I followed Crimes And Misdemeanors with Woody Allen's Alice. he made these two films back to back and while they are completely different in tone and mood, each is about a search for meaning and purpose in life.
Alice stars Mia farrow as Alice an rich Manhattan socialite who fills her day with shopping, spas and being advised by expensive consultants on decorating and fitness. She has a superficial relationship with her children and husband (William Hurt) and is suffering from ailments that seem to be brought on by her discontentment. A series of events conspire to bring her to the office of Dr. Chang, a physician who specializes in acupuncture and herbology. With Dr. Chang's help Alice begins to have adventures reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland. She is given a herb that makes her more flirtatious, another that makes her see ghosts from her past and a third that makes her invisible. She begins a romantic relationship with a jazz saxophonist (Joe Mantegna) and starts a journey of self discovery about her life and its purpose.
The movie is pure Woody Allen in tone and comic situations, but is also a potent commentary on the superficial aspects of modern life. Ninety minutes of whimsy with a serious message underneath.
At The Movie House rating *** stars
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