Amazon.com essential video: In 1992, Woody Allen and Mia Farrow--heretofore the Lunt and Fontanne of Hollywood on the Hudson--went public with a media-saturated battle over Allen's affair with Farrow's adopted daughter. Only a few months later, Allen released this film, starring himself and Farrow acting out a virtually identical plot line: an unhappy marriage begins to crumble when the husband strays with a much younger woman (in this case, one of his students, played by Juliette Lewis). It turned out to be one of Allen's most lacerating comedies, a story about the fragility of relationships and the foolishness of older men seeking to recapture their youth with younger women. It features strong performances by Judy Davis, Liam Neeson, and director Sydney Pollack, as a friend of Allen's who chucks his longtime wife for an aerobics instructor, thus planting seeds of marital dissolution in all of his friends' heads. Husbands and Wives provided an uncanny peek into Allen's image of himself and his personal life, despite all of his protestations to the contrary. --Marshall Fine
Soon ye will be in an even bigger debacle Husbands and Wives was released in 1992, and it is the last movie Woody Allen made with Mia Farrow--their unlucky thirteenth. It was released just in time to benefit from intense interest in the courtroom stand off between Woody and Mia over Woody's relationship with Mia's adopted daughter, Soon-Yi. Not to say that this was a calculated career move, but the film did better at the box office than any of his other films. It offered uncanny parallels into the real life drama, but it also differed in many respects. Still, it was weird how life imitated art, or vice versa.
As the opening credits roll, we hear a vintage recording of Cole Porter's "What Is This Thing Called Love?" The first scene shows Creative Writing Professor Gabe Roth (Woody Allen) watching a documentary on Einstein where the great thinker is quoted saying "God doesn't throw dice with the universe." Gabe quips, "No, he only plays Hide & Seek."
Gabe and Judy Roth (Mia Farrow) are going to dinner with another married couple, Jack (Sydney Pollack) and Sally (Judy Davis). They arrive and announce they are separating before going out for Chinese food. Judy is the most upset, but Jack and Sally claim it was a mutual decision, and they are fine with it. Meanwhile Gabe, who is a writing professor, is becoming interested in one of his students (Juliette Lewis). Jack starts seeing an aerobics instructor (Lysette Anthony), and Sally tries to date, but they both become extremely jealous of each other when they find out they're seeing other people. Judy has set up Sally with a colleague, (Liam Neeson) who is interested in her, but Sally is now too preoccupied with her husband to notice. Judy regrets setting Sally up, because she is starting to fall for him herself.
The only gimmick used in this film is a kind of documentary style, with wobbly hand held camera, sometimes following characters as they dart from the room, barely catching a glimpse as they leave. Some shots are purposely obscured, to give it a gritty look, as if you are a casual observer, or a fly-on-the-wall. Other times characters are grilled by an off camera voice--presumably their analyst--giving them a chance to reveal their innermost thoughts talking directly to the camera. This technique is now used on the sit com The Office, by the way.
As a rumination on Married Life, a response to Cole Porter's question, what is this thing called love? Woody is surprisingly insightful. Sally and Jack have the ring of truth, especially when they are responding with jealousy. Great performances by Judy Davis and Sydney Pollack. Mia is great and believable as Judy Roth, and Liam Neeson plays his part well. Juliette Lewis is fantastic as Gabe's young student, Rain.
My only quibble is with Woody's character, Gabe Roth. I feel like Woody, as writer and director, deliberately stacked the deck, almost as if he was already preparing his defense for the upcoming Soon-Yi showdown. He has every reason to justify a fling with Rain, but the most he will allow himself is a kiss in the rain. Like, he COULD have had a fling with her, but he CHOSE not to. Even though her parents idolize him for his writing, and practically beg him to go to her birthday party, and she has already had a string of older lovers, culminating in her therapist, who confronts Gabe as he drops her off prior to meeting her parents. He asks him if he seduces all of his students, giving Gabe the chance to squirm uncomfortably, playing the innocent martyr. This scene was made even creepier by a slight misunderstanding and confusion of mine--that I thought Juliette Lewis was Rachel Griffiths, because Rain's therapist was played by Ron Rifkin, who plays Rachel's Uncle Saul on the television show: Brothers & Sisters.
