When a Man Loves a Woman

Director: Luis Mandoki

Overview

Luis Mandoki's addiction drama When a Man Loves a Woman comes to DVD with a widescreen transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. An English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Surround and a French soundtrack has been recorded in Dolby Digital Stereo. There are no subtitles, but the English soundtrack is closed-captioned. Supplemental materials are limited to the theatrical trailer. Disney/Buena Vista has done a fair job on this release. The film looks and sounds fine, but there is nothing outstanding about the DVD.

Product Details

Release Date:	02/15/2000
UPC:	0717951005465
Original Release:	1994
Rating:	R
Source:	Walt Disney Video
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital, stereo]
Time:	2:06:00
Sales rank:	1,785

Special Features

Theatrical trailer; French-language track; 2.0 Dolby Surround; Widescreen [1.85:1]

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Andy Garcia	Michael Green
Meg Ryan	Alice Green
Lauren Tom	Amy
Philip Seymour Hoffman	Gary
Tina Majorino	Jess Green
Ellen Burstyn	Emily
Mae Whitman	Casey Green
Eugene Roche	Walter
LaTanya Richardson	Dr. Gina Mendez
Garth Craven	Actor
Al Franken	Actor
Amanda Mackey-Johnson	Actor
Cathy Sandrich	Actor
Gail Strickland	Pam
Bari K. Willerford	Malcolm
James Courtney	Earl
Tony Montero	Bartender
William Frankfather	Al-Anon Leader
Ellen Geer	Woman at Al-Anon
Ronald Bass	AA Man #1
Joe Drago	AA Man #2
Andrew Magarian	AA Man #3
Brandis Kemp	AA Woman #3
Richard Bradford	Actor
Steven Brill	Madras Tie Guy
Susanna Thompson	Janet

Technical Credits

Luis Mandoki	Director
Jon Avnet	Producer
Linda M. Bass	Costumes/Costume Designer
Ronald Bass	Executive Producer,Screenwriter
Thomas D. Causey	Sound/Sound Designer
Garth Craven	Editor
Steve Danton	Asst. Director
C. Tad Devlin	Co-producer
Al Franken	Producer,Screenwriter
Frank Holgate	Cinematographer
Jordan Kerner	Producer
Lajos Koltai	Cinematographer
Kara Lindstrom	Set Decoration/Design
Amanda Mackey-Johnson	Casting
Simon Maslow	Producer
Susan Merzbach	Co-producer
Salli Newman	Associate Producer
Zbigniew Preisner	Score Composer
Steven A. Saklad	Art Director
Cathy Sandrich	Casting
Susan Shilliday	Screenwriter
Stan Tropp	Set Decoration/Design
Stuart Wurtzel	Production Designer

Scene Index

Side #1 --
0. Chapter Selection
1. Program Start/Opening Credits [1:52]
2. Anniversary Dinner [1:52]
3. Pressures [2:59]
4. Grandpa & Grandma [2:04]
5. A Scare [2:04]
6. Middle-Of-The-Night Episode [1:29]
7. One Day After Work [8:12]
8. Alice Tells Her Secret [2:45]
9. Treatment Center Check-In [3:03]
10. Breakfast With The Girls [3:48]
11. Alice Calls Micheal [4:31]
12. Smashing Bottles [5:09]
13. A Visit To Mommy [4:49]
14. Family Out Of Control [2:51]
15. Begging [4:01]
16. A Reassuring Talk [3:38]
17. Overly Attentive [3:09]
18. Counseling Session [6:59]
19. An Uncomfortable Situation [4:37]
20. Trying To Be Real [2:01]
21. "Everybody Hurts" Montage [5:46]
22. Al-Anon Meeting [4:14]
23. Taken Unawares [5:02]
24. Bye, Baby [6:19]
25. AA Meeting/A Second Chance [10:37]
26. End Credits [2:12]

Menu

Side #1 --
   Set Up
      Spoken Language
      Captions
   Bonus Material
      Theatrical Trailer
      Film Recommendations
   Play

Editorial Reviews

Luis Mandoki's exploration of a woman's struggle with alcoholism and the effect of the disease on her family is a thoughtful variation on an overly familiar theme. Meg Ryan stars as the woman whose long-concealed drinking habit worsens, threatening her marriage and family life. While acknowledging the significance of the grueling recovery process, the film instead concentrates on the difficulties of the woman's loving and attentive husband (Andy Garcia) in coming to grips with his now partially recovered wife, who had previously taken a more passive role in their marriage. Employing two such attractive stars and placing them in idyllic surroundings might seem a typical Hollywood tactic to soften a painful tale, but it also functions as a reminder that no one is immune from such suffering. As Garcia attempts to relinquish his authoritarian role, the film transcends the issue of alcoholism, and the couple begin the difficult process of honest communication which lies at the heart of any marriage. Ryan avoids excess and melodrama in the creation of a moving and credible character, and Garcia is also excellent as the "in-control" airline pilot learning to navigate a new emotional territory.

All Movie Guide - Michael Costello