Alice is a 1990 film directed by Woody Allen and starring Joe Mantegna, Mia Farrow and Alec Baldwin. The film is a loose reworking of Federico Fellini's 1965 film Juliet of the Spirits.
Plot
Alice Tate (Mia Farrow) 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 (William Hurt) 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 (Joe Mantegna) - a handsome 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 (Keye Luke), 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 to take. The herbs make her act on her feelings towards Joe Ruffalo. They agree to meet. When the herbs wear off, Alice is appalled at her behaviour. 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 (Judy Davis). 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 (Alec Baldwin). He encourages her to find out more about Joe. Alice and Joe finally meet, under the pretence 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 that she was at her happiest when she was helping people. She realises that she has lost sight many of her goals in her materialistic luxurious lifestyle. She also realises this at a fundraising evening in honour of Mother Theresa, one of Alice's idols. After the fundraiser, Joe and Alice finally sleep together. Alice realises she is falling in love with him.
Alice shares the remaining invisibility herbs with Joe. Alice hears two of her friends gossiping about her and Joe. The gossip then moves onto Alice's husband Doug. It is revealed that he has been having affairs too. Invisible, Alice goes to his office party, where she sees Doug kissing a colleague. Alice makes the decision to leave Doug once and for all. She tells this to Joe. However, Joe has decided to reunite with his ex-wife Vicky, after he (invisible) spied on her therapy sessions, and realised she still has feelings for him.
Stunned, Alice goes to Dr Yang, who is leaving town. He gives her one final packet of herbs. These will create a potent love potion. Alice must choose between Joe and Doug. She goes to her sister Dorothy (Blythe Danner) for advice. However, Dorothy is having a Christmas party, and the herbs get mixed in with the eggnog. All the men in the party become enamoured with Alice. She flees in panic.
At home, Alice tells Doug that their marriage is over. She reveals her plans to go to Calcutta and work with Mother Teresa. Doug scoffs at this, doubting that Alice could survive without the luxuries she has grown accustomed to. However, Doug is proved wrong. Alice goes to Calcutta, where she meets Mother Teresa. On returning to New York, she moves into a modest apartment, raises the children on her own, and does volunteer work in her spare time.
Cast
Reception
Awards and nominations
Woody Allen received an Academy Award nomination for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen, as well as a Writers Guild of America nomination. Mia Farrow received a Golden Globe nomination as Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical and won the National Board of Review Best Actress award.
Critical response
In his New York Times review (December 25, 1990), Vincent Canby wrote: " 'Alice' is about one woman's tempest-tossed, giddy, herb-induced voyage of self-discovery. It is north-of-the-border magical realism -- Alice flies, she becomes invisible, she is another person. It is hilarious and romantic, serious and exuberantly satiric."
External links
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Films directed by Woody Allen |
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