Rating: 
Summary: A Powerful Story of Endless Devotion
Review: I believe that addiction can only be overcome by love. The demons of addiction thrive and perpetuate in a black vacuum of mental and emotional despair; only the steadfast love and support of others can exorcise them. And indeed it is love that ultimately breaks through the shackles of alcoholism in director Luis Mandoki's gripping film, WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN. Michael and Alice Green (Andy Garcia and Meg Ryan) are a young couple deeply in love--so much so that Michael tends to downplay his wife's growing dependence on alcohol. Only when Alice's addiction plunges her down a desperate, dysfunctional vortex--from rummaging through trash looking for vodka bottles to passing out in the shower--does Michael come to the jarring conclusion that he is on the verge of losing his wife to an insidious disease. Alice is placed in rehab, and Michael's devotion is put to the test: from his discomfort with support groups to Alice's subsequent aloof and detached demeanor. Life after addiction will not be easy, for Alice, Michael, or their two daughters. But again, love never is easy. Garcia and Ryan give compelling, realistic performances. I also was moved by the performance of young Tina Majorino, who plays Garcia's stepdaughter Jessica. Over the course of the movie, father and stepdaughter form an emotional bond as they attempt to keep their fragile family together, and the strain on young Jessica shows. I was shocked to learn comedic satirist Al Franken cowrote the screenply; what a departure from his usual material, but Franken obviously knows his subject matter here. WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN is anything but a "feel good" film, but there is little good to be gleaned from a story about addiction. But this movie succeeds through its powerful depiction of devotion and love--a power that will keep the viewer riveted and engrossed from beginning to end.
--D. Mikels
Rating:
Summary: A Powerful Story of Endless Devotion
Review: I believe that addiction can only be overcome by love. The demons of addiction thrive and perpetuate in a black vacuum of mental and emotional despair; only the steadfast love and support of others can exorcise them. And indeed it is love that ultimately breaks through the shackles of alcoholism in director Luis Mandoki's gripping film, WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN. Michael and Alice Green (Andy Garcia and Meg Ryan) are a young couple deeply in love--so much so that Michael tends to downplay his wife's growing dependence on alcohol. Only when Alice's addiction plunges her down a desperate, dysfunctional vortex--from rummaging through trash looking for vodka bottles to passing out in the shower--does Michael come to the jarring conclusion that he is on the verge of losing his wife to an insidious disease. Alice is placed in rehab, and Michael's devotion is put to the test: from his discomfort with support groups to Alice's subsequent aloof and detached demeanor. Life after addiction will not be easy, for Alice, Michael, or their two daughters. But again, love never is easy. Garcia and Ryan give compelling, realistic performances. I also was moved by the performance of young Tina Majorino, who plays Garcia's stepdaughter Jessica. Over the course of the movie, father and stepdaughter form an emotional bond as they attempt to keep their fragile family together, and the strain on young Jessica shows. I was shocked to learn comedic satirist Al Franken cowrote the screenply; what a departure from his usual material, but Franken obviously knows his subject matter here. WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN is anything but a "feel good" film, but there is little good to be gleaned from a story about addiction. But this movie succeeds through its powerful depiction of devotion and love--a power that will keep the viewer riveted and engrossed from beginning to end.
--D. Mikels
Rating:
Summary: I Only Wish I Had Seen This Movie Back In 1994
Review: I can't remember ever seeing a movie that made me cry, but this one did. I'm a male in my 30's, and I usually don't let movies get to me, but this one was powerful. I would urge anyone who has a close relationship with someone who is in recovery to see this movie. Five years ago, I lost my fiancee partly due to this terrible disease, and I had no frame of reference to relate to her with, and the daily struggles she was going through in recovery. I tried to rescue her (like Andy Garcia) without realizing that you can't save anyone but yourself, and you have to deal with your own issues instead of focusing on someone else.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing Movie
Review: I didn't realize this film came out several years ago and I had never watched it before and just now had to for a class I am taking in college about drugs and alcoholism. This movie was wonderful and there wasn't a dry eye (at least from the ladies) in the room when it was over. It shows what alcoholism can do to a family, the children, the couple and who they thought they were, and who they were when the alcoholism finally came to an end. Even if you don't like the actors, it's definitely worth watching. What's even more amazing is the way he sticks by her, the title of this movie, is truly unique and an excellent choice to go with the theme of the movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Movie. Bad DVD.
Review: I looked through a bunch of the reviews posted here and none of the ones I saw mentioned the actual DVD itself. I agree, the movie is outstanding. I would give the movie a 5 rating. But the DVD is not worth even the low price tag! I give the DVD about a 2 rating. The video quality is horrible with lots of artifacting throughout. Come on Hollywood, we all know you can do better than this! I see the quality of this type of release the equivelent of releasing a movie on VHS is EP or SLP mode! Why sacrifice the quality if you don't have to? Maybe it's so a second, and perhaps third version of the film can be released on DVD in a "remastered" version over and over and over... Don't buy this disc. Just wait for a quality release to come out...complete with 5.1 audio. Consumers need to start demanding better or the studios will continue to trick us into buying the same movie over and over and over.
Rating:
Summary: Heart-breakingly realistic - this is what love is all about!
Review: I love this movie! Every time I watch it I feel so many more emotions than the time before. Watching it with someone you care about makes the movie even more realistic and heartbreaking. I watched it again recently and by the end both my boyfriend and I were crying. Their relationship was so real it made us open up to each other more than ever before.
Rating:
Summary: Bring your hankies!
Review: I must admit that the first time I saw this movie in the theater many years ago, I wasn't very impressed. However, years later, watching it again on video (before DVDs!), I bawled my eyes out. It was very romantic and a very non-traditional role for Meg Ryan. Kudos!
Rating:
Summary: When a Man Loves a Woman
Review: I thought this movie was the most touching and heartfelt movie I have ever seen. I recomend that everyone should see it It is a true moening of what true love is really about.
Rating:
Summary: The Tear jerker of all tear jerkers
Review: I went to see this movie with my brother because we both like Andy Garcia and Meg Ryan. I didn't expect the movie to touch me the way it did. I highly recommend everyone see this movie. It is so real to life you can't help but shed many tears. My brother hardly ever cries, the only othe movie my brother cried at was "The Champ" with Ricky Shroeder. Not only did my brother cry, the whole theater was bawling, everyone. I never heard so many sniffs in one room. In all, I love this movie because of the passion Ryan and Garcia have for each other and the kids. If this movie doesn't touch your heart, you have no heart. Buy it or rent it, you must see it.
Rating: 
Summary: good movie
Review: I will admit that I don't know any alcoholics and I have not experienced the effects. However, I thought that Meg Ryan was very believable. She seemed as if she was really drunk especially during the scene when her little daughter watched her pop pills and drink at the same time.
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