Alice

Another Woody Allen movie, released in January 1991. It took me weeks to get around to watching. Perhaps I should close the dvd rental account.

The movie is about Alice Tate finds, mother who is getting bored with her life and is looking for an inspiration to give he life meaning. In this search Alice has found comfort in creature comforts, clothes, makeup and home decorating. This is not enough, there is no happiness in these objects. A friend suggests that Alice visit a doctor in Chinatown. Dr. Yang has wisdom and an insight to what Alice needs, by way of a couple of visits, Dr. Yang precribes various hebs and spices that awaken Alice's spirit and moreso open her eyes to her own drudgery.

In this awakening Alice begins an affair with a handsome saxaphone player. This leads her to question her husbands attention to marriage, the man who projected himself as a dullard at him was in fact a beast with the ladies of the office.

In discovery of her husband, she turns to Joe the sax player. Unfortunately Joe has decided to persue his ex for he has discovered she regretted starting the divorce.

Alice, now alone, decides to travel to Calcutta, work with MOther Theresa and do good. Risks be damned. Then she came home and set up a simple life with her children. She was happy.

The actors were....

• Mia Farrow as Alice Tate, Woody's female lead and real life girlfriend.
• Alec Baldwin as Ed, the ghost of Alice's dad lover.
• Blythe Danner as Dorothy, Alice's sister and lawyer.
• Judy Davis as Vicki.
• William Hurt as Doug Tate, Alice's cheating husband.
• Keye Luke played Dr. Yang, this was the last role of his career for he died only weeks after this film was released. Luke's movie career started in 1934 and spanned nearly 60 years.  Through the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's the actor was a common guest star on shows like Andy Griffith, Hawaii Five-O, Miami Vice and MASH.  This actor has the best part in the movie.
• Joe Mantegna as Joe, the sax player.
• Bernadette Peters as Alice's muse.
• Cybill Shepherd as Nancy, Alice's sucessful friend.

I give this movie a rating of 36 of 50.  Not bad, not great.

• Character Development, 7 of 10.  Alice does grow from being a spoiled wife to an independent mother.
• Screenplay, 7 of 10.  It is not hard to recognize the writing. The Chinese doctor was special.
• Acting, 8 of 10. Good cast, have always enjoyed William Hurt, in this he is pretty dull.
• Photography, 6 of 10. Filmed in Manhattan.
• Plot, 8 of 10. 

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