A Woman Under the Influence

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A Woman Under the Influence

R

Released Oct 10, 1974

2h 35m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

35 Reviews

91%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Mabel Longhetti (Gena Rowlands), desperate and lonely, is married to a Los Angeles municipal construction worker, Nick (Peter Falk). Increasingly unstable, especially in the company of others, she craves happiness, but her extremely volatile behavior convinces Nick that she poses a danger to their family and decides to commit her to an institution for six months. Alone with a trio of kids to raise on his own, he awaits her return, which holds more than a few surprises.

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Critics Consensus

Electrified by searing performances from Gena Rowlands and Peter Falk, A Woman Under the Influence finds pioneering independent filmmaker John Cassavetes working at his artistic peak.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

Cassavetes has gone so far over to the most literal-minded Laing position that the society he shows us is implausible -- a society of boorish people with such limited awareness that they're barely human.

Sep 27, 2023

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Adam Kempenaar

Filmspotting

'Be yourself,' Nick implores Mabel. But how do you be yourself if you have no longer have a self?

Rated: 4.5/5

Mar 2, 2019

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Cassavetes makes the viewer's frustration work as part of the film's expressiveness; it has an emotional rhythm unlike anything else I've ever seen.

Feb 7, 2019

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Jack Kapica

Montreal Gazette

Not a scene is wasted in 2 hours and 30 minutes of drama, and it is pure joy to watch such accomplished actors work with all the time they need for fully fleshed performances.

Oct 11, 2023

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Regarded by some as John Cassavetes’ masterpiece, it’s also not a bad place for Cassavetes newcomers to start.

Rated: A

Nov 29, 2022

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Wael Khairy

The Cinephile Fix

John Cassavetes’ most revered film, “A Woman Under the Influence”, is one of cinema’s exemplary works of realism.

Oct 14, 2022

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Dallas H

The pacing is way too drawn out. For me, the emotional weight could have been sufficiently made in an hour and forty-five to a max of two hours, but not at two and a half hours. A few of the scenes felt like they were relentlessly long. My good heavens was Peter Falk's character an A-grade selfish asshole that pushes Gena Rowlands's character into the deep end of the insanity pool with the extreme amount of stress he places on her with all his yelling. It was tangibly evident when she returned from her six months at the mental health institution.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/17/24

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Rare T

A Woman Under the Influence has some of the greatest acting one could see, especially from Gena Rowlands, but that’s about it. It could’ve delved into other subplots to keep the viewer engaged, instead of relying solely on one and the same idea, especially that it spawns for about 150 minutes. This movie is not made for everyone, but rather for those with patience. If you don’t like slow-paced movies, then you most probably won’t enjoy this one - without denying its cultural significance.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

09/10/24

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Scott M

Didn't enjoy it. The acting is atrocious. The dialog is embarrassing. I think Cassavetes wanted them to improv most of their lines. That's a mistake because they sucked at it.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

05/16/24

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Alec B

A punishing viewing experience but that's why it has always lingered in the background of the cultural discourse for so long. Well that and the unflinching performances.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/22/24

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Dani G

Easily, they could have cut about 45 minutes of film, and maybe I would have considered it near worth of the status it has. Some very long scenes that didn't told anything. At least anything interesting. A good, serious theme that could have been treated in a very much better way.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

08/26/23

Full Review

Dani G

Easily, they could have cut about 45 minutes of film, and maybe I would have considered it near worth of the status it has. Some very long scenes that didn't told anything. At least anything interesting. A good, serious theme that could have been treated in a very much better way.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

08/26/23

Full Review

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John Cassavetes

Director

Gena Rowlands

Mabel Longhetti

Peter Falk

Nick Longhetti

Katherine Cassavetes

Mama Longhetti

Lady Rowlands

Martha Mortensen

Fred Draper

George Mortensen

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A Woman Under the Influence: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Mabel Longhetti (Gena Rowlands), desperate and lonely, is married to a Los Angeles municipal construction worker, Nick (Peter Falk). Increasingly unstable, especially in the company of others, she craves happiness, but her extremely volatile behavior convinces Nick that she poses a danger to their family and decides to commit her to an institution for six months. Alone with a trio of kids to raise on his own, he awaits her return, which holds more than a few surprises.

Director: John Cassavetes
Producer: Sam Shaw
Distributor: Touchstone Pictures
Production Co: Faces
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 10, 1974, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 29, 2011
Runtime: 2h 35m

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