Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore

I have to appreciate that in 1974 there weren’t many mainstream American films driven by female leads — ie not just a big part as a wife or girlfriend or sidekick of a guy, but the main character driving the action of the film. For taking that bold step, I applaud all involved. It’s still a little sad to see Alice decide she can’t really live without a man, go from one dud to the next, and finally settle on a dud who’s just a little nicer than the rest. By the end, she can stand up for herself, and he “doesn’t really care about the ranch anyway,” so I suppose that’s what passes for forward thinking in 70s American cinema.

Anyway, still a lot to love in this movie, many genuinely funny & original scenes. You can see the Scorsese in an unScorseseish movie, and Burstyn is certainly worthy of her Oscar that year (though over my Gena? Please.)