When a Man Loves a Woman (1994)

The seemingly perfect relationship between a man and his wife is tested as a result of her alcoholism.

Director:

Luis Mandoki

Writers:

Ronald Bass, Al Franken

Stars:

Meg Ryan, Andy Garcia, Ellen Burstyn

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Andy Garcia	...	Michael Green
Meg Ryan	...	Alice Green
Ellen Burstyn	...	Emily
Tina Majorino	...	Jess Green
Mae Whitman	...	Casey Green
Lauren Tom	...	Amy
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Gary
Eugene Roche	...	Walter
Gail Strickland	...	Pam
Steven Brill	...	Madras Tie Guy
Susanna Thompson	...	Janet
Erinn Canavan	...	Shannon
LaTanya Richardson Jackson	...	Dr. Gina Mendez (as Latanya Richardson)
Bari K. Willerford	...	Malcolm
James Jude Courtney	...	Earl

Storyline

The seemingly perfect relationship between a man and his wife is tested as a result of her alcoholism.

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Plot Keywords:

addiction | airline pilot | alcoholism | self centeredness | jealousy | 

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Taglines:

What Love Built A Secret Could Destroy...

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Vietnamese

Release Date:

13 May 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Significant Other

Filming Locations:

1516 Masonic Ave, San Francisco, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$50,021,959

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie was based on ten pages of notes written by Orson Welles.

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Goofs

It is a myth that vodka is not detectable on the breath. If Alice were indeed drinking a quart a day her husband, and everyone near her, would have smelled it.

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Quotes

Alice Green: I think I could love you again if you could, for once, say 'I don't know.'

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Crazy Credits

As the end credits roll, we see people socializing at an A.A. meeting.

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Connections

Referenced in Frasier: When a Man Loves Two Women (1999)

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Soundtracks

I'm a Good Man
Written by Robert Cray and Dennis Walker
Performed by Robert Cray
Courtesy of Mercury Records
By Arrangement with PolyGram Special Markets

User Reviews

A Great Movie that is Hard to Watch

I first saw this movie in the theater when it came out. I remember feeling frustrated. I watched it again last night on satellite and decided this really is a great movie, but it is hard to watch. It is a very real love story, but don't confuse that as meaning it is a typical romantic story.

Meg Ryan and Andy Garcia play a couple definitely in love, but struggling with their relationship after Meg Ryan's character comes back from detox. Instead of being cured, she is confused and they realize there is a wedge that comes from an experience they can't share. She has AA friends that her husband can't relate to, but she needs someone who can understand and her husband isn't it.

One mark of great writing is when the characters are not saintly or demonic, but shades of grey. Andy Garcia's character is a really nice guy, but he's not saintly. He resorts to sarcasm out of his frustration in not being able to help his wife. Of course, she doesn't want his help, she wants his understanding. She is basically a good person, but she can't sort through her feelings and ends up being unknowingly cruel to her husband.

After one scene, my wife stated, "Now HE frustrated me". I said, "I was frustrated too, but BY HER". This movie really pegs male and female relationships.

Superbly written, superbly acted. It hurts to watch it, but a movie that can evoke real emotion and not pander to the audience with contrived plot lines is a great movie. THIS is a great movie.