Picking Up the Pieces (2000)

A small New Mexican village discovers a severed hand that is considered a miracle of God, when it actually belongs to a murdered spouse with a husband in search of it.

Director:

Alfonso Arau

Writer:

Bill Wilson

Stars:

Woody Allen, David Schwimmer, Angélica Aragón

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Woody Allen	...	Tex Cowley
Sharon Stone	...	Candy Cowley
Maria Grazia Cucinotta	...	Desi
Cheech Marin	...	Mayor Machado
David Schwimmer	...	Father Leo Jerome
Kiefer Sutherland	...	Officer Bobo
Alfonso Arau	...	Dr. Amado
Danny De La Paz	...	Lalo Taxi Driver
Andy Dick	...	Father Buñuel
Fran Drescher	...	Sister Frida
Joseph Gordon-Levitt	...	Flaco
Elliott Gould	...	Father LaCage
Eddie Griffin	...	Sediento
Mía Maestro	...	Carla
Lupe Ontiveros	...	Constancia

Storyline

Woody Allen plays Tex, a kosher butcher. Sharon Stone plays his unfaithful wife Candy. Tex catches Candy in the act and in a fit of rage he kills her. To conceal his crime he cuts up her body and buries it in the desert in New Mexico. However, when her hand surfaces, a blind woman trips over it and it restores her sight. The hand is then considered to be the "hand of the Virgin." Despite the church's fallen priest objecting, the ambitious mayor of the town creates an international three-ring circus of miracle-seekers, TV crews, and born-again local prostitutes all interested in the hand. All of this goes on while Tex is desperately trying to recover the hand before the sheriff finds it and uses it as evidence against him.

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Plot Keywords:

uxoricide | mistaken for miracle | breasts growing | man wears eyeglasses | miracle | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Cheech Marin said this is the worst film he's done.

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Quotes

Father Leo: I'm sure the Virgin was wearing turquoise nail polish.

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Connections

References Stand by Me (1986)

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Soundtracks

Bad Corazon En Pedazos
Performed by Flaco Jiménez and his Band
Written by Ron Morales, M. Spindola

User Reviews

In Defense of Woody...

I am a big Woody Allen fan and greatly admire his early films, up to and including Annie Hall. The only two post A.H. films I have enjoyed are "Curse of the Jade Scorpion", and this one, "Picking Up the Pieces". There are moments of the old Woody here that have been missing in many of his more recent efforts. He should venture out of his "New York City comfort zone" more often. The movie is not perfect, and could / will offend some. I really liked the neon lighting, which in no small way reminds me of "Vamp". Do not let the one star ratings steer you away from "Picking Up the Pieces", because it is well worth a peek, and especially for those W.A. fans who yearn for the 1970s Woody. - MERK

Details

Official Sites:

Kushner-Locke Company [United States] Metropolitan Filmexport (French)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 August 2000 (France)

Also Known As:

First on Max

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Comala Films Productions, Ostensible Productions, The Kushner-Locke Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.00 : 1