Another Woman Reviews

[Highly rated reviewer]

Woody plays Ingmar again

This is the third 'serious' Woody Allan film that I have watched relatively recently (the other two were 'September' & 'Interiors') and it is the best in my view. It tells the story of a successful middle aged woman (beautifully acted by Gena Rowlands) who is forced to examine her life (I won't reveal how) and finds that her lack of connection to her feelings and those of people close to her have led her to make mistakes in her personal life. It makes for a wonderful voyage of self discovery that is very carefully constructed by Allan in the writing and direction.

Here he has the assistance on Bergman's cinematographer, Sven Nykist, who realises beautiful images of New York interiors and exteriors. The acting is uniformly very good and, as usual, Allan has chosen a rich and varied musical soudtrack.

If your sense of humour can survive the rather gloomy direction the plot line takes you may find some jokes along the way at the expense of our human frailties.

A significant film that examines how the choices we make dictate the kind of life that opens out for us.

Very French

A typical Woody Alan film, based on his experience and observation of life in New York, but so cosmopolitan in its outlook. The New Yorkers must have walked away from the film theater shaking their heads and wondering what it was all about, but it must have gone down well in Paris. It is the sort of film that they make so well, about humans and relations between them and realisation. As always he has an excellent eclectic soundtrack based on swing, pop and classical music.

JG

give it a try

I know that your average movie viewer at this site would have 'one look at the box' and instantly think this would be turgid and boring .. not so. This is a movie which crams every emotion into 80mins. The central character played by Rowlands - possibly the greatest living actress, reaches a crisis in her life and realises its all been a lie. Her guilts and regrets are unravelled as she interacts with those in her life she has inadvertantly made miserable. The subtle parallel life of Mia Farrow is pure genius as Rowlands eaves drops her therapy sessions unaware that this will unlimately contribute to her realisations. Sorry if I sound like a egg head critic here but this is a complex and daring piece of work which deserves far better than simply to be described as great.

VERY GOOD

Great film with good cast and hint of Woody!

Weighty subject matter on a subject rarely explored

I enjoyed the movie, most of all because the script was excellent and put the 'professional intellectual' personality under a critical microscope with insight. The fact that the professional intellectual was a woman only made it more interesting and compelling. I was moved by the story and empathised with what happened to the lead character, though the way the character was played didn't ring true for me. I couldn't help thinking that the actor had never been close to academic life; her performance was a bit one-dimensional, never quite making it beyond the 'quiet middle class boffin' stereotype. And the style of acting generally was a bit earnest, verging on melodramatic, but hey, it's Woody Allen after all. Not a fast moving film, but thoughtful.

A strange little gem. Wonderfully acted. It was interesting to see standard Woody Allen camera angles and storytelling to tell a serious story instead of a comedy. The only real drawback is that the characters are all affluent white middle class New Yorkers that I couldn't really relate to but it's still a nice character exploration.

Unusual storyline. Wasn't sure if I would like it considering Woody Allen directed it, but I did.

Thought provoking movie

I liked this, the ending came around too quick though and I was left wondering a few things, however, I quite like a film that leaves you thinking and having to make up your own mind about things.

A touching and penetrating drama

This is a serious Woody Allen film, it's not a comedy at all. Gena Rowlands is so great in this film, she heads a brilliant cast which includes Gene Hackman and Ian Holm.

'Another Woman' illuminates regret and dissatisfaction with great compassion, and at 1 hour 15 minutes is refreshingly short. I was surprised it was made in 1988. It somehow feels like a restrained cousin to Cassavetes' work. Highly recommended!

[Highly rated reviewer]

psycho babble

Boring or what? out of date navel contemplation. only highlight Gene Hackmans cameo appearance. Get a life don't bother watching this.