Paris-Manhattan

I don't watch a lot of foreign language film, because it's difficult to keep up with the subtitles. So you know that I must've been really interested in the subject matter, to watch this! And it was so worth it!

I love how lead character has my name, and basically all my characteristics! Movie geeks and obsessives for the win!! And anyone who loves Woody Allen and Cole Porter we'll see themselves in this movie.

Right when I was about to change my complete love for this movie into dislike, because of a sudden switch in the character, there was a surprise ending that made everything better!

The leading character is asked more than a few times why she likes Woody Allen, and she gives some half hearted answers, but if someone asked me what makes his movie stand out and his writing, I would say it's his choice of music, his love of romance, and the way he's a philosopher. He's just an optimist, and he sees things in a good light most of the time, in his movies, no matter how bad things get. That resonates with me on a deep level. Plus, just like the lead character, I do think he's cute, even though yes, I acknowledge he's a very controversial figure. But it's rare to find a man that has the same taste as you in things, and he does. Plus I wouldn't mind him narrating my life ha ha. I love his voice! Between him and Dick Van Dyke, they have my favorite male voices, and then James Garner is a third one.

This is a simple movie, very low-key, but pleasant, and It does make use of signs and synchronicity to show who the lead character should be with, and that is another thing that resonates with me on a very personal level.

Something that does not resonate with me is the relationship between the lead character's dad and herself. She has one of the best dad ever, and I love him!

This was very much like a fairytale! Like something right out of my dreams and wishes.

6/21/2025 update:

Just thinking - the way this movie relates to me must've been fate, because Woody Allen made a film called "Alice" also, which is my name. And he made another film called "Hannah and her sisters" - and I have a sister by that name!

Also, was reminded today that my Joan and Woody Allen have something in common too - not only is her manager Kenny Laguna often compared to Woody Allen, but Joan and Woody occupied the same seat at basketball games; Joan would be in that seat during the WNBA New York Liberty games, whereas Woody would be in that seat during the New York Knicks games. Out of all the seats in the stadium, what are the odds that my Joan and Woody would have the same seat?!

For that matter, the actress that portrayed Joan Jett in a movie, Kristen Stewart, was featured in a Woody Allen film - Café Society. Moreover, Elena Anaya, who has shared the screen with Kristen Stewart before, and who was featured in the TV show "Jett" also appeared in a Woody Allen film!

And let's not forget that Woody Allen did a miniseries starring Joan Jett's friend, Miley Cyrus, who inducted Joan into the rock 'n' roll Hall of Fame!

Clearly, for me, it's not all roads lead to Rome, it's all roads lead to Joan- even my man crush, Woody Allen!!.

In Paris, the pharmacist Alice (Alice Taglioni) has been an obsessed Woody Allen fan since she was fifteen and has seen all his movies and talks to him alone in her room. When she meets Pierre (Louis-Do de Lencquesaing) in a night-club, she finds that he loves jazz and she believes he is her prince charming. But when Pierre sees Alice's sister Hélène (Marine Delterme), they immediately fall in love with each other and marry each other.

Years later, Alice is a spinster that administrates the pharmacy that belonged to her father (Michel Aumont) and believes that movies can heal many diseases. However her father insistently tries to find a husband for her. When the alarm technician Victor (Patrick Bruel) meets Alice, she does not see any future relationship with him. But one day, Victor brings Alice to meet Woody Allen in Paris and the director gives an advice to Alice.

"Paris-Manhattan" is a delightful French comedy and certainly cult for any fan of Woody Allen. Like the lead actress, I have watched all the movies of Woody Allen and my favorite is Manhattan (but fortunately I have never had a conversation alone with him like she does). When I started to watch the movie, I believed that it was a Woody Allen's film since even the letters in the presentation were very similar to his movies. But when Woody Allen himself appears on the screen, this was the greatest surprise I had. In the end, I loved this great little movie. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Paris-Manhattan"

This film is about a female pharmacist in Paris who loves Woody Allen film. She attempts to change other peoples' lives using his films.

"Paris Manhattan" is quite short at only 80 minutes. Even then, there is not enough material to fill up the screen time. It drags on and on, and nothing much happens. The plot is too predictable, in that there is little Vincent and too much Victor. We don't see Alice being torn between two guys, so we know who she will choose right from the start. The constant Woody Allen references are annoying, it feels as if they made the film just for the sake of showing the filmmaker's love for the revered director. If it was not for the surprise cameo, the film would have been very bad.

Alice is a thirty-something single woman living in Paris who has been obsessed with Woody Allen since she was a teenager. She lives her life through Woody Allen's words of wisdom.

Alice's parents try to find her a suitable partner, which she possibly finds while working at the family pharmacy when a local man, Victor, fits an alarm system. The film ends with Woody Allen making an appearance where he assures Alice that Victor is a great guy who is ideal for her.

Entertaining comedy. Occasionally loses its pace and in places the story could be a little tighter.

I used to be French and I used to love Woody Allen - "used" because of a combination of geographical mutation and a vanishing memory... I remember seeing this movie in Sydney a few years ago, so taped it when it was on TV a few days ago. This time I watched it on my own, perhaps because I felt it might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I had a wonderful time revisiting... I did not worry about expectations and really it's one's best way to approach it, not to pull it on a slab and dissect it. (the same goes for so many other movies; it supposes to be fun, and it is. I liked the originality to involve W Allen the way it is done and make a romantic and funny story out of it. I was interested to read one of the comment mentioning that years ago Woody Allen, in "Play it Again Sam", Does a similar thing when he converse with a certain "Humphrey Bogart". I would be surprised if it was just a coincidence. Although I can't say it has any other bearing on this film.