Alice (1990)

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Woody Allen's Alice stars Mia Farrow as a socialite with a failing marriage and untapped ambition who goes to a Chinese doctor of alternative medicines who plies her with magical herbs, which have a variety of effects and to my surprise, are not psychosomatic. Allen breaks the rule about Chekov's hypnotism wheel. While I really didn't need another adultery story from this director (especially in his contention that having affairs FIXES relationships), or such an on-the-nose stand-in for himself (Farrow is practically doing an Allen impression), the satire of New York's rich elite can be amusing. I especially like the locations chosen, which never look like what they're intended to be, at least to our middle class eyes. They match the ridiculousness of the Dr. Yang-driven plot. Lots of fun performances in guest roles and bit parts, of course, but Keye Luke as Yang, is a highlight, and you'll wish there was a companion film that told us just what was going on in his world that we just get glimpses of. Unfortunately, this was his last before he passed. 5 years ago