Passion Fish | | Cast : | Angela Bassett, Mary McDonnell, Alfre Woodard | | Director : | | | Studio : | Sony Pictures | | Format : | Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Widescreen, NTSC | | Released Date : | December 11, 1992 | | DVD Released Date : | March 30, 1999 | | Language : | Spanish (Dubbed), English (Original Language), French (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | September 07, 2005 | | Summary | A Passionate Movie | Content
 | It's nice to see two lead characters in a movie that are flawed and talk, act, and react like normal people. Even though the movie clocks in more than 2 hours, it didn't feel long. As a viewer I looked forward to the next scene not because I was anticipating a big revelation in the plot but because I was so taken by the story I want to know why they act the way they did.
The movie opens with Mary Mcdonell, who played a soap opera diva, in a hospital oblivious to the fact that she had a surgery due to a car accident that would make her unable to walk. She was assisted by numerous nurses but all of them quit because of her not so pleasant attitude. Then came Alfre Woodard, a spunky nurse who has a problem of her own. She was the only one who was able to handle Mary Mcdonnel. The relationship between the two women, who were living lives they never imagined to be living, is the heart and soul of the movie.
What I like about the movie is that it didn't resort to melodrama in order to tell the story in full punch. The ending did not resort to a quick resolution where both of the ladies' problems go away and the two leads suddenly become the best of friends. They would probably still face the same problems and they would still probably fight occasionally, but now they have a better perspective in looking at things and more important, they now acknowledge how each affect and help each other in the obvious ways and the not so obvious ways. It's a low key but beautiful ending as the movie ended with the two ladies in the boat facing each other in the sunset.
Grade: A- |
| Rating | | | Date | February 18, 2005 | | Summary | Intelligent Script and Great Performances | Content
| "Passion Fish" is one of those quiet, introspective movies that makes you involved without really even trying. John Sayles script is superb: he combines real situations with genuine emotion and avoids the overwrought melodrama that could have happened here. In addition, he gets top-flight performances by his cast. Mary McDonnell, who has never been better, delivers an intense, quiet performance that succeeds on all levels. Alfre Woodard, a superb Actress in anything she does, brings a subtle and real humanity to the role of a tortured nurse who finds peace with a tortured Diva. This is not a "Lifetime" movie but instead one that will stay with you for awhile |
| Rating | | | Date | July 29, 2003 | | Summary | Sayles Greatest? | Content
| An almost perfect drama, by turns funny and heartbreaking. Sayles avoids his usual tendency to try and tell too many stories at once, instead keeping the action focused on the female leads (whose performances I cannot praise enough.) Sayles uses a technique of unfolding the narrative in a series of vignettes (most shorter than one minute) keeps the movie solidly on track, and maintains the interest of the viewer throughout. |
| Rating | | | Date | March 27, 2003 | | Summary | Memorable | Content
| This was a memorable and poignant sleeper of a movie - and a very smart one too. It is a hopeful film about taking chances and getting on with life, a subtle message that permeates the movie. The chemistry between Mary McDonnell and Alfre Woodruff is incredible. Both play women trying to deal with their pasts and the difficulties of going forward; women who are dependent on each other and do not want to be. But life has forced both of them into this circumstance in the bayou country of Louisiana, an area not of either's choosing. The entire movie was well-acted and filmed...it was just a great viewing experience.I especially liked the way that May Alice was depicted interacting with all of the people in her past life. The scenery in Louisiana was gorgeous and the music was an extra-added treat. Worth viewing--several times! |
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