Cast: Debra Winger, Gabriel Byrne, Barbara Hershey, David Strathairn, Chloe Webb, John Terry,
Laurie Metcalf
Director: Stephen Gyllenhall
Producer: Naomi Foner
Screenplay: Naomi Foner from the novel by Mary McGarry Morris
Cinematography: Robert Elswit
Music: Carter Burwell
U.S. Distributor: Gramercy Pictures
Martha (Debra Winger) is a child in an adult's body. Mentally and emotionally disabled, she clings to people and things like a parasite, and has clear notions of what's right and what's wrong. Unable to survive without supervision, she lives with her widowed aunt, Frances (Barbara Hershey), a wealthy woman who's carrying on an affair with the assemblyman she's trying to get re-elected (John Terry). One day, after the assemblyman's wife (Laurie Metcalf) drives her car through Frances' porch (she's annoyed at her husband's indiscretion), a little carpentry work is needed. Enter Mackey (Gabriel Byrne), a drunken drifter with a talent for wood who develops an attraction for Martha.
A Dangerous Woman is a dreary drama about the tragic life of a woman with severe mental and emotional handicaps. In its present form, this is one of the least appealing movies of the year. It's not especially poorly made, but neither is it a masterpiece of modern film making. A Dangerous Woman has little to hold the viewer's interest, and its tone is so relentlessly downbeat that, at times, it becomes unpleasant to watch.
Perhaps the biggest flaw is characterization. I never cared about any of the three principals (Martha, Mackey, and Frances). None felt real; consequently, their fates were of little concern. Martha is especially disappointing. She rings false not because of her limitations, but because of the manner in which those limitations are presented. Everything about them is too obvious -- she's a classic caricature of the disabled.
The script is more at fault than the actors. Barbara Hershey and Gabriel Byre don't excel here, but neither do they give horrible performances. On the other hand, Debra Winger goes overboard, making Mercedes Ruehl's Bella from Lost in Yonkers seem understated by comparison. A little restraint would made Martha more bearable.
The tone and pacing of A Dangerous Woman are problematic. The movie moves along sloooooowly, apparently going nowhere. When something actually happens, it's a surprise, but even the "big" events fail to generate much energy. The infrequent attempts at humor are bleak and unfunny, and a few "cute" scenes with Martha generate almost no emotional response from the audience.
There is also a huge missed opportunity. A Dangerous Woman has a chance to examine the issue of rape from an unusual perspective. Down this avenue lies the path of a potentially potent drama, but just as the film seems to be headed in the right direction, it takes a detour, and never gets back on track. All we're treated to after that is a mind-numbingly silly conclusion where suddenly everything is bright and glorious.
Somewhere in A Dangerous Woman lies an interesting story. The problem is, it's buried under too many layers of dross for more than a few hints of it to bubble to the surface. Production-wise, there have been many movies of far worse quality, but few match this one for lack of entertainment value.
© 1993, 1996 James Berardinelli