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Amazon.co.uk Review
In Husbands and Wives, another typical Woody Allen exploration of relationships between screwed-up New Yorkers, the drama centres on two married couples who have been close friends for years. When Jack and Sally (Sydney Pollack and Judy Davis) announce they're breaking up, it exposes the cracks in the relationship between Gabe and Judy (Allen and Mia Farrow). The shenanigans that result are touching, funny and horribly true to life. Jack finds himself a cliché trophy blonde, Sam--an aerobics instructor--and thinks he's got it made until she expounds the eternal truths of astrology to his friends, humiliating him in the process; Gabe, meanwhile, finds himself increasingly drawn to his precocious student, Rain--beautifully portrayed by Juliette Lewis--while Judy and Sally get involved with the same guy (though not simultaneously), the shy but alluring Michael (Liam Neeson). The touch of genius is to have an off-screen narrator, with whom the main characters share their innermost thoughts, thus drawing the viewer right into the emotional heart of the movie. This is vintage Woody, with gentle but witty observations of human failings.
On the DVD: Husbands and Wives is delivered in widescreen with a Dolby Digital soundtrack. The only extra features are trailers for both this and Allen's previous movie, Manhattan Murder Mystery. In addition the audio set-up option is in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and subtitles in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch and Finnish. --Harriet Smith
DVD Description
DVD Special Features:
Theatrical Trailer
Languages in Mono: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
Subtitles: Arabic, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish
1.85: 1 Aspect Ratio
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Woody Allen is simply one of the best directors that has ever graced this great planet of ours. This film is again confirmation not only of his talent, but of his intellectual diversity and creative range.
This film does not eschew depicting the difficulties all relationships eventually must confront. Its portrayal of partnership problems is to say the least, uncomfortable, if not painful. Though, what do you expect? Allen is the master of interpersonal relationship analysis - this being again, another brilliant disection the subject.
The film starts with the breakup of a marriage that has been ended through mutual agreement. This breakup is then followed by each spouse finding younger, sexier partners; although the temporary renewal of physical passions stimulate some initial happiness - what we eventually see is that the couple have really hidden the true desires of their hearts all along.
Its never pretty to watch, but always interesting to divulge and ponder; what do we really crave in relationships? Why are the answers always locked away so far deep beneath the human heart? Why are the solutions so simple, yet so painful to implement?
This film is up there with Woody's best work - its one of his best scripts, although more serious it tells us just what we need, yet fear to hear.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
An intelligent, complex, sometimes very funny look at the ins and outs of adult relationships and marriage.
I admire the way the film works hard to avoid casting too much blame on any of the characters while not letting anyone off the hook for their actions either. Like all of us, these are flawed, very... human characters just trying to find a way to be happy in the thickets of marriage, divorce and love.
All the acting is quite good, although Judy Davis, while always great, and wildly entertaining, seemed a bit over-the-top on the ice queen meter, to the point where it was a bit hard for me to believe Liam Neeson's character falling for her.
Ultimately quite sad in it's recognition about just how difficult keeping relationships alive and healthy can be.
I admire the way the film works hard to avoid casting too much blame on any of the characters while not letting anyone off the hook for their actions either. Like all of us, these are flawed, very... human characters just trying to find a way to be happy in the thickets of marriage, divorce and love.
All the acting is quite good, although Judy Davis, while always great, and wildly entertaining, seemed a bit over-the-top on the ice queen meter, to the point where it was a bit hard for me to believe Liam Neeson's character falling for her.
Ultimately quite sad in it's recognition about just how difficult keeping relationships alive and healthy can be.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I wasn`t a huge fan of Sydney Pollack the director(Out of Africa etc.) but as you`ll see in this,he was a great actor(he also gave a great cameo in The Sopranos).As for Woody Allen i`m a huge admirer of most of his films(there are only a few i`ve not seen) up to and including Small Time Crooks(2000),after that it`s been mainly downhill,the only real exception being Vicky Christina Barcelona,which is worth a look.This is one of my favourites from the 90`s(which also include,Manhattan Murder Mystery,Everyone Says i Love You & Sweet and Lowdown),it works well as both a comedy & drama.The acting overall is excellent but another standout is Judy Davis,whom i believe recieved a much deserved Oscar nomination.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Interesting, But Not Compelling
Woody Allen's 1992 film Husband and Wives is an intriguing, and sometimes funny, tale of fluctuating personal and marital relationships, but one which, for me, is ultimately... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Keith M
Change equals death. / If you don't change, you just shrivel up.
I'm a big Woody Allen fan, and this film confirms that I have good reasons to be. He's an amazing character in that a good number of films seem to be a prolonged conversation he... Read more
Published 4 months ago by alda
The master of melancholy gives a melancholic masterclass.
Woody Allen is unique. No one else makes existential comedy like this. Woody is clever, and funny. He looks funny. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Justice Peace
Typically Allen
Typically Woody Allen concerning the characters relationships. If you like his other films you'll also like this one. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Odysseus
Perfect
I am not a huge fan of Woody Allen. I would say his best works are:
Manhattan [DVD] [1979]
Annie Hall [DVD] [1977]
September [1996] [DVD]
Hannah And Her Sisters... Read more
Manhattan [DVD] [1979]
Annie Hall [DVD] [1977]
September [1996] [DVD]
Hannah And Her Sisters... Read more
Published on 15 May 2009 by Mr. J. Carr
Allen more nervous than ever
One of the best Allen films. The turmoil of the sex life laid out through a number of different relationships. Read more
Published on 3 May 2009 by th
an interesting film rather than a humorous or involving one
I think this is an interesting film to watch rather than a very humorous or involving one.It will appeal mainly to people who are forty years or older who can understand and relate... Read more
Published on 18 Jun 2008 by dan the fan
Just not talked about enough
A latter day remnant from Woody's so-called 'serious' period, 'Husbands and Wives' appeared a fair few years after the likes of 'Hannah and Her Sisters' and 'Crimes and... Read more
Published on 17 April 2007 by Mr. D. Woods
Uncomfortable viewing: Allen's best 1990's work.
Husbands & Wives became infamous, being Allen's most recent film around the point of the Farrow/Song-Li debacle; was his art mirroring life? Read more
Published on 24 Dec 2002 by Jason Parkes
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