I enjoyed the movie, but watching Houston play a needy, pouty, "you'll have to teach me about classical music b/c I'm so ignorant" woman was VERY difficult to take. I have really enjoyed her in other films, but she seemed like a B-rate actress in this. It almost destroyed the movie for me, but luckily, I stuck with it.
Anybody else feel the same way.
Nope, she was perfect as the needy, overweight, middle-aged loser who falls in "love" with anyone who gives her the slightest attention.
IMDb no longer gets my endorsement.
<<Nope, she was perfect as the needy, overweight, middle-aged loser who falls in "love" with anyone who gives her the slightest attention.>>
She wasn't overweight. What are you talking about? Oh, boy, another person with bizarre standards for women. And she wasn't a loser, either. She was a functional person, with a job and a home who fell in love with a married doctor. There was no indication that she would fall in love with anyone who gave her the slightest attention. None at all. She was needy, which isn't surprising -- her needs (normal needs -- love, commitment) were not being met. It's amazing how you bash a character who was a pretty much a normal person, painting her as things she wasn't (such as overweight) or as things you have no proof of her being.
I agree that criticizing Delores for her size is absurd but I think you are being far too easy on her. She was manipulative, threatening blackmail and vindictive. Judah's bad behavior with regard to the infidelity, financial misdeeds, and emotional manipulation of a weak-minded and needy Delores to satisfy his lust and ego does not excuse or justify Delores' own bad behavior. And of course, her behavior did not justify her murder. I think her character being morally flawed fits perfectly with the themes of the film as I think the films posits that we all sometimes make decisions based on selfish or cruel motivations and these actions, intentionally or unintentionally, often negatively impacts others and our own psyche to a greater or lesser degree (thus, the crimes and misdemeanors). We also cannot predict or trust how others will react to our own choices despite our best intentions and motivations. (E.g., Cliff's sister was lonely and opened herself up to love and in the process of allowing herself to be vulnerable she was literally *beep* on. The paradox, a continuing theme also, is that if you don't open yourself up you will never find love.) As the film states, reality is unconcerned with our individual pursuit of happiness. Fortunately for us, as the film also posits, we often have a boundless capacity to move past our disappointments, regrets and even guilt for the most evil of acts through rationalization, delusion, acceptance, passage of time, etc. The human condition is the endurance of a series of crimes and misdemeanors (again degrees of harm, whether inflicted intentionally or unintentionally and whether inflicted by ourselves or by others). We usually deal and move on, perhaps increasingly damaged or perhaps not. Unless you lose the capacity to hope and kill yourself, that is. Our individual experiences, personal morality and resiliency may be unique, but the process of living -- our unavoidable nature -- is universal.
shareI am not sure how saying that she was a functional person, with a job and a home who fell in love with a married doctor is, in your words, being far too easy on her. It's true. The other thing I said, that there was no indication that she would fall in love with anyone who gave her the slightest attention, is also true. I also said she was needy, but pretty much a normal person, which she was. Yes, she was morally flawed -- remember the part where I said she was a normal person? Normal people are morally flawed. Do you think they're not?
Anyway, I wish you would learn to break your writing into paragraphs, but you write extremely well. I am impressed, even if you seem to think I said things I didn't -- or didn't say things I should.
Normal people are sometimes morally flawed - not always, Drew. Don't judge everyone by your own personal situation. :)
shareShe was a psycho. You could tell when she met the doctor she was more needy/vulnerable than most, and her behavior after he ended things was atrocious. You can almost understand the decision to kill her. I wouldnt exactly call that behavior normal or functional.
I do agree she was well-cast for the role, as a young hottie stewardess wouldnt get that hung up on landau. But there did seem to be some conflict between Allen's original vision and the final character.
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Thank you for the compliment. I wasn't necessarl replying to you. Just waxing poetic so to speak. I agree with you. Great film:)
shareShe WAS needy and she WAS overweight. She even says in the film that "this is not going to happen to me again" when Judah is trying to break it off. There are several shots of her from behind and her rear is big. She is sloppy and overweight. Her stomach bulges out of her sweater. Only a stupid, pathetic, needy woman would get into a relationship with a married man.
shareWhat does saying, "This is not going to happen to me again," have to do with being overweight? She is talking about being left.
And do you really think only a stupid, pathetic, needy woman would have a relationship with a married men? Plenty of very beautiful, secure, intelligent women have gotten into relationships with married men. Angelina Jolie is a good example.
Anyway, I and others think this idea that she is fat, this idea that it matters, is sad and ridiculous. I am glad to see that most of the posters think so -- it's a testament to the intelligence of most of the people who watch this film.
