Customer Reviews

Alice [VHS]

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The US media cannot see it and thus will not tell you:

There is no joy in material wealth, only in absolute renunciation of wealth to give oneself to others in Love.

This is Allen's most well developed film technically with its stunning sets and exquisite cinematography, both by the best in the business of that time. The actors as well, from the briefest walk-on are top notch, and thus the New York review considers wasted. Not so; they are used exquisitely in perfect measure, and had no more to say. Brevity is the soul of wit, and their brief appearances merit another viewing. In fact for every reason this film demands another viewing, repeatedly.

In this film we find not only Allen's cinematic technical and directorial prowess on best display, but also his writing, which is profound and deeply moral and true and must be seen once more. There are two aspects to this writing, form and content. Like a modern novel, a form with which since Love and Death Allen has always wrestled, this film teaches you how to view itself. Like James Joyce's Ulysses (Gabler Edition), we are taught how to watch this film, and thus rewarded in further viewings. A professor here tells us how we read the voices in novels as interior monologues and ruminations whereas in film we see exterior speech to often devoid of the interior life.

This film is all about the interior life of the eternal soul as opposed to idle materialist empty orgies. We need that professor's indication to understand how to see this film, which begins with an interior musing over breakfast. See it again. The unsophisticated viewer might lose track of all which is going on; it took me several viewings, well rewarded to follow the thread all the way through, knowing there is still so much more to see.

The classical allusions in themselves are fascinating and deserving of a doctoral thesis. For instance the Baldwin brother appearance as a deceased first beau, perfectly played, resonantes with Joyce's the Dead in which another husband competes with a lost loved one. The hilarious scene in which a love potion mistakenly placed as nutmeg in the Christmas eggnog causes strangers to fall hopelessly in love with Alice reminds us of Romance of Tristan & Iseult as well as intriguing insight on the fatal and annoying aspects of celebrity in which perfect strangers fall confusedly and eternally in love with a cinematic fictional representation. One feels here that Allen and Farrow are making a true comment about strangers and other fans at Manhattan cocktail parties swearing their undying allegiance based on personal reaction to their anonymous art.

I had long thought the best Woody Allen films were his collaborations with Ms. Farrow; I had long thought that Broadway Danny Rose was their finest film, with its true moral and lesson for life: Forgiveness, Acceptance and Love. This film beats it in every way, and thus most other US cinema as well. Woody Allen appears on the Vatican's list of 100 best movies; I cannot recall if this is one, but it ought to be.

In fact comparing the two films, Danny Rose and ALice, we see the full range of Farrow's powers as an actress. There she plays a gun moll; here she is a perfect representation of a young lady who had spent years among the nuns, who had even entered the novitiate. Her every mannerism and her constantly polite and demure expression are exact, nearly painfully correct and essential to the power of this drama. See it again. Does she not remind you of people you knew?

And her representation of the emotionally devastating effects of adultery and its banal, destructive emptiness is true to life, something Hollywood never tells us. Cybill Shepherd guiding her to saleable stories ("no nuns") refelcts this as explicitly as the professor's lesson in voices.

Please see this movie. Without revealing any spoilers, let us simply say that Mother Theresa of Calcutta wins. See this film.

Woody Allen's attempt at light comedy after the heaviness of Crimes and Misdemeanors only comes alive sporadically, when he exercises the Wonderland associations of his title character. As a wealthy socialite with a back problem, Mia Farrow consults a Chinese acupuncturist who feeds her herbs which have varying results. Farrow's appearance as if she were Joan Crawford is jarring, and the falseness of the environment is also represented by the museum-like apartment all in yellow which she shares with William Hurt, and her servants. One can detect things Allen may have picked from his association with Farrow - his description of her mother as a "third rate" actress, and Alice's admiration for Mother Theresa, but though her talkativenss is meant to be comic (occasionally she reminded me of Judy Garland circa MGM), it comes across as wearisome, though Farrow never appears as arrogant at Allen sometimes has - she's not really the judgmental type. Her best scene involves her transformation from Allen's stammering doppel-ganger to femme fatale in a seduction of Joe Mantegna. The tone of these kind of scenes are introduced by the use of music on the soundtrack- Limehouse Blues, which of course relates to the acupuncturist, and La Cumparsita, which sounds similar to The Pajama Game's Hernando's Hideaway. Allen scores laughs from Farrow being invisible, where a phone receiver is seen dangling in mid air, and with a love potion that is misused at a party and she is swamped by admirers. He also tries for some visual effects with Alex Baldwin as a half visible ghost from Farrow's past and Mantegna and Judy Davis making love in front of video screens, and though a flying sequence is less effective, he does use vocal memory when Farrow and Balwin dance together. There are two instances where the memory effects are distinctly theatrical, with lighting changes and houselights present. Allen also includes a lot of anti-Catholic jokes, as if to make a nice change from his self-referential anti-semitism. His use of the actors is wildly variable, with Blythe Danner (in the best Allen role she's had to date) as Farrow's sister, Robin Bartlett as a friend of Farrow's, Mantegna a puppy-dog sweet love interest though hardly the "dangerous" person Farrow describes him to Baldwin as, and Bernadette Peters funny as a muse. Baldwin isn't around long enough and him being a semi-presence doesn't help, Hurt is dull and seems uncomfortable, Cybill Shepherd and Gwen Verdon are wasted, and Davis has little to do, though thankfully Allen would use her to greater effect later in Husbands and Wives, Deconstructing Harry and Celebrity.

