The Age of Commercialism

A lot of fun.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

The Three Acts:The initial tableaux: Marion turned 50, and all seems well with her. She's a philosophy professor and an author who is on sabbatical to write a new book. She's rented a flat to allow her to concentrate on the writing. Unfortunately, the sound of conversation drifts in through the air vent from the adjacent flat. The introspection starts. Delineation of conflicts: Marion thinks her marriage is just fine, but then she discovers hanging weaknesses. She believes her relationships with her family are OK, but then starts revisiting those relationships. She was convinced friends and family thought highly of her, but then gets a number of reappraisals.Resolution: Earnest discussions produce new discoveries; will these help Marion?

This is a serious drama by Woody Allen, not the usual neurotic romantic comedy genre that he is known of. I loved this movie, although after wards I felt it was familiar to another film I had seen recently. And that is My Dinner With Andre, where the music (Satie) and brown greenish colors create the same atmosphere. But both movies are great and make you think and evaluate life in a different way. This one is about a woman who has recently turned 50. She has rented a room to write a book, but when working, she suddenly overhears patients talking to a psychologist next door through an air vent. After listening to a particular patient played by Mia Farrow, she realizes she has alienated many people from here life because of her coldness. Many chances have passed by, e.g. a child, or real love. After meeting this woman in a restaurant, she overhears the character played by Mia Farrow talking to the psychologist about their meeting, later on. I loved this wonderfully voyeuristic and insightful twist,and this is just another winner of Woody Allen, not in the least since the story is clever, and the drama is acted wonderfully - he always knows how to pick first rate actors. A must see!

Review: I couldn't really get into this movie. I found it pretty dull and depressing. I know that the main character is supposed to be going through a mid-life crisis, but it seemed very one toned and the storyline was all over the place. I did feel for the main character, whose played by Gena Rowland, because she didn't really feel loved by her husband and she lusted over Gene Hackman, but the film seemed to drag from one scene to the next. I was constantly waiting for something major to happen, especially with the conversations that she hearing through her door with the psychiatrist, but that just led to a dead end. On the plus side, the acting wasn't bad and the variety of characters were well put together, but I think that Woody Allen should have made use of Gene Hackman a bit more. In all, it's a deep drama with some some emotional scenes but it just didn't do it for me. Average! Round-Up: This is yet another project from Woody Allen which is based around troubled relationships and infidelity. It doesn't have any of Allen's typical wit or annoying one liners, which is a plus, but it could have done with a twist or something out of the norm. Judging by the amount of money that this movie lost at the box office, I'm not alone with thinking that this was a disappointing look at a woman questioning the decisions that she had made in her life. I'm glad that Woody Allen didn't choose Mia Farrow as the lead, because it would have been really hard to watch, but it still lacks a certain punch. Anyway, I'm not a big fan of Gena Rowland's movies so I wasn't that disappointed with the outcome. Budget: $10million Worldwide Gross: $1.5millionI recommend this movie to people who are into there Woody Allen movies about a lady whose going through a mid-life crisis and questions her love for her husband. 3/10

Of the full-on serious drama films(Interiors, September and Another Woman), Another Woman is for me the best one. Interiors is still a great film but an acquired taste and it did ramble a little at times and September is also good and was better on re-watch. Another Woman is such a beautiful film and Allen has probably not done a more emotionally affecting film, and is close to perfect. It looks gorgeous especially with Sven Nykvist's typically wonderful cinematography and the dark and surreal colours are also eye-catching. The music is some of the most understated of any of Allen's films and good thing too, anything louder would have spoilt the mood, the piano as the instrument couldn't have been a more perfect choice. The script is incredibly thought-provoking and reflective, as well as usually with Allen painfully truthful and the odd bit of subtle humour, and the story is very layered and told with much intensity and genuine emotional impact. It is by far the most poignant Allen film and the one I personally connected with the most. There's a definite Ingmar Bergman influence here, Interiors and September also did, but never in a way that feels ripped off, more of a homage if you will. The characters are developed beautifully and easy to connect with(compared to other characters in Allen's films), and Allen's direction has never been more intricate. The cast are all top-drawer but Gena Rowlands is stunning- one of her, perhaps her very, best performances- and her haunting narration sublime. Ian Holm is delightfully priggish and Gene Hackman is remarkably moving as a conflicted character, one that is different to other characters he's done. Mia Farrow's role is rather small but she is very restrained and plaintive and appropriately so. Blythe Danner also gives one of her better performances in one of her best films and John Housemann, Sandy Dennis and David Ogden Stiers give more than able support. The ending is somewhat abrupt but incredibly moving. Overall, a beautiful film and among his better films, and Allen to me has never done anything more poignant. 10/10 Bethany Cox