Overweight? What? On what planet? Horribly dressed -- yes. Well, it was the 80s, but overweight? Not at all.
sharePerhaps you only see her as miscast because you already know of her persona, otherwise. She was Excellent in this role. She made me cringe, with her neediness. Desparate, clinging to a hopeless "love", she played it Perfect!
shareI thought she was well cast in the role. I just watched the film two days ago. Hadn't seen it in years and I thought she played the needy, clingy woman to perfection. But I wouldn't say that she was overweight!
share<<But I wouldn't say that she was overweight! >>
Neither would I. She wasn't overweight at all. I actually said, "What?" out loud when I read that. I think the poster just expects anyone cast as desirable to look like a Playboy model or something.
She wasnt really cast as desirable here,, that would've undermined the story.
She was heavier than Mia Farrow, who wasnt bony. And than the wife. Heavier than most hollywood actresses, for sure. Not extreme for a typical middle-aged woman, just unusual for a Hollywood romantic interest.
She was definitely dumpy-looking.
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http://classicblanca.blogspot.com/2012/06/best-supporting-actress-1980 s.html
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THAT is dumpy looking???? LOL
Seriously though, I used to think she was miscast, but I think the problem was, her and Judah had NO on-screen chemistry. On-screen chemistry is IMPORTANT when showing a romance/affair/love. Not sure if it was her fault, his fault or what. However I FELT the chemistry between Mia/Allen and Mia/Alda. THAT'S the difference.
I specifically reminded her - bedside table! On the Kangaroo!
I think she was supposed to be that way in our (the audience's) eyes.
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I think you're missing the fact that Landau had gotten sick of her by that point in their relationship. Hence, nonchemistry. He would never have killed her if he still had feelings for her.
And she was made to appear dumpy and unattractive in the film, whatever her real physique/persona. So we could understand Landau's resentment and alienation. I believe.
I have seen her in other movies but I don't really remember how good or bad she was in others. Her character seems to be needed to be sufficiently obsessed and depressed to make the audience sympathize at first with the doctor, then afterwards be horrified with the actual consequences just as he is.
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Not overweight, just not a very nice figure. Look at the way she looks in her pants when Judah shows up at her apartment. Maybe the pants are ill fitting to make her look that way but she doesn't look very nice.
I sure love her in this and Manhattan Murder Mystery even more. I actually love her in everything I've ever seen her in. She's a fabulous actress.
Marianne
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While I agree with what I think coolbluegreen was saying - that Anjelica herself was not overweight - I thought she looked great in the yellow and black checkered pants she has on when the "flower delivery" comes - I do think there were a couple scenes where the character was made to look overweight with costuming.
And I couldn't disagree more with the OP, I thought she was incredible in her part - as usual.
"(Sometimes) nothing can be a real cool hand"
I find her to be fantastic in it. Very believable. A woman who's life is slipping away from her is rescued by a handsome, smart sophisticated doctor who makes her feel worthy and justifies her existence in the world.
She's reacting to having what she sees as her last chance at life torn away from her. Huston plays it beautifully. To the hilt.
I find her to be fantastic in it. Very believable. A woman who's life is slipping away from her is rescued by a handsome, smart sophisticated doctor who makes her feel worthy and justifies her existence in the world.
Agree with the rescue/desperation part. Disagree with the handsome part, like cookie.
shareI think it's sad that so much time is spent discussing Ms. Houston's appearance. I don't see any in-depth discussions about either Woody's appearance or Landau's for that matter. I understand, to a certain extent, discussions that pertain to her appearance as it relates to the role but this part was written for a character actress and most of the posters seem to be more interested in bashing a woman who's looks may not meet current popular standards of beauty-fake breasts, over-inflated lips-over-exercised anorexic body.
I believe it lowers everybody's IQ to indulge in such ridiculous conversations about, for example, "her ill fitting pants" when Woody's has written a script so complex and thought-provoking. I saw this film when it first came out and it made quite an impact on me (especially as I walked in expecting a movie "like his earlier funny one's".
Cheers.
I think it's sad that so much time is spent discussing Ms. Houston's appearance.Frankly it's bizarre.
Movement ends, intent continues;share
Intent ends, spirit continues
Its relevant to the original post. She was well-cast because she could appear dumpy and desperate here.
shareIts relevant to the original post. She was well-cast because she could appear dumpy and desperate here.
Allen and Landau are also clearly unattractive, which has also been noted in this thread.
Well said, IcySpoon. I wish everyone thought the way you did about this.
shareI thought she was perfect for this part. Angelica is an excellent character actress, one of the greats of this time, and is an Oscar winner. I can't remember anything, no matter how small the part, where she hasn't been wonderful.
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