Une femme dangereuse

Debra Winger is at her most mercurial portraying a mentally-challenged woman who becomes involved in a murder. This adaptation of Mary McGarry Morris' novel is difficult viewing--mainly because the protagonist can be such a handful--though director Stephen Gyllenhaal lends the material an intense, compelling flourish, and the results are ideal for audiences interested in something left of center. Gyllenhaal, who was creating quite a resume for himself in the mid-1990s before eventually turning to TV (our loss), bulldozes right through the screenplay's messy structure and barrage of hot-headed characters, and he's very sensitive when handling magnetic Winger, who does remarkable work. Incredible supporting cast includes Barbara Hershey, Gabriel Byrne, Chloe Webb, David Strathairn, Jan Hooks and Laurie Metcalf. ** from ****

Martha Horgan, a naive woman with an intellectual impairment who lives with her aunt Frances in a small town, is known for always telling the truth. She works at a dry cleaner, where her compulsive truth-telling leads her to report to the boss that another employee has been stealing from the cash register.

Janet Maslin wrote, "A Dangerous Woman is soap opera... With Ms. Winger's eerily convincing performance as its centerpiece, the film creates a world of sexual chicanery that would do any television series proud... The film has been given an appealingly languid and intimate mood by the director, Stephen Gyllenhaal." This is pretty much it. Winger does a fine job in the lead role, but she seems to be too good for the movie they have put her in. The plot is not very exciting, and once we get to a point where it has potential everything is already winding down. Gabriel Byrne is a good actor, but does not seem to be really giving much effort here. Did this have a theatrical release? It seems more like a made-for-cable movie.

It was not as good as the book but at least the ending was more clear in the movie than in the book. Barbra Hershey is a great actress! She did a great job at the role she played, so did Martha (Debra). Although, in the book they described her as a girl with normal intelligence with a mental illness, the movie shows her as mentally challenged. So when I saw the movie, Martha was totally different than how I pictured her when I read the book. The story line was sad but interesting. Its interesting and touching to see how a girl could not lye even to save herself. What they did not mention in the story, which bugged me,was the fact that, Gesto was hurting Martha, which I thought could have made it self-defense. I felt like, if she could tell the truth, why couldn't she admit her was hurting her? Well I guess the whole idea was to create a devastating situation, which they did. Also, I wanted to add, contrary to the book, Martha and Frances seemed to have a strong bong; there was love between the two of them. In the book, Frances and Martha seemed to be together more by obligation. Additionally, I was kind of hoping to see the strong wiled character of Martha in the book rather than the vulnerable innocent girl in the movie. The appearance of the girl was not what I expected either; I pictured a tall thin girl, not a petete thin girl, with a much softer look than I pictured in the book. Well, I guess they have to change some things.

A real change of pace for all these actors. Laurie Metcalfe, as a drunk, out of control, jealous woman. Debra Winger is the slightly challenged straight-shooter who never tells a lie. a couple of Gyllenhaals. even Jan Hooks. and Mister Carlin from Bob Newhart When there's a shortage in the drawer at work, Martha (Winger) knows who-dunnit, but she doesn't want to get accused of it herself. so she tells who DID do it. it all goes downhill from there. one of those days where NOTHING goes right. we feel the sadness of it all snowballing, and poor Martha gets the worst of it. Then she meets Mac (Gabriel Byrne), who has come to work on the house... Directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal. he's Dad ! the Gyllenhaal we never hear about. he had been married to Naomi Foner, who happens to have written THIS very screenplay. family project. it's pretty good. on netflix, of course.

Never saw the film when it was released, but it was a surprise when it was shown on cable recently. Stephen Gyllenhaal directs with great style. He is helped by the adaptation Naomi Foner crafted out of the Mary McGarry Morris' novel. This is a story about the cruelty inflicted to an innocent woman who is mentally retarded.

The film is set in California. Martha, the troubled soul at the center of the story has mental problems. She is an honest woman who tells it like it is, but because of her condition, people will always try to take advantage of her. Martha probably doesn't know what's happening with her own sexuality, yet we witness a night when she is engaging in satisfying herself in the only way she knows how.

"A Dangerous Woman" is an engrossing tale that involve us from the beginning. Martha is a complex character that in Debra Winger's interpretation shows she is a woman that has been dealt a bad hand by life. Yet, Martha is able to function by herself without any supervision. This is a confused woman that will win the viewer's heart.

Debra Winger doesn't appear often in movies these days. It's our loss! Ms. Winger projects such intelligence as she approaches her role of Martha that suddenly, the actress and the part she is playing become one.

The rest of the cast is excellent. Barbara Hershey is always a welcome addition to any film. Gabriel Byrne is credible as the handy man. David Strathairn plays a pivotal role that brings the film to an unexpected conclusion. Laurie Metcalf is only seen in a couple of scenes.

Mr. Gyllenhaal and Ms. Foner should team up more often because they work well together as proved by this film and the previous ones.