"Husbands and Wives", 1992

Producers: Robert Greenhut, Jack Rollins & Charles H. Joffe
Screenplay: Woody Allen
Cinematography: Carlo Di Palma
Production Designer: Santo Loquasto
Costume: Jeffey Kurland
Editor: Susan E. Morse
Cast:
Woody Allen - Gabe Roth
Judy Davis - Sally
Mia Farrow - Judy Roth
Juliette Lewis - Rain
Liam Neeson - Michael
Sydney Pollack - Jack
Lysette Anthony - Sam
Blythe Danner - Rain's mother
Ron Rifkin - Rain's psychoanalyst
Benno Schmidt - Judy's ex-husband
Jeffery Kurland - interviewer


"Husbands and Wives" I remember as one of the first Woody Allen films I saw at home, probably on VHS! Despite the subject matter I watched it with my Dad, at 16 or 17 years old and found it as funny as he did. Funny in the everyday 'slice of life' sense. I just got it, and it didn't matter that I hand never been married. It was the way the couples talked, their ever present neurosis that I could identify with even at that young age.
Having been in love with a complex character from high-school, who I probably didn't even know I was "in love" with, may have had something to do with my inherent understanding...or in some way, finding the material up on screen familiar. The arguments, drama, and reconciliation. People presented not as perfect handsome or beautiful characters but as those with faults and foibles.

Particularly ridiculous moment:
When the character Jack, played by Sydney Pollack is separated from his wife, Sally played by Judy Davis, goes out with a much younger esoteric yoga instructor Sam, who is into crystals and such. Jack makes a hell of a scene when at a party at his friends place, he begins to find Sam's fluffy banter embarrassing. He literally drags her out of the party. It is a killer piece of writing and hilarious on screen.

Another bizarre and funny moment:
Sally, Jack's wife, is laying in bed with the handsome architect (Liam Neeson) she has scored with, and goes thru a list of persons she is close to and compares each to their animal likeness, that of fox or hedgehog. Yes, it's a monologue and Judy Davis is amazing in her delivery.

In the Stig Bjorkman book, " Woody Allen on Woody Allen" 1993, there is a chapter on Husbands and Wives in which WA in reference to the film is quoted as saying "...I like real people and real situations and human life unfolding."