Another Woman is not often referenced as one of the great Woody Allen films. It doesn’t get much “play” at all, actually, when his work is discussed or evaluated. I have no idea why. It’s a masterpiece. I’ve always thought so. Gena Rowlands gives one of her all-time great performances (and in her career that’s really saying something), and the rest of the cast – Gene Hackman, Sandy Dennis, Betty Buckley (whose less-than-5-minutes of screen time nearly steals the entire movie – I included her performance in a list I wrote a long time ago), Ian Holm, Martha Plimpton – are remarkable. I’ve seen the movie so many times over my life and it always seems like a different movie, depending on where I’ve been at in my development. This is the movie about a woman turning 50. It takes a while to understand what the big deal with that might be. But once you get it … you GET. IT.
At any rate, I wrote an essay about Another Woman, included as a booklet in the next installment of the Woody Allen box-set series put out by Arrow Films.
Sheila – I’m sure I have this on DVD somewhere (my DVDs are in a state of chaos as you can tell). Is this the one where Gena Rowlands hears Mia Farrow talking to her therapist through the wall? A plot idea also used for comedy by Allen in Everyone Says I Love You. It’s been years since I saw Another Woman, but I remember it being very thought provoking with some striking scenes. And of course, Gena Rowlands being brilliant in it. Your take on it would make interesting reading.
// Is this the one where Gena Rowlands hears Mia Farrow talking to her therapist through the wall? //
Yes, that’s the one!
It’s weird since I’m a huge Woody fan but I’ve never seen this. Need to rectify that ASAP.
Nice box set, I think Crimes and Misdemeanors is one of the all-time Great Films. Congrats on the essay inclusion!
Todd – yes, you need to see this, especially as a Woody fan! I think it’s one of his best.