This is probably Scorsese's only film told from a woman's point of view. Men should like it too, however, as it's a sympathetic character study with a very strong performance by Oscar-winner Ellen Burstyn as a suddenly widowed woman who tries to put the pieces together for herself and her 11-year-old son. Strongest scenes are those in which Burstyn makes the round of sleazy bars looking for a job as a singer, and the later scenes where she takes a job as a waitress in a bursting-with-life Arizona cafe (these scenes gave birth to the TV sitcom "Alice.") There's a host of typically Scorsesian supporting characters. Especially good are Harvey Keitel as a violent suitor, Diane Lane as a co-worker, and a very young Jodie Foster as a larcenous kid.
All in all, this is an excellent comedy/drama, though more memorable for its highlights than its overall impact.
All in all, this is an excellent comedy/drama, though more memorable for its highlights than its overall impact.
