Husbands and Wives
Directed by Woody Allen
1992
Starring: Woody Allen, Mia Farrow, Judy Davis, Sydney Pollack
Rated R
A-
This is one of the greatest films from one of the greatest directors of all time, and yet it is one of the most underappreciated. Husbands and Wives, as the title suggests, is all about the ups and downs of marriage—and the only reason this film was so convincing and amusing at the same time was that it is partially based on Woody Allen’s own past experiences with “holy matrimony”.
Woody Allen directed, wrote, and acted in this incredible film. In the first scene, Gabe (Allen) and his wife Judy (Mia Farrow) are visited by their best friends, also a couple, Sally (Judy Davis) and Jack (Sydney Pollack). What makes this scene so hilarious is Sally and Jack’s casual mood as they announce their separation to the shocked pair. From that point on, the movie takes numerous hilarious twists, remaining with the theme of marriage and its instabilities until the end.
Allen’s script is, as always, genius. At one point, Gabe’s wife argues with him, telling him “You use sex to express every emotion other than love,” a perfect example of the humor Allen employs in this movie. It is convincing, uproarious, and absorbing at the same time and yet its simplicity is down to earth and brilliant. The characters’ interactions are captivating, filled with classic moments while still shying away from cliché.
The acting is also remarkable in Wives. Davis is wonderfully comical as the cynical Sally who’s constantly irritated by the other sex, while Farrow adequately portrays a graceful woman who becomes suspicious about her husband after her friends’ divorce. Pollack does a fantastic job being an insincere, hard-to-please Jack, while Allen performs his usual paranoid, neurotic character as Gabe.
This film is a diversion from Allen’s usual style—it is shot in a hand-held bouncy fashion, which helps to illustrate the characters’ anxieties. It is also executed documentary-style, with several character interviews interwoven throughout the dramatic plot points.
Sometimes, the story seems too much like Allen’s past films about marriage and divorce, so much so that a few lines appear passé on the surface but are actually echoes from Allen’s previous movies. Overall, Husbands and Wives was an excellent narrative, uncomplicated and overly authentic. Woody again showed himself as the master of comedy.
Directed by Woody Allen
1992
Starring: Woody Allen, Mia Farrow, Judy Davis, Sydney Pollack
Rated R
A-
This is one of the greatest films from one of the greatest directors of all time, and yet it is one of the most underappreciated. Husbands and Wives, as the title suggests, is all about the ups and downs of marriage—and the only reason this film was so convincing and amusing at the same time was that it is partially based on Woody Allen’s own past experiences with “holy matrimony”.
Woody Allen directed, wrote, and acted in this incredible film. In the first scene, Gabe (Allen) and his wife Judy (Mia Farrow) are visited by their best friends, also a couple, Sally (Judy Davis) and Jack (Sydney Pollack). What makes this scene so hilarious is Sally and Jack’s casual mood as they announce their separation to the shocked pair. From that point on, the movie takes numerous hilarious twists, remaining with the theme of marriage and its instabilities until the end.
Allen’s script is, as always, genius. At one point, Gabe’s wife argues with him, telling him “You use sex to express every emotion other than love,” a perfect example of the humor Allen employs in this movie. It is convincing, uproarious, and absorbing at the same time and yet its simplicity is down to earth and brilliant. The characters’ interactions are captivating, filled with classic moments while still shying away from cliché.
The acting is also remarkable in Wives. Davis is wonderfully comical as the cynical Sally who’s constantly irritated by the other sex, while Farrow adequately portrays a graceful woman who becomes suspicious about her husband after her friends’ divorce. Pollack does a fantastic job being an insincere, hard-to-please Jack, while Allen performs his usual paranoid, neurotic character as Gabe.
This film is a diversion from Allen’s usual style—it is shot in a hand-held bouncy fashion, which helps to illustrate the characters’ anxieties. It is also executed documentary-style, with several character interviews interwoven throughout the dramatic plot points.
Sometimes, the story seems too much like Allen’s past films about marriage and divorce, so much so that a few lines appear passé on the surface but are actually echoes from Allen’s previous movies. Overall, Husbands and Wives was an excellent narrative, uncomplicated and overly authentic. Woody again showed himself as the master of comedy.
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