Aging Hollywood Star Meets Aging Hunk...
Added 6/2/2009
While watching an old Jane Fonda movie one night, I was reminded of this one - The Morning After - which I hadn't seen in awhile, nor had it been on Cable TV. So I promptly got on my trusty Internet and ordered it from Amazon. I was very pleased to have it now in DVD format (I'd previously owned the VHS version, which I sold at a garage sale. Alas!).
I was not disappointed when my treat arrived. I've always enjoyed watching both Jane Fonda and Jeff Bridges, and in this film, they are both "wounded people." He is a former cop, with a tarnished past, who lives in something like those old Quonset huts we used to see a lot - back in the day! - And drives a very old, somewhat rusty car.
Jane's character - Alex - is a fading, aging film star who can only be seen now on late-night TV. Her apartment is in one of those old 1920s Hollywood buildings that are reminiscent of the Golden Age of filmdom. Plus, she has a serious drinking problem.
Which brings us to the opening scenes, in which Jane's character wakes up in an urban loft next to a man, whom she can't remember, and who is very much DEAD. With a knife in his chest.
She scrambles to erase evidence of her presence, and then tries to flee. But she can't get a flight to SF, so in leaving her stalled car in the parking lot, she runs into Jeff Bridges' character. Ah, providence.
The rest of the movie follows the two rollicking and damaged characters as they try to piece together what happened to Jane's character while in a blackout - and solve the mystery.
Oh, and did I mention the Raul Julia character? One of Jane Fonda's character's "exes," he is a charming and conniving stylist to the stars. Fun to watch!
This is a great movie for anyone who loves watching anything about Hollywood and/or wounded souls.
Laurel-Rain Snow
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morning after
Added 5/2/2009
This is, indeed, one of Jane Fonda's better acting appearances. Its an interesting story,with good characterizations and cinematography, and Ms. Fonda happens to look even better out as the bleached out/Nordic blond aging actress as she does au naturel as the film closes -- she's talented, and also, in this film, especially vulnerable and sexy.
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Emotional Electricity
Added 1/20/2009
Sidney Lumet directed this film. I recalled it scaring me when I saw its theatrical release. As a director, Lumet received four Oscar nominations for directing "12 Angry Men" in 1957, "Dog Day Afternoon" in 1975, "Network" in 1976 & "The Verdict" in 1982. "The Morning After" is a mix of a character study of an almost famous actress, a crime thriller, a romance and a comedy. At times the pacing falls. However, for most of this film we are riveted by Jane Fonda's amazing performance, for which she was nominated for the Oscar. In 1986, Marlee Matlin would take the statue home for "Children of a Lesser God." I purchased this DVD to study Fonda's performance with the college film acting class I teach.
As Alex Sternbergen, we see one of Fonda's classic roles. Jane has an incredible gift for seeming to go in three opposite directions at once. Her emotional reactions are so dynamic, that she generates emotional electricity just by the sheer speed with which she zips from one reaction to another. Her skill is so breathtakingly quick that she remains unique, a style unto herself. In Fonda's Oscar-winning roles in "Klute" in 1971 and in "Coming Home" in 1978, we also see characters that are torn with conflict, both internal and external. In the scene where Fonda becomes inebriated, the actress remains tightly controlled as the character Alex's inhibitions are thrown to the wind. Jane Fonda is the reason to buy this DVD over two decades after its release.
Jeff Bridges has also been Oscar-nominated for his excellent performances in "The Last Picture Show," "Thunderbolt & Lightfoot," "Starman," & "The Contender." As the shell-shocked ex-cop Turner Kendall, he likes to fix broken things, which probably explains his attraction to Alex. One of the points of connection with this story is the ability Turner has to see value in things & people others throw away. The multi-colored automobile he drives is a perfect metaphor for the film.
Raul Julia, who won a Tony for his role in "The Threepenny Opera" and who would die of stomach cancer a few years after this film, turns in a good performance as Joaquin Manero, Alex's ex-husband, hairdresser. The series of betrayals that occur near the end of the film happen with dizzying speed as Lumet bounces rapidly from one plateau to another. It is also interesting to see future Oscar-winner Kathy Bates (Misery, 1990) in her fourth film play a small cameo as "Woman on Mateo Street." Diane Salinger plays Isabel Harding, the wealthy socialite who woos Joaquin. This is a good film with a stunning performance by Jane Fonda that should not be forgotten. Enjoy!
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Two Star's Removed for flippent stupid Racial Insensity to blacks, jews, italians you name it!
Added 6/29/2007
Given I love only three Jane Fonda Movies, Barbarella, China Syndrome and now The Morning After, this one seems the best of the three. Well sort of. Barbarella can not be beat when you are fater some weird over the top fun. Few movies can match Barbarella in its over the top goofyness. China Syndrome was well acted and pretty good all around. The Morning After has a "Funky 70's" burn out sort of feel to it. I like Morning after because I started out hating both characters and ended up so happy they both got together.
I like in this movie the sappy icky sweet ending one other reviewer seems to dislike. I like a movie that ends happily so you can imaging the two characters you have spent an hour investing in leave you with a hollywood happy ending pay off. The movies I hate are those that build the viewer up to hoping two partners or partner and side kick start building a life together. I hate the so called sophisticated endings more common in the newer generation of movies where the credits start rolling and the silly movie seems to have no resolution. Whats worse is many movies in so stupidly now its makes all the time you spend watching seem wasted.