But Juliette Lewis is great as Rain, named after poet Rainer Maria Rilke by her poetry lovin' mom (Blythe Danner). The student/teacher exchanges function as a parody of Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet. She is just talented enough to justify Gabe's interest, while blinded by his mid-life infatuation, and she has the good sense to lose Gabe's novel in a taxi cab. Plus, she looks great in her Catholic School Girl pleated plaid skirt.
Rain: I spent five days searching for the perfect word to describe the husband and that's when I came up with "apucious". Gabe: Apucious. I looked it up in the dictionary but I couldn't find it. Rain: Yeah, I know. I made it up. Gabe: Oh, really. Rain: Yeah. I thought it described him perfectly.
Though neither character's writing is actually very good, the script and writing of Husbands and Wives is another story--apart from the one "aupucious" lapse due to Woody's need to rationalize and justify his own "aupucious" lapse.
Some other films by Woody Allen Featuring Mia Farrow (with fun facts and trivia courtesy of imdb dot com):
A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy (1982) Woody Allen wrote the role of Ariel for Diane Keaton, but she couldn't take the part because she was busy promoting her film Reds (1981) and preparing for Alan Parker's Shoot the Moon (1982). The first time Woody Allen appeared in one of his own films as part of an ensemble cast. Prior to this, he was either the main character or not in the film at all. The first time Mia Farrow appeared in a Woody Allen film. Woody Allen wrote the screenplay in 2 weeks.
Zelig (1983) To create authenticity, the production used actual lenses, cameras and sound equipment from the 1920s, and used the exact same lighting that would have been done. In addition, 'Gordon Willis' took the exposed negatives to the shower, and stomped on them. In order to help create the look of genuine footage from the 1930s, DuArt, the lab that handled processing, called some of their experienced technicians (who were experienced with processing techniques of the 1930s) out of retirement.
Broadway Danny Rose (1984) The reason Mia Farrow wears sunglasses most of the film is that Woody Allen did not feel she could pass herself as a tough Italian "broad", so he had her wear the sunglasses most of the film to hide her eyes, making her seem more sultry and mysterious. The only time she removes the sunglasses is when her character is supposed to be more vulnerable.
The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) Woody Allen has said more than once that this is his favorite of the movies he's made. After this film was previewed, word got back to Woody Allen that if he just changed his ending, he could have a big hit. Allen declined, saying that the ending is one of the reasons he made the film. In an interview in Esquire, Woody Allen was asked why he didn't make a happy ending to the film. Allen replied, "That *was* the happy ending."
Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) Many of Hannah's scenes were filmed in Mia Farrow's actual apartment. Allen said that Farrow once had the eerie experience of turning on the TV to a chance broadcast of the movie thus viewing her own apartment on TV while she was sitting in it. According to USA Today, upon the film's original release, a movement was afoot to try to make Allen's script the first screenplay to be nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. The poem Eliot gives Lee which contains the line "nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands", is the poem "somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond", by e.e. cummings. The book of poems by e.e. cummings is entitled ?Complete Poems 1913 ? 1962?, and the poem ?Somewhere? is on page 366. With a box office gross of over $40 million, this film represented Woody Allen's most financially successful film until Match Point (2005) in 2005. Four of Mia Farrow's real-life children appear in this film. Two appear as Hannah's son and daughter in the movie, while the other two (including Soon-Yi Previn, who Woody Allen would eventually marry in 1997) appear as young guests in the Thanksgiving scenes.
Radio Days (1987) This is the only Woody Allen film in which both of his frequent collaborators and longtime companions Mia Farrow and Diane Keaton appear.
September (1987) Director Woody Allen cast and shot this film twice, without telling the original cast. Woody Allen decided to make the film for two main reasons. One was because he had always wanted to do a "chamber piece", a film with a small cast (there are only six principal characters, and only nine in the entire film) in a single location. The other was for the location itself, Mia Farrow's Connecticut country house, which inspired Woody Allen to write the screenplay with the intention that it would be shot at the house. Unfortunately, by the time Allen finished the screenplay, it was winter and the location was unusable for a movie so firmly planted in September. The entire movie (which takes place in Vermont) was shot on a single soundstage at the Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York. According to Mia Farrow's autobiography "What Falls Away", Woody Allen filmed two or three versions of every scene, took all of the footage into the editing suite, cut the film together and then decided that he hated it. He then rewrote the entire script, fired and recast virtually every major part, and re-filmed the entire thing. This meant that he doubled his production costs and came in well behind schedule. Allen was reportedly keen to do it all again
Another Woman (1988) Originally Mia Farrow was supposed to have played the part of Marion but her real-life pregnancy prevented that. Gena Rowlands took the part instead.
Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) One third of the film had Woody Allen's character shooting a documentary on old vaudevillians, with Mia Farrow as the head of the institute to which they belonged. Allen didn't like the scenes in the final cut. During postproduction he cut an entire third of the film, then rewrote and re-shot the third of the film from scratch. As a result, Sean Young's scenes were cut out, and Daryl Hannah's role was reduced to a brief cameo.
New York Stories Segment: "Oedipus Wrecks" (1989) At 33 minutes, Francis Ford Coppola's segment is the shortest. Woody Allen's clocks in at 40 minutes, while Scorsese's runs to 45 minutes. The performance piece that Steve Buscemi delivers in the Martin Scorsese segment was conceived and written by the actor himself. Jessie Keosian, who plays Aunt Ceil in the Woody Allen segment, "Oedipus Wrecks," was Allen's high school biology teacher. They had not met since high school until the audition for this film.
Alice (1990) His role as Dr. Yang was the final film role for Keye Luke. He died only weeks after this film was released.
Shadows and Fog (1992) Based on a one-act comedy play called "Death", published in Woody Allen's "Without Feathers" (1972), the play and movie are themselves a pastiche of Franz Josef Kafka's work in general, and of his novel "The Trial" in particular. Reminds me of this scene from Annie Hall:
Pam: Sex with you is really a Kafka-esque experience. Alvy Singer: Oh. Thank you. Pam: I mean that as a compliment.
Husbands and Wives (1992) Hoping to piggyback on the scandal surrounding Woody Allen's break-up with Mia Farrow, TriStar opened the film on 865 screens, the largest amount ever given over to a Woody Allen picture. They were rewarded with an opening weekend of $3.52 million, the biggest ever for an Allen film. Woody Allen said in an interview that the reason he shot the film the way he did was that he wanted to break the usual rules of filmmaking. He cut scenes right in the middle of dialog, he used hand held cameras for no particular reason and did not care if he showed the side or the back of a performer's head during a scene. Allen said for this reason, he felt this film was one of his best. Sydney Pollack stated that although he liked working on the film, he did not like the character he played. Contrary to general perception, Mia Farrow's role is not autobiographical. Indeed, Woody Allen originally wrote the Judy Davis part with the idea of Farrow playing it. Farrow chose to take on the role of Gabe's wife instead as it meant less shooting time for her.
Woody Allen's Scenes from a Marriage. Complicated relationships (Annie Hall) and the romantic folly of May-December relationships (Manhattan) are familiar themes in Woody Allen's movies. His films confront the subject relationships with a depth not typically found in Hollywood releases. Allen's 1992 film, Husbands and Wives is a perfect example. Shot in cinéma-vérité-style, the film tells the "bleakly nihilistic" story of two long-married couples, Jack (Sydney Pollack) and Sally (Judy Davis), and Gabe (Allen) and Judy (Mia Farrow). When Jack and Sally announce their plans to divorce, Gabe is shocked and Judy is devastated with the news. They assumed their friends were happy in their marriage, but soon discover that many "rational" relationships are not as perfect as they seem on the surface. As a result of their friends' separation, Judy asks Gabe if he ever fantasizes about other women. Truth be told, Gabe is an English professor, who admires one of his 20-year-old students, Rain (Juliette Lewis). They develop a friendship. Jack begins a relationship with Sam, a hard-bodied aerobics trainer, who is perfect except for the fact that she believes in astrology (much to Jack's embarrasment). Gabe confesses to Jack that his new girlfriend is a "cocktail waitress." Meanwhile, Sally meets Michael (Liam Neeson). The ultimate wisdom of Allen's brilliant film is that life is filled with endless romantic dreams and possibilities, but only real love allows us to see through all the illusions and to accept another's imperfections. This is one of my favorite Woody Allen films.
