Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
![]() |
Pamela Blair | ... | Greek Chorus |
![]() |
Rene Ceballos | ... | Greek Chorus (as René Ceballos) |
![]() |
Elie Chaib | ... | Greek Chorus |
George De La Pena | ... | Greek Chorus | |
![]() |
Joanne DiMauro | ... | Greek Chorus |
Denise Faye | ... | Greek Chorus | |
Marian Filali | ... | Greek Chorus (as Marianne Filali) | |
![]() |
Angelo Fraboni | ... | Greek Chorus |
![]() |
Scott Fowler | ... | Greek Chorus |
![]() |
Seth Gertsacov | ... | Greek Chorus |
![]() |
Patti Karr | ... | Greek Chorus |
![]() |
Fred Mann III | ... | Greek Chorus |
![]() |
John Mineo | ... | Greek Chorus |
![]() |
Christopher Nelson | ... | Greek Chorus |
![]() |
Valda Setterfield | ... | Greek Chorus |
Lenny and Amanda have an adopted son Max who turns out to be brilliant. Lenny becomes obsessed with finding Max's real parents because he believes that they too must be brilliant. When he finds that Linda Ash is Max' real mother, Lenny is disappointed. Linda is a prostitute and porn star. On top of that, she is quite possibly the dumbest person Lenny has ever met. Interwoven is a Greek chorus linking the story with the story of Oedipus. Written by Jason Ihle <jrihl@conncoll.edu>
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.