Annie Hall

In the film Annie Hall, Woody Allen uses various experimental film styles to connect with his audience and make a story feel more real or personal as opposed to other traditional comedic films.

Allen's comedic film methods are accessible to the audience and therefore tend to make situations funnier. For example, Allen talks directly to his viewers while narrating his neurotic point of view on love and relationships. This adds a unique comedic twist. Another approach that adds another layer of panache, includes using subtitles to convey what the characters are actually thinking while conversing with one another. Other styles that added laughter entailed using animation and split screen shots to make, what could be considered an intense moment, whimsical and light-hearted. 

An example of Allen's comedy film style can be shown in the scene where Alvy and Annie visit her family in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin for Easter dinner. It is an excellent example of how Allen uses the split screen shot to demonstrate the dichotomy between these two character's families. In using the split screen, the audiences compares the Hall family, which is relaxed, eating dinner in a beautiful home, everyone has a designated space at the table, and we notice Alvy sitting next to Annie's grandmother feeling uncomfortable because she dislikes Jewish people. We then see Alvy transform into an Orthodox Jew, and then back to himself sitting at the Hall dinner table. Next the scene goes into split screen shot and we see Alvy's family eating dinner. It exposes Alvy's family home, which is located under a roller coaster, the lighting is dimmer, crowded table, everyone is talking over each other, and in general more chaotic. This scene absolutely captures a clear and comedic film style that vividly shows two extremes between these two families. The split screen shot makes it real to audiences and therefore we can relate and laugh about this situation. As we have all had a moment where we are comparing our family to somebody else's family, and in particular when we are dating someone.