Nobody rocks an entrance quite like Eva Mendes. In a blue clingy dress that accentuates every curve, with flawless skin and salon perfect hair that flips with each step forward in her runway-like walk, the addition of the color Jungle Red mixed by manicurist Tanya (Debi Mazur) to her fingernails seems superfluous.
Yet, it’s precisely this off-screen decision for a manicure by the talkative Saks employee that sets the events in motion for the perfume-spritzer girl turned husband-stealing mistress Crystal Allen (Mendes) in writer/director/producer Diane English’s feature filmmaking debut, The Women. This is especially crucial since it’s only a matter of time before Mazur’s character spills the beans about Crystal’s dalliances to every client seated opposite her and sure enough as the film begins, magazine editing workaholic Sylvia Fowler (Annette Bening), the best friend of the unfaithful man’s wife, Mary Haines (Meg Ryan), learns about the indiscretion.
Although she tries to lock it in the vault, she finds it’s too much to bear alone, later revealing the same news to their perpetually pregnant, hippie artist mutual friend, Edie (Debra Messing) and later, their tough-minded lesbian scribe pal Alex (Jada Pinkett Smith). While it’s Alex who makes the decision to “drag her ass into the vault,” and approach Mary directly, the friends discover to their horror that not only does the saintly, multitasking mother and wife Mary know but, upon questionable advice from her own mother (Candice Bergen), has decided — for the time being — not to confront her husband. Although initially Mary had laughed off her mother’s suggestion with the telling in-joke, “What is this — a 1930s movie?” soon we realize, that while it is based on one, English’s version is anything but old-fashioned.
Adapted from the 1936 Clare Boothe Luce play which was immortalized by director George Cukor with his classically catty 1939 film of the same name, it took fourteen laborious years for Murphy Brown creator Diane English’s vision of a much-needed update to the tale to make it to the big screen with a figurative revolving door of a Who’s Who of A-List stars all having been attached at one point or another. Yet it was actress Meg Ryan who believed in English from the beginning. She bravely stuck by the aspiring filmmaker through each and every shakeup whether it was in front of the screen or behind it (as slated director James L. Brooks had to move on), “attached from day one” to play the “wronged wife,” according to Entertainment Weekly’s Missy Schwartz.
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Article comments
1 - Jordan Richardson
This has a whopping 10% at Rotten Tomatoes. Still, I might sit through this for the very same reason I sat through Ghost Rider.
Guesses?
2 - Jen
Lol, two words: Eva Mendes? She's gorgeous. When we see her, it's upon realizing she's the mistress and I think I speak for most straight women when I say it's like "man, that's just not fair!" There's no competing with Eva!
No, I know-- surprisingly, I'm one of the few who liked it (however, if you look at the gender of most critics, there's a pattern there). But then again, I was never a big fan of the original which I've read in play form, seen in play form, and analyzed on film. It's not brilliant to say the least but to me, it was what the SATC Movie should've been since they're kinda similar! :)
3 - Mary
I thought the movie was really cute. One of my favorite lines was from Mary! Even though the movie has been getting some negative reviews, it really is a funny twist on finding the inner strength we need to move forward. Bette Midler may have had a small role, but she had a huge impact in the movie. It was a lesson, don't just sit there, take charge! I don't want to give too much away, but you have to see the movie and you will get it, make up your own mind, don't listen to the critics. I came home last night and downloaded the soundtrack! I was blown away by Lucy Schwartz, but then fell in love with Ruby James, went to I-tunes and downloaded her whole catalogue, that girl is going to be a star!
4 - Jen
Cool, thanks, Mary-- I'm glad this time around I could be one of the critics that hopefully people can listen to. I know-- Bette Midler was great! If you liked her in this, you should check out Then She Found Me, which just hit DVD. I'll have to look for the soundtrack. Thanks for the heads up!
5 - Lisa Solod Warren
I don't know, Jen, this sounds like an awfully retro flick to me.... I loved the original AND the stage play (they were hugely cutting edge for the time, you need to know), but this doesn't really sound like my cup of tea. I may give it a go, but I think I'd rather still see the new Pacino/DeNiro. I don't pick my flicks according to gender. And I took my daughter to the Sisterhood film and thought it was a Sex for teenyboppers.... I was bored stiff, although she loved it. (I admit to being a huge Sex in the City fan). I thought Vicky, Christina was a Rohmer rip-off although Cruz and Bardem were worth watching, and I agree that women don't get enough good roles (Then She Found Me was the best "women's" movie of the year so far) but I am not convinced The Women is it. Too much botox and surgery and too much worrying about men, sigh......
6 - Jen
I get that the original was groundbreaking-- I studied it in my undergrad program and professionally and so was TV's I Love Lucy but as a feminist there's still things about both that make me shudder despite just viewing them as entertaining.
I was way more excited about the new Pacino and De Niro (which you'll be able to tell from my review of that one) as I agree, I definitely don't pick flicks according to gender either but quality first and foremost. Press-screening wise, I was dreading The Women and totally stoked for the Coens and my man, Bobby D. Unfortunately, neither one made the grade.
Love SATC the series (own every season) but the movie was horribly contrived exactly for the last reason you gave re: The Women. It was the Carrie show and a giant version of Cinderella... just flat out depressing.
The best film for women this year (so far) is definitely Then She Found Me but actually the best female performance can be found in a little seen indie called Frozen River starring Melissa Leo that I'll be reviewing soon as well. Also, I'd highly recommend Turn the River which I reviewed recently as well. If you haven't seen it, I think you'd really dig the film.
7 - Mary
Hey Jen, I actually want to see "Then She Found Me". I didn't go to see "The Women" because I thought it was all about the female perspective. I actually wanted to see it because I thought I would get a good laugh and I did. There were a lot of funny lines in the movie and I have to say, the people in the theater were laughing pretty hard for a movie that was supposed to have been so bad. Now either I was in a room full of simpletons, or it was actually pretty funny. I can't tell you how many times I felt like I had wasted my money on a movie, and this wasn't one of them.
8 - Jen
Exactly-- it was a really nice, pleasant, and funny surprise! :)