beat out Star Wars for the Best Picture Oscar. Surely no subsequent Allen film has proven quite as quotable or portrayed the director’s career-long struggles with love and the meaning of lifewith such a heartrending mix of good humor and vulnerability. With Allen and Keaton’s unlikely but thoroughly convincing onscreen chemistry, you almost forget how much fun Allen has staging brilliant takedowns of pretentious Fellini haters, slimy record executives (including Paul Simon in an unforgettable cameo), spaced-out hippies, and (of course) himself.