Twice in a Lifetime (B+ or 3/4 stars)
Bud Yorkin's 1985 drama 'Twice in a Lifetime' is an excellent slice-of-life drama starring the great Gene Hackman as Harry Mackenzie, a 50 yr. old married steel mill worker in a small rural town who hits a mid-life crisis, falls in love with a local barmaid, Audrey Minnelli (Ann-Margret), subsequently leaves his long-time wife, Kate (Ellen Burstyn), & then clashes with his grown-up children, Sunny & Helen (a fiery Amy Madigan & sweet Ally Sheedy). The superb actors - Amy Madigan was even nominated for an Academy Award, here - tap into all the elements that lead to a seemingly secure family's upheaval and make this move an extremely affecting drama. Others in the cast include Brian Dennehy, Stephen Lang & Darrell Larson.
One of the strengths of the film is that we get to understand so many points of view. Harry has not simply dumped his devastated wife for some sexpot; sure, Audrey has had her share of men, but runs her life with a frank, yet quiet realism. Harry loves Audrey, & vice-versa. And it is fairly apparent - through the expertly nuanced performances of Hackman & Burstyn - that both passion & growth has left their marriage. We see how uncomfortable he has become when alone with his wife {he loves her, but the fire is gone}, and she is either oblivious to the distance btwn. them or comes up with excuses. Audrey's presence in Harry's life made him see the lack of passion in his marriage, and Burstyn comes around in time to see that she can also move-on.
To that, we see that yes, he does deserve a 2nd chance with someone; and that hopefully ... Kate can do the very same thing once the anger dissipates. The most complicated character in the film is Amy Madigan's angry daughter, Sunny. Sure, she bitterly resents that her father has done this to her sweet mother, but she's also on edge about her out-of-work husband; feeling trapped by her marriage & young kids. And she's also irked that her younger sister - who was set for college to make a future for herself - has decided to rush into her own hasty marriage. It is a big balancing act for Sunny to control her boiling emotions concerning her mom, dad & sister and, Madigan just nails it. We may not like Sunny all that much, but we 'get her'.
Hackman & Ann-Margret's characters are complex, as well. Sure, they are attracted to each other sexually, but they're also attracted by the promise of a new life ahead of them together. Before meeting each other, they went about their humdrum lives having no idea what was just around the corner for each of them. As for Kate, while she is initially blindsided by her husband leaving her and lost, she picks up the pieces, gets a job, changes her personal style, and realizes that she, too, may have been somewhat trapped by the passionless marriage; that being the dutiful wife & mother would be ... it.
'Twice in a Lifetime' does not have the conventional happy ending that we've all become accustomed to in similar films. Nothing bad happens. But there is quiet resolution, sobering poignancy, & forthrightness in how they'll all exist moving forward -- life will go on. There are some stand-out acting scenes; several include confrontations btwn. father & daughter. To this, the film shows how much children expect from their parents, and learning that parents are, in fact, human beings who can be fallible; they are not always superheroes rushing-in to save the day, but rather, vulnerable examples of humanity. With sharply personal observations on life, sharp humor & stellar performances, 'Twice in a Lifetime' took me by surprise.
One of the strengths of the film is that we get to understand so many points of view. Harry has not simply dumped his devastated wife for some sexpot; sure, Audrey has had her share of men, but runs her life with a frank, yet quiet realism. Harry loves Audrey, & vice-versa. And it is fairly apparent - through the expertly nuanced performances of Hackman & Burstyn - that both passion & growth has left their marriage. We see how uncomfortable he has become when alone with his wife {he loves her, but the fire is gone}, and she is either oblivious to the distance btwn. them or comes up with excuses. Audrey's presence in Harry's life made him see the lack of passion in his marriage, and Burstyn comes around in time to see that she can also move-on.
To that, we see that yes, he does deserve a 2nd chance with someone; and that hopefully ... Kate can do the very same thing once the anger dissipates. The most complicated character in the film is Amy Madigan's angry daughter, Sunny. Sure, she bitterly resents that her father has done this to her sweet mother, but she's also on edge about her out-of-work husband; feeling trapped by her marriage & young kids. And she's also irked that her younger sister - who was set for college to make a future for herself - has decided to rush into her own hasty marriage. It is a big balancing act for Sunny to control her boiling emotions concerning her mom, dad & sister and, Madigan just nails it. We may not like Sunny all that much, but we 'get her'.
Hackman & Ann-Margret's characters are complex, as well. Sure, they are attracted to each other sexually, but they're also attracted by the promise of a new life ahead of them together. Before meeting each other, they went about their humdrum lives having no idea what was just around the corner for each of them. As for Kate, while she is initially blindsided by her husband leaving her and lost, she picks up the pieces, gets a job, changes her personal style, and realizes that she, too, may have been somewhat trapped by the passionless marriage; that being the dutiful wife & mother would be ... it.
'Twice in a Lifetime' does not have the conventional happy ending that we've all become accustomed to in similar films. Nothing bad happens. But there is quiet resolution, sobering poignancy, & forthrightness in how they'll all exist moving forward -- life will go on. There are some stand-out acting scenes; several include confrontations btwn. father & daughter. To this, the film shows how much children expect from their parents, and learning that parents are, in fact, human beings who can be fallible; they are not always superheroes rushing-in to save the day, but rather, vulnerable examples of humanity. With sharply personal observations on life, sharp humor & stellar performances, 'Twice in a Lifetime' took me by surprise.