Review of Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) by Jennifer A — 12 May 2008

Martin Scorsese is generally considered to be one of the greatest directors of all time. He's certainly one of the most influential. Films such as "Taxi Driver", "Goodfellas" and "Raging Bull" are widely regarded to be among the best ever made. However they are not the only impressive entries in Scorsese's film resume.

[b]Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) - 8.4/10[/b].

Director - Martin Scorsese.

Starring - Ellen Burstyn, Kris Kristofferson, Diane Ladd, Alfred Lutter, Harvey Keitel, Billy Green Bush, Jodie Foster, Valerie Curtin.

Alice Hyatt (Ellen Burstyn) is a housewife resigned to a "dutiful" life with trucker husband Donald (Billy Green Bush). She had given up her dreams of being a singer for him and 12 year old son Tommy (Alfred Lutter). When Donald dies in a trucking accident, Alice decides to leave town and pursue her dream of becoming a singer. She lands in a small Arizona town and lands a job as a lounge singer, making just enough money to pay for a weekly motel room for Tommy and herself. Just when things are getting better Alice meets Ben, a charming younger man. However she isn't aware that Ben is married, and when she finds out Ben gets violent prompting Alice and Tommy to move again. This time they land in Tucson where Alice takes a job as a waitress. Here she befriends flirtatous waitress Flo (Diane Ladd) and meets a handsome rancher David (Kris Kristofferson). Meanwhile her bratty son Tommy becomes even more difficult to control. The film also features a very young Jodie Foster as a tomboyish friend of Tommy.

Who would think that one of our most macho directors would make a Feminist film? Well make no mistake, [i]Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore [/i]is just that. Released during the height of the women's movement, Alice is definitely a character that most women could relate to. As the film begins, Alice is just an "accessory" to husband Donald. She's there to cook dinner, keep the house and raise a child. Her dreams and desires are secondary to his, something many women have faced. Once her husband dies, Alice's liberation begins. Her self-worth rises. Her needs are just as important as any man's.

Scorsese definitely channels John Cassavetes here, at the same time putting his distinctive touches on the film. The opening red-tinted dreamlike sequence with a young Alice only suggests of the journey to come. A journey of self-discovery. On the surface, this film is a stark contrast from Scorsese's previous work, [i]Mean Streets[/i], but Alice, like Charlie in [i]Mean[/i] [i]Streets [/i]is self-defining character trying to find her own way. Everyone we meet seems genuine as there is an improvisational feel to how the characters react and interact. One of my all time favorite Scorsese scenes (in any of his films) is the closeup of Ellen Burstyn and Diane Ladd conversing in a dusty backway, still dressed in their waitress uniforms. Scorsese almost always gets the best out of his actors, and this film is a great example. Burstyn deservedly won a Best Actress Academy Award for her role as Alice, and Diane Ladd is equally brilliant in a supporting role that earned her a Best Supporting Actress nomination. Harvey Keitel shines in one of the film's most intense scenes, and Kris Kristofferson gives a natural performance as David.

[i]Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore[/i] definitely proved that [i]Mean Streets [/i]wasn't a fluke and that Martin Scorsese was well on the way to becoming one of the most important directors of all time.

[b]The Age of Innocence (1993) - 7.6/10[/b].

Director - Martin Scorsese.

Starring - Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfieffer, Winona Ryder, Miriam Margolyes, Richard E. Grant, Alec McCowen, Geraldine Page, Mary Beth Hurt.

Scorsese heads into Merchant-Ivory territory with his tale of a privileged society in 19th century Manhattan. Newland Archer (Daniel Day-Lewis) is the head of an upper-crust NY family. He's engaged to the proper, but bland May Welland (Winona Ryder). May's cousin Ellen (Michelle Pfieffer) is beautiful, world-wise, and very much a free spirit which is a stark contrast to May. Newland is much more passionate about Ellen yet he feels the pressure of conforming to High Society's expectations.

A definite departure for Scorsese, [i]The Age of Innocence [/i]nonetheless explores many of the themes present in his gritty, blue-collar films set in New York City. There are expected codes of conduct, regardless of class, and [i]The Age of Innocence[/i] is no exception. The characters in the film are confined to these expectations, or they must face the consequences, so in some ways Newland and Ellen are not that different than the mobsters in [i]Goodfellas[/i]. However this is a much more nuanced film, much like the society it depicts. Once again Scorsese gets the most out of his actors. Winona Ryder earned an Academy Award nomination and Golden Globe win for Best Supporting Actress. Michelle Pfieffer recieved a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in one of her best performances. Daniel Day-Lewis is great as always. The costumes and period design are immaculate with Scorsese paying attention to the smallest details. Visually it's one of his most impressive works. And while it may tread towards Merchant-Ivory territory, it somehow feels more substantive. Although I don't consider this to be on the level of Scorsese's best work, it compares favorably to similar period films.