The Morning After (1986) 5.7
A woman wakes up next to a murdered man. Did she do it herself, and if not, is she in danger herself? Director:Sidney LumetWriter:James Cresson |
|
| 0Share... |
The Morning After (1986) 5.7
A woman wakes up next to a murdered man. Did she do it herself, and if not, is she in danger herself? Director:Sidney LumetWriter:James Cresson |
|
| 0Share... |
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Jane Fonda | ... | ||
| Jeff Bridges | ... | ||
| Raul Julia | ... |
Joaquin Manero
|
|
| Diane Salinger | ... |
Isabel Harding
|
|
|
|
Richard Foronjy | ... |
Sergeant Greenbaum
|
|
|
Geoffrey Scott | ... |
Bobby Korshack
|
|
|
James 'Gypsy' Haake | ... |
Frankie
|
| Kathleen Wilhoite | ... |
Red
|
|
|
|
Don Hood | ... |
Hurley
|
|
|
Fran Bennett | ... |
Airline Clerk
|
|
|
Michael Flanagan | ... |
Airline Supervisor
|
| Bruce Vilanch | ... |
Bartender
|
|
|
|
Michael Prince | ... |
Mr. Harding
|
|
|
Frances Bergen | ... |
Mrs. Harding
|
|
|
José Angel Santana | ... |
Driver
(as José Santana)
|
Alex Sternberg wakes up with a hangover and no memory of how she ended up in bed with a dead man. She flees, convinced that she has had another blackout and stabbed someone. Her only support, Turner, an ex cop and recovering alcoholic who is unsympathetic to her plight. She could believe that it is as simple as a violent act committed while drunk, except that the body keeps re-appearing. Written by John Vogel <jlvogel@comcast.net>
THE MORNING AFTER is one of those films that begins with an intriguing opening--JANE FONDA wakes up in bed next to a murdered man and, because she was in an alcoholic daze, can't remember even entering the man's apartment. So far, so good. Nice hook to draw the viewer in.
But as the story unwinds, it becomes clear that the writers ran out of material for a substantial story about midway through. The weaknesses are offset somewhat by the good performance of JEFF BRIDGES as a helpful policeman who agrees to help Fonda solve the who-dun-it aspect of her plight.
It's all beautifully staged and photographed in a sunlit Los Angeles and worth watching for the performances alone. Fonda is at her best as the worried alcoholic who refuses to believe she could have committed the crime and Bridges provides some good chemistry as a co-star.
But the ending (with its revelation) is a bit disappointing after all the build-up to a conclusion. RAOUL JULIA and KATHY BATES have minor roles but the weak ending is hard to dismiss.
Fonda won an Oscar nomination and deserved it for creating a dimensional character in a story thin on believable characters.