MovieChat Forums > Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1975) Discussion > Disappointed

Disappointed

posted 17 years ago by daviesuk
24 replies | jump to latest

I finally watched this film because I was off work sick and had nothing better to do, and really can't understand why it's so famous.

The son is nothing but a precocious, indulged, whining, annoying brat.

The music was dire the first time round, and not something I wanted to re-encounter (Mott the HOOPLE? Marc BOLAN? )

And the ending - what a cop-out.

All in all, a life-draining experience. - I'd rather have the 1 hour and 45 mins of my life back, which I could spend doing something more entertaining - like loading the dishwasher.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] glaros55 17 years ago

Well i agree with you somehow. I also can't understand how Gena Rowland lost the oscar from her. That is why i saw the movie. I saw few months ago A Woman Under the Influence and i thought that this woman had to have the oscar won. I came here and find out that Ellen Burstyn won it. But what is all with this movie? I love her as an actress but this is οdd. Sorry for my english. I am Greek

[–] zaptista 16 years ago

This is exactly why I saw this movie, and was so dissapointed. A
Woman Under the Influence is one of my favourite movies, and then watching this one I was simply aggrevated. I still am.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] stabiljka 12 years ago

Excellent post troy-32. It is exactly how realistic the movie is without being boring. The situation in which mother and son find themselves is tragi-comic. Ellen is brilliant in her roll of mother. There are some really beautifuly tender moments, dialogs. Another gem is Tommy himself. I found him so naturally annoing, but basicaly smart and decent kid. I think many reviewers are to harsh on him, not taking into account what a poor 11 year old had gone through.
And being from UK it amazes me that kids in america can pull such rolls.

[–] rjmgreen 10 years ago

I agree with everything you wrote. I even loved the small characters: Rita, the grocer, the bartender with his flat, blunted affect, Chicken Holiday. This is one of the best movies ever. It always cheers me up. Alice went through so much, but came out singing (no pun intended). :)

[–] moonspinner55 17 years ago

Marc Bolan and Mott the Hoople made some of the greatest music of the 1970s. Shame on you.

[–] WarpedRecord 16 years ago

Marc Bolan and Mott the Hoople made some of the greatest music of the 1970s. Shame on you.

Boy howdy! I'd say they made some of the greatest music of any era, and this is one of the finest films ever. They don't make 'em like that anymore, and they've bothered even trying.

[–] nikitachramzow 17 years ago

Male, 23, German.
Seen it two days ago and already fell in love wit it after 20 minutes! If even a country-hating German can stand and apreciate the score, you had have to listen to it, while Lassie was shot, or smt, in order to hate it that much?!
Alright, the boy was a pain in t. a. but Burstyns reactions on his behavior were worth it!

[–] infoed 17 years ago

When I first saw the movie after being fed the diet of poison known as the sitcom "Alice," I was surprised at the difference in tone. Tommy was a brat, Flo was foul-mouthed, and the scene where Harvey Keitel loses his mind was completely unexpected.

Now it's become one of my favorite movies of all time. The relationship between Tommy and Alice is hilarious (on TV, the character of Tommy was a cipher) and the movie is a perfect slice of mid-70s storytelling. The supporting cast (Diane Ladd, Jodie Foster, Valerie Curtin, Vic Tayback, Harvey Keitel et al.) are all excellent - the early scenes between Lelia Goldoni and Burstyn are great - and it's a movie I've never grown tired of.

[–] ghtx 16 years ago

The lesson here is that you shouldn't watch a good movie when you are sick. Give it another shot when healthy.

[–] mothboy88 16 years ago

I wasn't really into it the first time around. Just watched it again and it was really moving.

[–] Luminousoctaves 16 years ago

I rate this film as one of the top five ”feel good”-movies of all time. Whenever i feel depressed ”Alice” makes wonders for me. I love it. I think ”Tommy” is absolutely charming. I hate movies where kids are acting nice and well brought up. Cause most AREN'T in real life. :) Love the scene where Jodie Foster and Tommy is drinking wine sitting in a couch. Tommy has his new cowboy outfit on, and you can see the pricetag hanging from his left arm, he he he!! Spot on!
I'm not suprised that Woody Allen used the same kid actor for ”love and death”.

Ellen Burstyn definitely deserved her Oscar, but Gena Rowlands would have also if she'd won. Good God, the 70´s... the golden age of cinema for sure!

A must see film.

[–] VWstarwars 16 years ago

Ellen Burstyn has deserved an oscar so many times over the years. They may have given the oscar to her for this one as a way of giving her credit for this film and for not giving it to her the year before with "The Exorcist." She is an amazing actress. I was also shocked that they didn't give her an oscar for "Requiem for a Dream." I love how realistic this movie(Alice) seems and was suprised at how Mel's Diner was only a small portion of the film. This ws really more of a road movie.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] antimatter33 15 years ago

God how I hate 70s fauxminism.

-drl

[–] CULTEGUY 15 years ago

Initially I had the same reaction, but it grew on me. (I bought the film because of the director, and at the time the VHS copy was $40-- believe it or not.)

I remember thinking that it was a bad representation of men (in light. stereotypical,) at a time of feminism. And, the end just seemed to END, without giving much thought-- something a lot of 70s flicks did.

Then, I watched it again because it was one of the few I had in my VHS library (I had "The Godfather" on Beta, if that gives you any indication of the time zone.) I found it to be a true scattershot from a male perspective that tries to give an understanding of the female point-of-view through the scope of a male-- much like "A Woman Under The Influence" did. The two movies are actually intersting to watch back to back. Interesting study on a woman in the 70s at the same time of their lives but of different back drops.

The end of the film seemed like a cop-out to me until I saw it in a different mood as well. Now it just seems like reality TV... I mean, it just happened-- people who don't like each other become friends, and life goes on.

Still, the funniest thing to ever come out of this was a sit-com... From a Scorsese movie?!!! Plus, there's even a Mel's Diner in Hollywood. Odd what pop-culture picks up on, but I could think of worst things.