Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
Apologies for the three week hiatus. We should be back on-track now.
Marty’s fourth feature film was something completely different to him. The film follows Alice, a widow attempting to raise her son while trying to follow her own dreams at the same time. The highlight of the film is the relationship between Alice and her son Tommy – who feel like they could really be mother and son. Their scenes do not feel scripted, a reality show feels much more fake.
The themes of this one are much different from the rest of Scorsese’s filmography – but the tone is right there with the rest. While no one is about to get killed by the mob or hunted down by the police – it feels like at any moment certain characters in Alice’s life could snap and lead down this life. She attempts to hold her little family together, but the task feels overwhelming and even Herculean at times.
This movie details the brutal cycle of abuse. Before he dies, Alice’s husband is shown to be an uncaring, selfish, terrible A-hole. Later, she starts to fall for Ben (Harvey Keitel) before learning he is married and violent. Finally, Alice meets David, who seems like a really great guy, until he too is brutish and violent. The film gives Alice so much agency and power – she is able to remain strong and in control of her life despite all of these terrible men. However, it doesn’t let her entirely off the hook, as she often threatens her son (but not in a serious way).
I had a good time with this film. It was a much easier watch than I anticipated and it was full of great performances and direction. Marty comes in with another hit!
(Later this year, this film will turn fifty years old – wow!)
Scorsese Ranking:
This was great. I’m going to put this on the top of the mountain for now – but I know it is getting dethroned very, very soon.
- Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
- Mean Streets
- Who’s That Knocking at My Door
- Boxcar Bertha
Next week, Taxi Driver.
