Woody Allen's celebration of the city that has always been a central character in his films: New York.

Here he presents a tale of the sometimes convoluted romantic relationships of a group of neurotic Manhattanites, centered around television writer Isaac Davis, and including his lesbian ex-wife, his guilt-torn philandering friend, and his friend's pseudo-intellectual journalist girlfriend. Although Davis is already involved with a beautiful, intelligent 17-year-old, he finds himself attracted to the mistress of his married best friend--the journalist--who embodies every quality he thought he didn't like, but somehow seems appealing this time around. One of Allen's most mature works, with perhaps deeper characters and more fundamental sentiment than in his earlier comedies. Willis's black-and-white photography and a lush Gershwin-filled soundtrack put the finishing touches on this paean to the titular borough.