Sometimes, a screenplay is so good that it feels like you can cast anybody, anywhere, and it will be a success. "Give me any actor with a pulse, and this movie will be a hit!" Well, this movie wasn't exactly a hit - it cost $10 million to make and grossed about $38 in the box office. But, Woody knew that 'Another Woman' (1988) was some very special writing. His choices for the cast were unattractive actors and actresses ('Objectively Unattractive'. This is a movie review - visuals matter). These actors were able to give great performances without stealing focus from the plotlines and emotional issues at hand. Also, the older and very "average" look of these men and women is relatable to a larger audience. Woody downplayed the setting and location (New Jersey) - which is usually featured prominently in his films.
So, without college girls, low-cut dresses, New York citiscapes, or dashing sex-symbols, we are left with the issues these characters need to consider in the film... aging, career vs motherhood, age differences in relationships, sex, pregnancy, abortion, infidelity, privilege, sibling resentment, jealousy, the meaning of friendship, the purpose of social circles, the meaning of seduction, shame...
Woody Allen often has much to say in his films. In all of his previous work, a film with this much philosophic content would include a comical character, portrayed by Woody Allen, to wax-philosophic at the audience. Not this time. In 'Another Woman' (1988), Woody resisted the urge to "lighten the mood" with comedic lines or interludes, and finally stifled his need to be the philosophic voice of his film.
The result is an awe-inspiring screenplay and film, with average actors in an average setting creating extraordinary film content.
The ending is less than perfect, and not really an ending, at all. But, in this particular film, that's ok - life is like that, sometimes.
RealReview Posting Scoring Criteria:
Acting: 1/1;
Casting: 1/1;
Directing: 1/1;
Story: 1/1;
Writing/Screenplay: 1/1;
Total Base Score = 5
Modifiers (+ or -):
Believability/Consistency: +1;
Extraordinary Actor Chemistry: +1 (There is a stiffness to some of this acting that would bother me in other films, but presents here as realism. Some of those awkward scenes actually enhance the film.);
Total RealReview Rating: 7.
So, without college girls, low-cut dresses, New York citiscapes, or dashing sex-symbols, we are left with the issues these characters need to consider in the film... aging, career vs motherhood, age differences in relationships, sex, pregnancy, abortion, infidelity, privilege, sibling resentment, jealousy, the meaning of friendship, the purpose of social circles, the meaning of seduction, shame...
Woody Allen often has much to say in his films. In all of his previous work, a film with this much philosophic content would include a comical character, portrayed by Woody Allen, to wax-philosophic at the audience. Not this time. In 'Another Woman' (1988), Woody resisted the urge to "lighten the mood" with comedic lines or interludes, and finally stifled his need to be the philosophic voice of his film.
The result is an awe-inspiring screenplay and film, with average actors in an average setting creating extraordinary film content.
The ending is less than perfect, and not really an ending, at all. But, in this particular film, that's ok - life is like that, sometimes.
RealReview Posting Scoring Criteria:
Acting: 1/1;
Casting: 1/1;
Directing: 1/1;
Story: 1/1;
Writing/Screenplay: 1/1;
Total Base Score = 5
Modifiers (+ or -):
Believability/Consistency: +1;
Extraordinary Actor Chemistry: +1 (There is a stiffness to some of this acting that would bother me in other films, but presents here as realism. Some of those awkward scenes actually enhance the film.);
Total RealReview Rating: 7.