Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore: Quiet Scorsese

Forgive the brevity of this one—my friend and podcast co-host Sam has been visiting for a couple days. Lots of fun means exhaustion on the other side. I did, however, recently get a chance to watch Martin Scorsese’s Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974).

This is not mobster Scorsese, nor is it even him at work in New York or its suburbs. Alice is more like Wanda (1970) or A Woman Under the Influence (1974). The film is quiet, even domestic, a study in one woman’s constrained, sad life. Her abusive husband passes away; she used to sing—why not try it again? Alice (Ellen Burstyn) drags along her very annoying son. She meets more abusive men (including a young Harvey Keitel!), tries out a semi-stable relationship (with Kris Kristofferson), and dreams of a bigger, better life.

This one isn’t just for Scorsese completionists. He’s in a whole other mode.

Check it out. I’m going to bed.