Alice (DVD 2001) (0027616862655)

Alice Tate (Mia Farrow) is a rich Manhattan wife who spends her days shopping getting pedicures going to the salon working out with her personal trainer and seeing her chiropractor. But when she can't get rid of her back pain she goes to an Asian herbalist (the wonderful Keye Luke in his final performance) who gives her special herbs to cure what's really ailing her. Reluctantly she takes these magical potions which open up a whole new world for her releasing her inner self making her invisible and allowing her to see dead ex-boyfriends. She begins to regret having given up her career in the theater and considers becoming a writer. Meanwhile she is getting involved in a serious flirtation with Joe Ruffalo (Joe Mantegna) a divorced saxophone player who is drawn to her while her very rich very practical husband Doug (William Hurt) continues to treat her as not-too-bright window dressing belittling her and discouraging her attempts to become more independent. But the thought of having an affair terrifies her--and intrigues her. Beautifully photographed by Carlo di Palma with a wonderful set design by Santo Loquasto Woody Allen's ALICE is a smart comic exploration of a woman rediscovering herself trying to find out what happened to all of her dreams.