While I gave this film a 4 star rating, I have to say that it is one of the films I watch repeatedly. In "Alice," Woody Allen has taken his cue from Fellini's "Juliet of the Spirits" and assembled a better story and superior film.

The story of a disenchanted housewife finding her real desires and discovering the truth about her pampered but sterile existence is unfolded with such joy and air-light humor that I couldn't help but be charmed. The concept of self discovery after years of self delusion was explored in more somber ways in Allen's "Another Woman." Here, the use of magic potions are administered ostensibly to relieve Alice's psychosomatic discomforts. The cures actually allow the character vehicles for seeing her life from new perspectives.

Alice's descent into Wonderland is a great escape, very entertaining. Her character is an upper crust variation on ones she's done in other Allen films, but Farrow shows her range when, in the script's moment of intoxication, she moves in a split second from mousy uncertainty to voluptuous seductress. The humor is mostly character-driven and this mousse of a confection is a great way to remove oneself from the stresses of a long week.

This movie was made in the 1989-1990 period. Woody Allen was already an experienced film director and actor. Stas Mia Farrow in the title role of Alice, and Joe Montegna as the lover. Woody Allen does not appear in this film as he is only a director but there is a load of cameos from stars such as Cybil Shepherd and Bernadette Peters in the comedic role of the Muse. Woody Allen's intellectual/philosophical, life affirming comedies have always been effective and successful- Annie Hall, Zellig, A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy, Hannah and Her Sisters, etc. Alice is a modern day and more adult version of "Alice In Wonderland" where it gets its name. Alice is a seemingly happy, married woman living in Manhattan, New York City. The illusion of happiness soon wears off as she discovers her husband, a stockbrocker, played by William Hurt, is cheating on her. Soon enough, she is cheating on him with Joe Montegna's character, a saxophone jazz musician.

The reality of this film, which lies in the complicated adult affairs, including marital infidelity, and the urban scenes of New York City, are contrasted but mingled effectively with the "magic" that is dominant in the film. Alice is consulting a spiritual Oriental doctor who gives her all sorts of herbs and potions, including one which renders her invisable. The scene in which she and Joe Montegna are invisible in the women's clothes store is hilarious. Joe Montegna sneaks into a fitting room to spy on a model dressing. "There's a lot of heavy breathing coming from in here" says the model. Meanwhile Alice overhears her friends talking about her behind her back. Ultimately, Alice must make a choice. She has the cure for her problem. A love potion. But will she select her husband or her lover ? Her decision is unexpected and maybe even a bit off-putting to some viewers who would have preferred she remain in the realm of humans and romantic affairs and materialism. The movie had been going this way until the decision which is to reject worldliness and Mia Farrow is inspired by the humanitarian and noble work of Mother Teresa. I feel that it's at least true to Mia Farrow's real life nature. She is notorious for adopting many foreign children from war-torn and poverty stricken countries. This movie is still very good and I really enjoyed it. The witty script by Woody Allen and his position as director and Mia Farrow's husband is also very effectiive. It's a great film by a master of comedy that makes you think. If only this movie was available on DVD here.

Alice is a compendium of missed opportunities. Woody conjures up all sorts of angles worth exploring then drops them.

The movie is worth seeing for the stunningly crisp cinematography, odd use of color (especially in Farrow and Hurt's bizarre apartment) and unerringly apt musical choices. Woody's deep feeling for jazz is the unbilled star here, and when a lush string orchestra with muted trumpet strikes up a silvery and sensitive chorus of "I Remember You" just before Alice awakes to a visitation from her long-dead lover (Baldwin) you get a palpable sense of the heroine's pent-up longings.

Joe Mantegna is terrific. He uses those sleepy, heavy-lidded eyes of his to superb effect; those eyes tell us more than Woody's sketchy script ever will.

