In Woody Allen's "Another Woman", Marion (Gena Rowlands) is the head of a university department of philosophy and also a member of several important committees. She is an expert in Art, music, and an amateur painter. She is in a comfortable and successful marriage to a physician (Ian Holmes), and has a close and friendly relationship with her husband's teenage daughter from an earlier marriage (Martha Plimpton). Marion is writing a book and decides to rents an office in a downtown building. When in the office, she inadvertently overhears a woman (Mia Farrow) in a session with her psychoanalyst and begins to look back at her own life, identity, relationships, and purpose.
I watched "Another Woman" for the first time last night and I am totally engrossed by it. I love everything about it. Actually, it is the first Allen's strict drama that I love so much. It will go very high on my Woody's favorites list. The film is so Woodyesque even if it doesn't have any laughs - it is still his style, his Manhattan, his favorite music, his long takes, his intellect, his sincere, intelligent, and emotional contemplations of life's disappointment, regrets, and losses. I think it is one of Allen's most profound and warmest films. Yes, warmest, because Marion looks at the first 50 years of her life in a true and painful light, but she also would learn that there is hope, that anything can be changed and life could be started over even at 50. She will reevaluate her life and her relationships with her husband, father, brother, step-daughter, and friends. She may not find the answers for all the questions but she certainly learns a lot about herself. I've seen John Cassavetes' "A Woman Under the Influence" (1974) and I know how great the actress Gena Rowlands is but I was amazed by her performance in "Another Woman". Allen gave her wonderful material to work with and she was superb - strong, reserved, brilliant woman, incredibly attractive at her 50. It is a dream role for an intelligent middle-aged actress but sadly, Hollywood does not provide them very often.
A lot has been said about Bergman's "Wild Strawberries" (I'd add "Cries and Whispers" and "Face to Face") influence to "Another Woman" but it is not a remake. We all at some point of our lives "lose the way we traveled by and enter a dark forest." The artists by the power of their talents capture the moments of search for meaning and put them on the canvas, on the paper or on screen. Even if they meditate on the same theme, each artist uses his unique tools, and brings his unique vision and talent.
In "Another Woman" Allen created an excellent character study which is on par with his best and more famous films. Wonderful Rowlands is surrounded by the first class supporting players including Ian Holms, Blythe Danner, Sandy Dennis, and Gene Hackman. Allen's use of music is touching and delicate as in all his movies. "Another Woman" is one of the best unfairly forgotten films and it deserves to be rediscovered, respected, and admired. It is certainly, the best of Allen's pure drama films.
I watched "Another Woman" for the first time last night and I am totally engrossed by it. I love everything about it. Actually, it is the first Allen's strict drama that I love so much. It will go very high on my Woody's favorites list. The film is so Woodyesque even if it doesn't have any laughs - it is still his style, his Manhattan, his favorite music, his long takes, his intellect, his sincere, intelligent, and emotional contemplations of life's disappointment, regrets, and losses. I think it is one of Allen's most profound and warmest films. Yes, warmest, because Marion looks at the first 50 years of her life in a true and painful light, but she also would learn that there is hope, that anything can be changed and life could be started over even at 50. She will reevaluate her life and her relationships with her husband, father, brother, step-daughter, and friends. She may not find the answers for all the questions but she certainly learns a lot about herself. I've seen John Cassavetes' "A Woman Under the Influence" (1974) and I know how great the actress Gena Rowlands is but I was amazed by her performance in "Another Woman". Allen gave her wonderful material to work with and she was superb - strong, reserved, brilliant woman, incredibly attractive at her 50. It is a dream role for an intelligent middle-aged actress but sadly, Hollywood does not provide them very often.
A lot has been said about Bergman's "Wild Strawberries" (I'd add "Cries and Whispers" and "Face to Face") influence to "Another Woman" but it is not a remake. We all at some point of our lives "lose the way we traveled by and enter a dark forest." The artists by the power of their talents capture the moments of search for meaning and put them on the canvas, on the paper or on screen. Even if they meditate on the same theme, each artist uses his unique tools, and brings his unique vision and talent.
In "Another Woman" Allen created an excellent character study which is on par with his best and more famous films. Wonderful Rowlands is surrounded by the first class supporting players including Ian Holms, Blythe Danner, Sandy Dennis, and Gene Hackman. Allen's use of music is touching and delicate as in all his movies. "Another Woman" is one of the best unfairly forgotten films and it deserves to be rediscovered, respected, and admired. It is certainly, the best of Allen's pure drama films.