Mighty Aphrodite (1995)

Sick Product of a Sick System

Fantastic!

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Availability issues resulted in Mighty Aphrodite being the last viewing experience in my Woody Allen project. Arriving three days late also meant that I didn't make my goal of watching all 41 of Woody Allen films I had yet to see in a months time. I'm told I shouldn't be disappointed in seeing 41 films in 34 days, but I am a real stickler for rules, especially when they're self-imposed. Anyway, Mighty Aphrodite did not disappoint in its place as the finale of my Woody Allen project. The 1995 film, written and directed by Woody Allen, of course, stars Mira Sorvino, in an Academy Award winning performance, Woody Allen, and Helena Bonham Carter. A couple adopts a baby, and as he develops into an extraordinarily bright child, his father becomes obsessed with finding out who his birth parents are, believing them to be brilliant, as well. Lenny (Woody Allen) and Amanda (Helena Bonham Carter) are a married couple living in New York who, after much discussion, decide to adopt a baby. They adopt the baby, Max, when he is one day old and adapt to their new roles as parents seamlessly. Five years later, they seem to be living different lives and only connected by their shared living quarters and child. Amanda is focused on opening her own art gallery and pours most of her time in that endeavor. There is constantly a dinner or a gala Amanda and Lenny must attend leaving Lenny with the feeling that he is a mere witness in Amanda's life. Lenny works as a sports writer and feels that he has nothing in common with the people Amanda works and networks with. In Lenny's mind, the couple seems to be drifting apart and he is left wondering if their marriage will survive Amanda's ambitions. Meanwhile, their son Max shows incredible aptitude towards learning and is proving himself to be an advanced student. Taken by the notion that Max's biological parents must be geniuses themselves, Max decides to search for his Max's birth parents despite the records concerning his adoption being sealed. Deciding to forge on this project alone, without telling Amanda, Lenny gets a look at Max's birth records and begins to track down his biological parents. Lenny succeeds in tracking down Max's mother, but he is blown away to discover that she is a prostitute and adult film worker. Posing as someone utilizing her services, Lenny pays for an hour with the woman, Linda Ash (Mira Sorvino) to talk with and get to know the woman that birthed his son. The longer Lenny spends with Linda, the more he realizes Max's genius ability didn't come from his mother as directly as he had assumed. Lenny then decides to mold Linda into the woman he thought Max's birth mother would be. Lenny sets Linda up on a date, buys her new clothes, and tries to get her a job he sees as more respectable. All the while, his relationship with Amanda is becoming more distant as they both begin to entertain the notion of dating other people. Constantly fearing that his life is on the brink of becoming a Greek tragedy, Lenny is often treated to a Greek chorus giving him advice at various points throughout his proceedings with Linda and Amanda. Mighty Aphrodite is the ultimate quirky comedy yet human and touching story that could only come from Woody Allen. His style is branded all over this film and it is a shame I haven't heard more of a reference to it among the greats of his career. The way Woody Allen writes such whole human characters in his films is something I will forever be grateful for. Even the characters that come off the most one-dimensional, Linda Ash, in this case, are fleshed out and proved to be complete people. Woody's writing is a gift and one that keeps on giving. Even in his films that are not well-received, there are usually solid characters given whole lives. Flaws and dreams are examined in each person Woody writes even extending to himself. The story he tells of Lenny and Amanda relationship is instantly relatable to anyone that's had a child. There certainly exists an adjustment period for both parties to get used to their new role as parents, as well as become used to how those new roles affect their relationship with each other. Add to the adjustment period of becoming parents career ambitions that require much time and effort away from their partner and you've created a recipe for loneliness to be experienced even by two people that live in the same home. The basic human day-to-day elements of Woody's story are aspects I most enjoy in his films. I'm pretty sure I could compile a list of favorite scenes in Woody Allen films, and a decent number of them would be scenes in which characters are enjoying a meal together. Woody shoots personal revelatory dinner scenes like no one else, I'm certain of that. Another fun aspect of Mighty Aphrodite that is unique to Woody Allen was his spirit guides. Like he would later visit in To Rome with Love, among others, the Greek chorus providing insight into the life of Woody Allen's character, Lenny was a fun nod to history as well as an illustration into the master writer/director. Woody Allen seems to be largely informed by the past as he explores many historical elements in his films and shooting in a way that there is a live Greek chorus present in his characters life is a skill unique to Woody Allen. This project has been sheer joy, and I am so thankful to have ended on a high note with Mighty Aphrodite.

