Video Capsule: Mighty Aphrodite (5/10)

[JoBlo]

Mighty Aphrodite (1995)
Director: Woody Allen
Starring: Mira Sorvino, Woody Allen, Helena Bonham Carter

I'm not afraid to admit that I love Woody Allen. I love a lot of his earlier pictures like BANANAS, ANNIE HALL and even some of his later flicks like HUSBANDS AND WIVES and CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS, but his latest collection of movies (think 1995 onwards) has done little to impress me (except for SMALL TIME CROOKS, which was pretty funny). This film is a perfect example of Woody Allen...without his "touch".

The only thing that kinda saved this movie from being a total waste of time is the superb character, dialogue and acting displayed her from Mira Sorvino. She plays the ultimate bubblehead hooker with a big heart and soul who you just want to hug and dick, all at the same time. The character herself is actually pretty crude, but Sorvino's delivery, her sweet demeanor and the whole nurturing side of her, just wins you over (she also won over some Academy members as she took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress that year).

I was actually gonna shut this movie down until she came into the picture (which is about 30 minutes or so into it-- and it's a 90-minute movie overall). Allen tries this whole "Greek chorus" thing between some of the scenes which TOTALLY didn't work for me at all! (I know it was supposed to be "clever" or something, but I didn't think that it was one bit funny).

The whole musical number at the end of the movie was kinda "okay", but other than that, why the hell were those bozos even there? (other than to kill time and to creep me out with their masks).

Anyway, back to the story (the little bit that there actually was in this movie). This film is basically about Allen's character helping out another character who is lost in her life. It's kinda sweet and some of the moments between Allen and Sorvino are pretty funny, but what is this movie about in the end?! Not much. And not much humor either.

The lovely and talented Helena Bonham Carter is completely wasted in her role as Allen's wife (although nobody can smoke a cigarette quite like her!) and the rest of the cast is barely visible as the film revolves solely around the only interesting character, that is Sorvino's (trust me, she earns 4 out of the 5 points that I'm giving this film).

In the end, I was hoping that she would obviously take off her top, but it's a Woody Allen movie, so no luck there (she looks dang good anyway!).

Overall, I would definitely NOT recommend this movie to anyone who is NOT a Woody Allen fan in the least, and would barely recommend it to fans of his, only because of Sorvino's performance and because of the short skirts that she wears from scene to scene.

Other than that, I coulda killed that damn boring Greek chorus experiment on the side....ugh!! Here's an example of their so-called humorous quips:

I see disaster. I see catastrophe. Worse, I see lawyers!

Haha. Ugh.

[Mike]

It has been so long since I've seen this one, but I pretty much agree with everything you said. Mira Sorvino was great and is pretty much the only reason to watch this movie. She's certainly the best thing about it. She's beautiful and very talented. The whole thing with the greek chorus was lame and unfunny. There's really nothing to see here, other than another wonderful performance from the lovely Mira Sorvino.

I'd give it a 5/10 (C-), and most of that is because of Mira Sorvino.

[bob]

Rare movie we disagree on, Jo.

Now, I'm a huge fan of Woody Allen, and this is definitely a hilarious movie. Although the language is a bit jarring at first, you kinda get used to it. I think this movie is very funny, and pretty intelligent, too. I love to see Allen using new stuff, and the chorus is definitely original. The only thing I dislike is that Michael Rappaport has such a small part.

P.S. Do you think Kubrick was homaging this film with the final scene in Eyes Wide Shut? Or is it just a cosmic film coincidence?

[charliebobo]

This is probably my least favorite Woody Allen movie. Sorvino was great and some of the dialogues were very funny, but that's about it. Bonham-Carter was wasted in her role and the Greek chorus was nice at first but it soon became annoying

6/10

[wyodebbie]

"Might Aphrodite" succeeds for me basically because of the riot performance of Mira Sorvino playing against type as high pitched voice dumb hooker-porn actress with a sweet heart. I also enjoyed Woody Allen playing Lennie Winerib who is obsessed with finding the real birth mother of his five year old adopted son. The film is at it's best with scenes of Allen and Sorvino together, their first meeting at aparatment was a riot and a good piece of screenwriting and also liked their lunch scene where Allen says "six dates tonight, you must have the pencillin concession". However, the other aspects of the film, the Greek chorus, Helena-Bonham Carter, Peter Weller and Michael Rapaport were a total wash-out. I did love the look of the film, the sharpness and brightness of colors excellent. Sorvino definitely deserved her Oscar for best actress of her rendition of Judy Holiday as a hooker. I just focused on Allen and Sorvino and enjoyed their relationship.
Grade: 7/10 B