Review of Husbands and Wives (1992) by Kezia R — 01 Jun 2013

Woody Allen's 1992 film, Husbands and Wives, can be considered the most realistic and on the whole bitter of all his films (which is saying something). The films features an all star cast with Allen, Farrow, Davis, and Pollack in the leading roles.

On the whole, the film discusses more than just marriage, but how we interact with one another after decades of being together. The film is highly psychological, and it intends to make one think, even if the discussion takes a turn to very uncomfortable places.

The film centers around two married couples who are doing a documentary with a film crew that we never see. In fact, the we are hardly aware that the characters are in an interview during the film and it occurs spontaneously.

The first couple, Sally and Jack announce to their two close friends that they are splitting up. They appear very cavalier about their break up which shocks their friends. Jack (Pollack) and Sally (Davis) have been married for over twenty years, and their break up appears to shatter this safety net for their friends.

If two people can still grow tired and discontent with each other after two decades of marriage and raising two children, does that mean that no marriage can really remain stable? The second couple are the Roths played by Woody Allen and Mia Farrow, are initially the golden couple.

The couple that understands how to keep it together and view their friend's behavior as immature. . However, as time progresses, we realize that once you dig deeper, the Roth's have a bigger problem than Jack and Sally.

The fact that they are hiding in a well developed seal of self deception makes their situation more harrowing and surrealistic. They are not happy, and seeing Jack and Sally break and go after their desires, leaves them depressed because they were wishing the same would happen for them.

This thought scares them and leaves this thick air of discomfort that surrounds them. Jack and Sally try to fulfill their desires to live the single life again, but there is something that is holding them back.

Can one really throw away all those years of marriage just to reclaim this lost sense of youth? Is there such a thing as soul mates? Or perhaps there are people out there that just need to be married.

These are some of the questions that are explored throughout this convoluted plot. While Jack and Sally are considering this questions, Gabe Roth (Allen) is realizing that he is falling for one of his more talented students Rain (Lewis) who expresses interest in his work (He is a writer and professor); meanwhile, Judy is falling for the man in the office Michael (Neeson).

It is a tale of one couple that realizes maybe their marriage is not so bad after all, and the other is on a tumultuous spiral into the depths of the bitterness and fading memories of the distant past.

The performances in the film are among the best that one will see in any Woody Allen films. The cast here is in sync with every situation and portray it with such conviction. They understand the meaning of the film and they deliver.

Judy Davis and Syndey Pollack in particular shine for they are the more interesting couple. Why are they more interesting? The fact is, is that they are able to really experience life and learn from their mistakes.

They are growing as characters and for that we can feel with them. The Roth's, while played excellently, are meant to the be the tragic couple. For them there is nothing, literally, nothing but stillness.

Perhaps this is the feeling that one gets when a party no longer feels anything for the other. Not happiness, not disgust, sadness, not even a trace of hatred. Just nothing. Neeson gives one of the best performances of his career, and although he is more of a miss as an actor, he plays his part with particular care.

Juliette Lewis may not have the largest role, but she does well with what she is given. I mentioned earlier that this film is the most realistic and bitter of all his films. Realistic in the sense that there is no lure of magic and no pauses to address the audience with something witty.

In fact, this is one Woody Allen film that contains no elements that one can laugh at. Crimes and Misdemeanors, may have dealt with murder, but even then, Allen found something a good one liners to drop on us.

There are no one liners here, no pause to break the tension. The film is a free fall into thought and discomfort. What should we think? Well for starters is it possible to remain with a person forever? As Rain quipped in the film: "People lose sexual interest in each other after four years.

At least that's what Time says." Perhaps Time has a point. If you remain with someone is it due to true love or just that you developed a comfort zone? No one likes to leave areas of comfort and explore, particularly when you are reaching advanced age.

With age comes wisdom, but Allen wisely points out love and relationships do not care about how old you are. This films gives us questions, but is curious to see how we fill in the answer sheet, because each person reacts differently.

Allen sets this film in the backdrop of New York City. I feel that this time around New York is not such a great place to be. If one will notice, the weather is always dull. Practically little to no sunshine, and Allen does this to build the mood of dullness and a quiet loneliness.

People seems to just drift in this film with no particular direction. I think it is their way of running from serious problems that they do not want to face. The scenes were shot well, but there are very choppy transitions that are upsetting to me, and make me feel that Allen did not spend enough time on the film making as he did with the story.

To say that this film is not a happy one would be an understatement, however, that does not mean that the film is not enjoyable. This film merely makes the watcher think about important questions that they will undoubtedly face when the leave the movie theater and re-enter reality.

Still this movie will make some yearn for Annie Hall or Midnight in Paris, where there is still hope after a break up, and a character can escape into a night of pure fantasy and delight.