Review: I quite enjoyed this movie which, is written and directed well by Woody Allen. As usual, the only problem that I found with the film is Woody Allen's constant chatting about rubbish, but the concept was sweat and well put together. I loved the twists at the end, which were cleverly written, and Mira Sorvino's character was brilliant. The whole concept of Woody Allen finding his adopted son's mother and ending finding out that she was a prostitute, was refreshing compared to his usual troubled relationship movies. The quirky prostitute made the movie for me along with the great performances by all the cast. She stole the screen from Woody Allen in every scene and she totally deserved her Oscar for best supporting role. On the whole, the movie does drag a bit during the beginning, but once it gets going it was a joy to watch. Enjoyable!Round-Up: I remember seeing this movie when it first came out in the late 90's, and now that I have seen it again, it's a timeless piece that has to go down as some of Woody Allen's best work. That is totally due to Sorvino and the way that Woody Allen wrote her character. Helen Bonham Carter was under used for the role as his wife but she was a good choice by Allen. Personally I think that the movie could have done with someone else playing Woody Allen's character and that Mira Sorvino should have had more screen time, but that just me being fussy. Budget: $15million Worldwide Gross: $26millionI recommend this movie to people who are into there Woody Allen movies about a man trying to find his adopted son's mother. 6/10

Maybe not among his best films but is definitely among the better ones since Husbands and Wives. There are a few shortcomings here and there, the film does lose its momentum at times, there is a lack of chemistry between Allen and Helena Bonham-Carter, Bonham-Carter is a little stiff with an accent that can falter and while the Greek chorus is a great idea and are a lot of fun and at least serve a purpose sometimes it did feel like they were being overused. However, Mighty Aphrodite is a beautiful film to look at with sumptuous settings and cinematography and fitting costumes(apart from the slightly dishcloth-like ones for the Greek Chorus), not surprising as nearly all Allen's films are very well-made with some having some interesting images. The music is also very catchy while the script- very Woody Allen in style- is snappy and has a perfect balance of bawdy comedy that provides a lot of laughs and tragic drama which gives the film heart and poignancy. The story does a very good job at this also, it's fun and good-natured but it doesn't undermine the tragedy one bit. And it does fine with developing its characters who are neurotic(a deliberate choice that is often done by Allen, anyone who has seen an Allen film before should have no problem with this) but real and well-rounded. Woody Allen directs assuredly and gives a performance that shows great comic timing and is somewhat charming. He is well-matched by Mira Sorvino who has never been better and for me gave the best performance of the film, the chemistry between them was believable. The supporting cast are equally great, especially F. Murray Abraham and Jack Warden. Overall, while not among the finest from Allen Mighty Aphrodite is still a very good film and well worth the viewing. 8/10 Bethany Cox

What's wrong with a director who cast himself in nearly every film he made? Nothing if your name is or was Charles Chaplin, Clint Eastwood or Gene Kelly. But in case of Woody Allen there's definitely a problem. He always cast himself in a role of a character he wishes to be. In Mighty Aphrodite he plays a sport journalist married with a pretty wife (Helena Bonham Carter) who is a designer. For sure it's a frustration for Allen to be born in a body that is anything but athletic and it's clear that he imagined this character to compensate for his physical shortcomings. A role as a real sportsman would be totally unbelievable so let's make it a sport journalist! At one day Lenny (Allen) en Amanda (Bonham Carter) decides to adopt a baby, or in fact Amanda takes the decision. After a couple of years their marriage is in trouble and Lenny starts a search for the biological mother of the toddler. As a viewer you're not sure what the reason is. He suspects Amanda of cheating on him so maybe he is looking for revenge or to raise his son with the woman he's looking for. Or it is just his midlife crisis. After some research he finds out that the mother of his adopted son is a hooker and porn star by the name of Linda Ash who also lives in New York. He approaches her as a customer but instead of having sex with her he tries to talk her into a more decent life. Of course Linda is very wary about Lenny's approach after the experiences she has with men but he succeed to win her trust and actually gets her out of her job and into a hairdresser training. In fact he is so concerned about her welfare that he tries to find her a decent man. Then it all goes wrong: he thinks he's right about the cheating of his wife and the man he thinks is a very good husband for Linda finds out about her porn career.When both Lenny and Linda are at a low point in their lives they found comfort in each other and even end up in bed. But Lenny returns to Amanda who also decides that the lover who is after her isn't worth the end of her marriage.So not only gives Allen himself a role very close to something athletic he also give himself a marriage to the beautiful Bonham Carter and a good night with Mira Sorvino who plays Linda Ash. Not total unbelievable wasn't it for the fact that he portrays Lenny as a total neurotic and klutz. For a person who has a very social job and has a marriage which give him a lot of contacts in the art scene his clumsiness is far overdone. The scene where he first enters the apartment of Linda is so shamefully bad acted that it is painful to watch. Just like the scene where he tries to convince the pimp to keep his hands of Linda.Not to say that this is a bad movie. Allen good be quite funny here and he brings a brilliant idea to the script. An antic Greek choir which (with the assistance of some of the Greek gods) give comment on the story and the characters and on some occasions try to interrupt and talk Lenny out of his plans. This idea give the film a light tone against the neurotic acting by Allen and the heavy themes like abortion, prostitution and divorce. As a viewer you wonder when the real reason for Lenny's interest in Linda comes to the surface. That this didn't happen is a bit of disappointment because you're curious about the reaction of the two women in Lenny's life. But it also fits in the light mood of the film.So Allen puts a lot of good ideas in Mighty Aphrodite but it's a pity nobody convinces him to hire a good casting agency for the role of Lenny.