The film's most electrifying sequence brings the great, underutilized actress Gwen Verdon out of the shadows to play Alice's boozy mom. We've seen this boozy mom archetype in Allen films before: Maureen O'Sullivan in Hannah, Elaine Stritch in September. But none of them brought the FIRE that seethes from Verdon. Verdon conveys such waste and degradation that I felt as if I were witness to something horribly private. And there lies the movie's greatest sin: we just get this one scene and no more. What happened? Was the loaded gun triangle of Farrow, Verdon and "the accomplished sister" Blythe Danner to hot for Woody to handle???

I didn't mind the whimsy of Alice. But there was a meatier, darker story here waiting to be told, and Allen backs away from telling it. Still, given how bad, coarse, loud, vulgar and passionless nearly all of Allen's post-Mia films have been, Alice looks more and more like a gift as time goes by.

The story or premise of `Alice' is quite simple, but Woody Allen's construction of the film and exploitation of the plot is far from it. Yes, `Alice' tells the story of a spoiled socialite who realizes that her life is far from a happy one despite all the so-called perks she receives and so she goes on a journey of self discovery that eventually ends in her happiness. Like I said, we've seen this before, but we have never seen it displayed in this manner.

Mia Farrow stars as Alice, and she pretty much reprises her role in Allen's superior `The Purple Rose of Cairo', playing her character somewhat mousy and underappreciated. The difference of course lies in her characters social status (Alice is wealthy, Cecilia was not) but Farrow's approach to character is very much the same. So Alice is married to Doug, a successful business man who doesn't seem to have too much time for Alice. When a back pain sends her to Dr. Yang, an acupuncturist who doesn't really do any puncturing, Alice gets the right dose of medicine to help her see that her pains are more mental than physical. Her life is not what she intended and it is up to her to change things. Throughout the course of her self discovery she finds herself in the arms of another man and spying on her husband's extramarital affairs with the aid of some herbs that make her invisible.

Yes, `Alice' goes there.

The film is outlined like your typical Allen film. People converse as if they were not on camera and banter back and forth about seemingly uninteresting topics that in the end prove to be all the more interesting to us because they are not what we expect to hear. Much like `The Purple Rose of Cairo' though, this film is tailored more towards the acceptance of the general public.

In other words; you don't have to be a fan of Woody Allen to enjoy this film.

Like I mentioned, Farrow pretty much reprises her previous role here, but her character is endearing and likable with all her ignorant quirks. William Hurt is effective as her unfaithful husband and Keye Luke is funny as her overly wise doctor. Joe Mantegna is the big standout for me. His portrayal of Joe, the married man for whom Alice falls, is spot on perfect. We can see why she is attracted to him. He is handsome and he is sensitive and he is sweet, but he is unfailingly a man and his faults shine through to create a likable and relatable character. Judy Davis, Blythe Danner and even Alec Baldwin all contribute fine performances as well, but they are not given anything memorable to really work with.

In the end `Alice' is a nice break from the norm in regard to its unique blend of storytelling. It is not Allen's best; it's not even really close, but it is undoubtedly Allen and it benefits from his visionary style of directing.

Well written, well acted, and well directed, this is much better than 99% of all films on TV or in the theatres. the only reason it is unknown is its adult content - marijuana smoking and romantic affairs, lending amusing background to a woman's haphazard but fortunate search for control of her life. This is that rare bird, an intelligent film, for adults. My favorite line: Joe Mantegna's remark to Mia Farrow: "You're really interesting", after she relates an intimate comment she heard him make to his ex wife while she was invisible. It is not a 5 star film, like say "Witness", but it is an excellent small film. This is for film fans who prefer romance to violence.

Less known that Allen's "Annie Hall", "Hannah and her Sisters", "Crimes and Misdemeanors", and "Manhattan", "Alice" is a charming and delightful film that can be viewed as Allen's remake of "Juliet of Spirits" with some obvious themes from "Alice in Wonderland". Mia Farrow plays a wealthy New Yorker who one day feels that something is missing in her sheltered and comfortable life. She turns to a Chinese doctor whose magic herbs help her to reevaluate her life and her relationships with her husband, lover, mother, and sister. She may not find the answers for all the questions but she certainly learned a lot about herself. During the few days that film takes place, Alice experiences romance, finds spirituality, and even enjoys the power of invisibility. This film has one of the most optimistic endings in Woody's film. Mia Farrow is absolutely wonderful.

This film is a lovely urban fairy tale. Mia Farrow is charming as a Park Avenue matron who seeks relief from her back pain and ends up re-inventing herself thanks to some magical Chinese herbs. There's a wonderful cameo appearance by a young, fit Alec Baldwin. Enhanced by Woody's typically nostalgic and totally apt musical choices. An extremely pleasant escape.

The movie Alice didn't get much publicity but it's a great movie! It's very entertaining with a wonderful plot driving the character. Great story, great clothes, great acting! It's got it all. I love having my own copy.