The Morning After
...can be murder
Who's the guy lying next to her? How did they meet? All Alex knows is that he's as dead as a toe-tagged John Doe. "He had a heart attack?" Alex's ex asks over the phone. "From a knife in the chest," she retorts.
Two-time Academy Award winner Jane Fonda earned her seventh Oscar nomination as Alex, an alcoholic has-been actress cast in the real-life role of Suspect #1. Panicked at facing the police, Alex runs for it right into the battered convertible of a washed-up former cop (Jeff Bridges). Their uneasy alliance draws them nearer each other and closer to the startling truth behind the murder. Director Sidney Lumet (The Verdict) draws strong performances from his leads and an ensemble that includes Raul Julia and Kathy Bates. The murder happened the night before. But the real mystery begins The Morning After.
Member Reviews
God this was bad - sal33
Although the film starts with a bang it quickly became a fizzle.
The story meandered all over the place, had unbelievable twists, bad acting from Jane Fonda and the sole redeeming part was Jeff Bridges but he could do nothing with this pedestrian effort from his leading lady, writer & director.a disappointment - story1
This is a decent murder-mystery but nothing more. And with a director like Lumet and the leads played by Jane Fonda and Jeff Bridges I certainly expected more. It's difficult to fathom how Jane Fonda could have been nominated for an Academy Award for this. (Although it's difficult to fathom the Academy Award nominations period, at times)She is unconvincing especially up against Jeff Bridges. The script is pedestrian, the tension minimal, the whole thing very dated.A Lesser Known Lumet Classic - xYJx
Yes it's true, this film is not nearly as good as Lumet's Klute, Verdict, Dog Day, Network or 12 Angry Men, however, if you're looking to explore other facets of the director's filmography, this would be a great starting ground. TMA and Pawnbroker are two lesser known, but equally strong films by Sidney Lumet. He shows a strong side to the thriller, while keeping a foot firmly planted in melodrama (yes, there is a difference between the genres). Definitely worth a viewing.
Member Reviews
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God this was bad - sal33
Although the film starts with a bang it quickly became a fizzle.
The story meandered all over the place, had unbelievable twists, bad acting from Jane Fonda and the sole redeeming part was Jeff Bridges but he could do nothing with this pedestrian effort ...a disappointment - story1
This is a decent murder-mystery but nothing more. And with a director like Lumet and the leads played by Jane Fonda and Jeff Bridges I certainly expected more. It's difficult to fathom how Jane Fonda could have been nominated for an Academy Award for this. ...A Lesser Known Lumet Classic - xYJx
Yes it's true, this film is not nearly as good as Lumet's Klute, Verdict, Dog Day, Network or 12 Angry Men, however, if you're looking to explore other facets of the director's filmography, this would be a great starting ground. TMA and Pawnbroker are two ...