When a Man Loves a Woman

UPC: 717951005465

Studio: Walt Disney Video

MPAA Rating: R   Contains:[Adult Situations, Not For Children, Profanity, Substance Abuse]

Summary: A dramatic treatment of a family torn apart by alcoholism and recovering from it, this was a star vehicle for popular actress Meg Ryan, who plays Alice Green, a school counselor who has a serious drinking problem. Her husband is Michael (Andy Garcia), an airline pilot. Though she's lighthearted and loving, Alice is often reckless and, when drunk, even neglects her children, nine-year-old daughter Jess (Tina Majorino) from a previous marriage, and four-year-old daughter Casey (Mae Whitman), whose father is Michael. After an accident, Alice realizes that she has "hit bottom" and goes into a clinic for rehab. When she returns home, she has kicked her addiction and has become independent and strong, and her perfectionist, controlling husband has trouble adjusting. Michael is used to his wife being weak and helpless, and they end up seeing a marriage counselor to recover from Michael's "co-dependency" on Alice's role as an alcoholic. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi

Category: Drama

Awards: Best Actress – Screen Actors Guild

Features: Theatrical trailer
French-language track
2.0 Dolby Surround
Widescreen [1.85:1]

When a Man Loves a Woman

Format: Digital Video Disc (DVD)

Release Date: 02/15/2000

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Theatre Wide-Screen

Audio: 5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1, 2 PCM stereo

Runtime: 126 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English,French

Subtitles: English

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Side #1 --
0. Chapter Selection
1. Program Start/Opening Credits [1:52]
2. Anniversary Dinner [1:52]
3. Pressures [2:59]
4. Grandpa & Grandma [2:04]
5. A Scare [2:04]
6. Middle-Of-The-Night Episode [1:29]
7. One Day After Work [8:12]
8. Alice Tells Her Secret [2:45]
9. Treatment Center Check-In [3:03]
10. Breakfast With The Girls [3:48]
11. Alice Calls Micheal [4:31]
12. Smashing Bottles [5:09]
13. A Visit To Mommy [4:49]
14. Family Out Of Control [2:51]
15. Begging [4:01]
16. A Reassuring Talk [3:38]
17. Overly Attentive [3:09]
18. Counseling Session [6:59]
19. An Uncomfortable Situation [4:37]
20. Trying To Be Real [2:01]
21. "Everybody Hurts" Montage [5:46]
22. Al-Anon Meeting [4:14]
23. Taken Unawares [5:02]
24. Bye, Baby [6:19]
25. AA Meeting/A Second Chance [10:37]
26. End Credits [2:12]

Michael Costello

Luis Mandoki's exploration of a woman's struggle with alcoholism and the effect of the disease on her family is a thoughtful variation on an overly familiar theme. Meg Ryan stars as the woman whose long-concealed drinking habit worsens, threatening her marriage and family life. While acknowledging the significance of the grueling recovery process, the film instead concentrates on the difficulties of the woman's loving and attentive husband (Andy Garcia) in coming to grips with his now partially recovered wife, who had previously taken a more passive role in their marriage. Employing two such attractive stars and placing them in idyllic surroundings might seem a typical Hollywood tactic to soften a painful tale, but it also functions as a reminder that no one is immune from such suffering. As Garcia attempts to relinquish his authoritarian role, the film transcends the issue of alcoholism, and the couple begin the difficult process of honest communication which lies at the heart of any marriage. Ryan avoids excess and melodrama in the creation of a moving and credible character, and Garcia is also excellent as the "in-control" airline pilot learning to navigate a new emotional territory. ~ Michael Costello, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Steven Brill  Actor 
Al Franken  Actor 
Susanna Thompson  Actor 
James Courtney  Actor 
Tony Montero  Actor 
William Frankfather  Actor 
Ronald Bass  Actor 
Ellen Geer  Actor 
Bari K. Willerford  Actor 
Amanda Mackey-Johnson  Actor 
Richard Bradford  Actor 
Brandis Kemp  Actor 
Garth Craven  Actor 
Andrew Magarian  Actor 
Joe Drago  Actor 
Gail Strickland  Actor 
Cathy Sandrich  Actor 
Jon Avnet  Producer 
Ronald Bass  Executive Producer 
Ronald Bass  Screenwriter 
Al Franken  Producer 
Al Franken  Screenwriter 
Jordan Kerner  Producer 
Luis Mandoki  Director 
Zbigniew Preisner  Composer (Music Score) 
Susan Shilliday  Screenwriter 
Simon Maslow  Producer 
Andy Garcia  Actor 
Meg Ryan  Actor 
Lauren Tom  Actor 
Philip Seymour Hoffman  Actor 
Tina Majorino  Actor 
Mae Whitman  Actor 
Ellen Burstyn  Actor 
Eugene Roche  Actor 
La Tanya Richardson  Actor 

Country: USA