Alice (1990 film)
| Alice | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster
|
|
| Directed by | Woody Allen |
| Produced by |
Robert Greenhut Joseph Hartwick Helen Robin Jack Rollins Charles H. Joffe |
| Written by | Woody Allen |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Carlo Di Palma |
| Edited by | Susan E. Morse |
| Distributed by | Orion Pictures |
|
Release date
|
|
|
Running time
|
102 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $12 million |
| Box office | $7,331,647 |
Alice is a 1990 American romantic fantasy film written and directed by Woody Allen and starring Mia Farrow, Joe Mantegna and William Hurt. The film is a loose reworking of Federico Fellini's 1965 film Juliet of the Spirits.
Alice received mildly positive reviews.
Alice Tate is an upper-class New York housewife, who spends her days shopping, getting beauty treatments, and gossiping with her friends. She has been married to wealthy Doug for fifteen years, and they have two children, who are being raised by a nanny.
One day, she has a brief encounter with Joe Ruffalo, a handsome jazz musician. She finds herself mysteriously attracted to him and experiences Catholic guilt for these feelings. This inner turmoil manifests itself in a backache. She is referred to Dr. Yang, an Asian herbalist who puts her under hypnosis. She reveals that what initially attracted her to her husband were in fact his superficial qualities: looks and money. She also reveals her feelings about Joe.
Dr. Yang gives Alice ancient herbs that make her act on her feelings toward Joe Ruffalo. They agree to meet. When the herbs wear off, Alice is appalled at her behavior. She does not go to meet him as planned. The next herbs she receives turn her invisible. She spies on Joe going to visit his ex-wife Vicky. Much to prudish Alice's horror, they make love in Vicky's office. Alice is now glad she did not go to meet Joe. However, the next herbal remedy allows Alice to communicate with the ghost of her first lover, Ed. He encourages her to find out more about Joe. Alice and Joe finally meet, under the pretense of their children having a 'play-date'. Alice and Joe's meetings become increasingly frequent.
When her guilt over her relationship with Joe becomes too much, Alice returns to Dr. Yang. Inhaling the soothing contents of a pipe, Alice falls asleep in Dr. Yang's rooms. She has vivid dreams about her Catholic upbringing. She remembers her mother. She remembers that she was at her happiest when she was helping people. She realizes that she has lost sight of many of her goals in her materialistic luxurious lifestyle. She also realizes this at a fundraising evening in honor of Mother Teresa, one of Alice's idols. After the fundraiser, Joe and Alice sleep together. Alice realizes she is falling in love with him.
...
Wikipedia