Review of Mighty Aphrodite (1995) by David A — 23 Nov 2009
(from The Watermark 11/11/95).
MIGHTY APHRODITE (Woody Allen, Helena Bonham-Carter, Mira Sorvino): My big desire for Woody Allen is to see him use the visual medium of film more visually. He?s a wonderful writer, he knows how to cast a film, and is a capable character actor. But his cinematography is mind-numbingly flat, and does nothing to enhance his work. That said, I liked Might Aphrodite. Allen and Bonham-Carter play a couple who adopt a baby. Allen, curious about his son?s heredity, tracks down the child?s natural mother (Sorvino), and finds out she is a hooker and a pornographic actress. He befriends her and tries to help her straighten out her life. Artistically, Allen?s gimmick is a clever one: a Greek Chorus, in a genuine Greek amphitheater, comments on the action of the film as it goes along. Eventually, cast and plot become intertwined with chorus and commentary (and eventually song) to very good comic effect. Allen and Bonham-Carter actually look more like grandfather and granddaughter, and Sorvino?s performance relies too heavily on a silly voice. But without question, if you like Woody Allen films, you?ll like this one. He should market them like candy: Good n? Funny.
Queer Quotient: Isn?t it incredible that Woody Allen?s New York never seems to have gay people in it? Oy!
This review of Mighty Aphrodite (1995) was written by David A on 23 Nov 2009.
Mighty Aphrodite has generally received positive reviews.
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