This movie has a predictable ending but thats what makes it awesome to me. This movie was done right. I saw The Morning After on Chiller which repeats its movies to death so if you want to preview Morning After watch Chiller its bound to be on a couple dozen times in the near future.
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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Simply The Best: 5 Stars to Jane Fonda
Added 6/1/2007
This movie once again proves that Jane Fonda is simply the best actress alive today. She will always be remembered in the same way Bette Davis or Katherine Hepburn is remembered. Her performance here is stunning, and there is no doubt that she is the best thing about this film. I don't think Jane Fonda is capable of giving a bad performance, although her choices of film roles is sometimes questionable. Please Jane, try to find a role you can sink your acting teeth into like The Morning After, Klute, They Shoot Horses Don't They, and Coming Home. You were great in Monster-In-Law and Georgia Rule, but those movies are far behind your golden talent. Buy and watch The Morning After if you want to see how a classic actress can dominate the screen in every scene. Again, Jane Fonda is simply the best!
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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Aging Hollywood Star Meets Aging Hunk...
Added 6/2/2009
While watching an old Jane Fonda movie one night, I was reminded of this one - The Morning After - which I hadn't seen in awhile, nor had it been on Cable TV. So I promptly got on my trusty Internet and ordered it from Amazon. I was very pleased to have it now in DVD format (I'd previously owned the VHS version, which I sold at a garage sale. Alas!).
I was not disappointed when my treat arrived. I've always enjoyed watching both Jane Fonda and Jeff Bridges, and in this film, they are both "wounded people." He is a former cop, with a tarnished past, who lives in something like those old Quonset huts we used to see a lot - back in the day! - And drives a very old, somewhat rusty car.
Jane's character - Alex - is a fading, aging film star who can only be seen now on late-night TV. Her apartment is in one of those old 1920s Hollywood buildings that are reminiscent of the Golden Age of filmdom. Plus, she has a serious drinking problem.
Which brings us to the opening scenes, in which Jane's character wakes up in an urban loft next to a man, whom she can't remember, and who is very much DEAD. With a knife in his chest.
She scrambles to erase evidence of her presence, and then tries to flee. But she can't get a flight to SF, so in leaving her stalled car in the parking lot, she runs into Jeff Bridges' character. Ah, providence.
The rest of the movie follows the two rollicking and damaged characters as they try to piece together what happened to Jane's character while in a blackout - and solve the mystery.
Oh, and did I mention the Raul Julia character? One of Jane Fonda's character's "exes," he is a charming and conniving stylist to the stars. Fun to watch!
This is a great movie for anyone who loves watching anything about Hollywood and/or wounded souls.
Laurel-Rain Snow
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
morning after
Added 5/2/2009
This is, indeed, one of Jane Fonda's better acting appearances. Its an interesting story,with good characterizations and cinematography, and Ms. Fonda happens to look even better out as the bleached out/Nordic blond aging actress as she does au naturel as the film closes -- she's talented, and also, in this film, especially vulnerable and sexy.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Emotional Electricity
Added 1/20/2009
Sidney Lumet directed this film. I recalled it scaring me when I saw its theatrical release. As a director, Lumet received four Oscar nominations for directing "12 Angry Men" in 1957, "Dog Day Afternoon" in 1975, "Network" in 1976 & "The Verdict" in 1982. "The Morning After" is a mix of a character study of an almost famous actress, a crime thriller, a romance and a comedy. At times the pacing falls. However, for most of this film we are riveted by Jane Fonda's amazing performance, for which she was nominated for the Oscar. In 1986, Marlee Matlin would take the statue home for "Children of a Lesser God." I purchased this DVD to study Fonda's performance with the college film acting class I teach.
As Alex Sternbergen, we see one of Fonda's classic roles. Jane has an incredible gift for seeming to go in three opposite directions at once. Her emotional reactions are so dynamic, that she generates emotional electricity just by the sheer speed with which she zips from one reaction to another. Her skill is so breathtakingly quick that she remains unique, a style unto herself. In Fonda's Oscar-winning roles in "Klute" in 1971 and in "Coming Home" in 1978, we also see characters that are torn with conflict, both internal and external. In the scene where Fonda becomes inebriated, the actress remains tightly controlled as the character Alex's inhibitions are thrown to the wind. Jane Fonda is the reason to buy this DVD over two decades after its release.
Jeff Bridges has also been Oscar-nominated for his excellent performances in "The Last Picture Show," "Thunderbolt & Lightfoot," "Starman," & "The Contender." As the shell-shocked ex-cop Turner Kendall, he likes to fix broken things, which probably explains his attraction to Alex. One of the points of connection with this story is the ability Turner has to see value in things & people others throw away. The multi-colored automobile he drives is a perfect metaphor for the film.
Raul Julia, who won a Tony for his role in "The Threepenny Opera" and who would die of stomach cancer a few years after this film, turns in a good performance as Joaquin Manero, Alex's ex-husband, hairdresser. The series of betrayals that occur near the end of the film happen with dizzying speed as Lumet bounces rapidly from one plateau to another. It is also interesting to see future Oscar-winner Kathy Bates (Misery, 1990) in her fourth film play a small cameo as "Woman on Mateo Street." Diane Salinger plays Isabel Harding, the wealthy socialite who woos Joaquin. This is a good film with a stunning performance by Jane Fonda that should not be forgotten. Enjoy!
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