G. Merritt
Is Such Thing as Perfect Relationship Possible? How to Find and to Keep It?
Woody Allen makes good, very good, and excellent films.
Husbands and Wives is a very good film with excellent performances. It is not a comedy but rather a dramedy that explores marriages and relationships of four main characters. It has several funny moments and dialogs (it is Allen after all) but it has disturbing and sad scenes, too.
When Jack and Sally (Sidney Pollack and Judy Davis) announce that they're separating, this comes as a shock to their best friends Gabe and Judy (Allen and Farrow). They start to reevaluate their own marriage only to find out that it is not as perfect as they thought. Very soon Jack and Sally, and then Gabe and Judy start to meet new people - young, bright, and attractive. They all hope that new is better, and for some of them it is true while the others come to understanding that true love involves loving another's imperfections even when very well aware of them.
This film is for all husbands and wives, lovers, and partners around the world. It is for couples who've been in a relationship for a month, a year, or decades. It is for singles who are ready or who think they want to enter a relationship. It is also for people who don't. All of us have been or may find ourselves in a situation or relationship or having a conversation like the ones in the Allen's film. All of us think and talk about love, trust, understanding, fidelity, sex, and yes - marriage.
The best scenes of the film belong to Allen and Farrow. Some of their conversations in the movie probably reflect the situation in their own relationship that ended soon after the film was made. It is the last film Allen made with Farrow.
Judy Davis played the role of her carrier practically stealing the film. I was shocked to find out that she received all possible Critics Awards that year and lost Best Supporting Oscar to Marisa Tomei. I love Tomei's performance in My Cousin Vinny (1992) but nomination itself would've been enough. Davis was the Best Supporting actress (I saw all films with nominated performances). Sidney Pollack (The Oscar winning director of Out of Africa and two times nominee for Tootsie and They Shoot Horses, Don't They?) and Liam Nisson were wonderful. I did not like Juliet Lewis at all. What she did adorably in Cape Fear with De Niro for ten minutes scene, she tried to stretch for over an hour here - did not work, IMO.
I like "Husbands and Wives" - it was interesting to watch, and it left me thinking if such thing as perfect relationship is ever possible, and what it would take to not only find it but to keep it.
4.5/5
Husbands & Wives Woody Allen's 1992 film "Husbands and Wives" was released around the time we first heard the words Soon-Yi, which is ironic considering the subject matter of the film. "Husbands and Wives" is billed as a comedy, but is more of a drama. There are a few jokes, but there's nothing incredibly funny in the film. The movie is told like a documentary, featuring interviews with the characters and handheld cinematography. Allen and Mia Farrow play Gabe and Judy Roth, a couple who have been married for ten years and think everything is well. Then their two friends Jack and Sally (Sydney Pollack & Judy Davis) announce they are getting divorced, which causes Gabe and Judy to question the validity of their own marriage. As Jack and Sally move on (with Jack getting a much hotter younger woman and Sally lusting after Michael, played by Liam Neeson), Gabe and Judy begin to move farther apart. Gabe, a college professor, finds himself falling for a 20-year-old student named Rain (Juliette Lewis) and Judy finds herself, also, lusting after Michael. The movie is 106 minutes, but a lot of stuff happens in the film. This is not one of Woody Allen's best; it's not in the top 5 anyway. It's overwrought and is not his most entertaining. The performances are very good, especially Farrow, Pollack, and Davis. Juliette Lewis, meanwhile, has echoes of Mariel Hemingway in "Manhattan" in her performance. The cinematography and mock-documentary style of the film gets old after a while, with the former getting headache-inducing after a while. "Husbands and Wives" is a good study of marriage and infidelity. One critic (I don't recall which one it was) said that "Husbands and Wives" seemed like Allen trying to come to grips with the Soon-Yi debacle, but the ending here is quite different. "Husbands and Wives" has its merits, it's demerits...But it's a worthy Woody Allen film that's definitely worth watching.
GRADE: B-
One of Woody Allen's best Husbands and Wives ranks up there in my mind with Broadway Danny Rose and Deconstructing Harry as one of Woody Allen's best movies. Put aside any concerns regarding the state of his personal life at the time this movie came out; the insights are intriguing and entertaining, and you'll find something new in it each time you watch it.
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