Mighty Aphrodite (1995)

Director:

Woody Allen

Writer (WGA):

Woody Allen (written by)

Release Date:

11 January 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

The new comedy from Woody Allen

Plot:

When he discovers his adopted son is a genius, a New York sportswriter seeks out the boy's birth mother: a prostitute.

Plot Keywords:

New York | Adoption | Adultery | Sex | Greek Mythology

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 10 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Woody Allen	...	Lenny
F. Murray Abraham	...	Leader
Helena Bonham Carter	...	Amanda
Donald Symington	...	Amanda's Father
Claire Bloom	...	Amanda's Mother
Olympia Dukakis	...	Jocasta
Michael Rapaport	...	Kevin
Mira Sorvino	...	Linda Ash
David Ogden Stiers	...	Laius
Jack Warden	...	Tiresias
Peter Weller	...	Jerry Bender
Rosemary Murphy	...	Adoption Coordinator
Steven Randazzo	...	Bud
J. Smith-Cameron	...	Bud's Wife
Jeffrey Kurland	...	Oedipus

MPAA:

Rated R for language and sex-related material.

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR (Mono)

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:L | Netherlands:AL | Philippines:R-18 | Singapore:NC-16 | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Denmark:A | Finland:S | Hong Kong:IIB | Hungary:16 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:15 | USA:R | South Korea:18

Filming Locations:

5th Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Magnolia Pictures

Trivia:

One of the only Woody Allen films that differs in its style of credits. Despite the credits being set in the usual Windsor typeface, at the end of the film, they are superimposed on top of the chorus dancing. After the image fades to black, the credits scroll instead of being still.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: At Belmont Park, Linda calls Lenny (Woody Allen) "Woody."

Quotes:

Lenny Weinrib: I'm completely superfluous.
Kevin: Oh, you don't feel good?

Movie Connections:

References Pulp Fiction (1994)

Soundtrack:

Penthouse Serenade (When We're Alone)

How close to home do you want to get?

I have just watched Woody Allen's magnificent movie again for the first time in almost 10 years and am more convinced than ever that it is one of his most under-rated films (but then, how do you judge an artist - by his individual works or by the overall body of his work?). And if suddenly I feel I am getting too serious here, let's just say that this is a very funny film.

By now there is no escaping the fact that Woody Allen's films are largely autobiographical in that he uses what is happening in his own life to fuel his storylines. For an audience this is sometimes only apparent in hindsight as the tabloids are quick to exploit Woody's foibiles. But he beats us to it, and for that reason "Mighty Aphrodite" deals us a killer blow - it is very, very funny but in dealing with adoption, children and in marriages on the verge it is also very moving. I laughed till I cried (the juxtaposition of the Greek chorus with the contemporaneous is a brilliant device) and finally I just cried.

As to the movie itself, it is beautifully photographed and brilliantly edited (and with some inspired choreography) and acted to the highest order: (Helena Bonham-Carter standing in for Mia Farrow just as well as Kenneth Branagh stood in for the Woodmeister in "Celebrity" - and how incestuous can we get here). But the final word has to go to Mira Sorvino who is funny, touching and inspired. Sometimes (not often) the Academy gets it right and her Oscar was one of their finest hours.