Twice in a Lifetime **** (1985, Gene Hackman, Ellen Burstyn, Ann-Margret, Amy Madigan, Ally Sheedy, Brian Dennehy, Stephen Lang) – Classic Movie Review 11,910

The 1985 film Twice in a Lifetime is an excellent drama about a 50-year-old married steel mill worker (Gene Hackman) who falls out with his wife (Ellen Burstyn}, falls into the arms of a barmaid (Ann-Margret), and clashes with his grown-up children.

Producer-director Bud Yorkin’s 1985 film Twice in a Lifetime is written by Colin Welland, and stars Gene Hackman, Ellen Burstyn, Ann-Margret, Amy Madigan, Ally Sheedy, Brian Dennehy and Stephen Lang.

Twice in a Lifetime is an excellent slice-of-life drama that tells of a 50-year-old married steel mill worker (Hackman) who hits mid-life crisis, falls out with his wife (Burstyn} and falls into the arms of local barmaid (Ann-Margret), and then clashes with his grown-up children.

The superb actors, who also notably include Sheedy and Madigan (Oscar nominated as Best Supporting Actress), explore all the elements that lead to a family’s breakdown and make this superior film far more than the typical heart-tugging drama.

Poignant but never overly sentimental, this movie scores over most glossy romantic melodramas through the sharp humour and excellent characterisation in Welland’s way-above-average screenplay.

Paul McCartney composes and performs the theme song, heard over the end credits, finally released in 1993 as a bonus track on a reissue of the Pipes of Peace album.

The film premiered at the Seattle International Film Festival on 9 May 1985 and opened on 23 October 1985 at the Beekman Theatre in New York.

It cost $8 million and earned $8,402,424.

Hackman received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama. Amy Madigan received nominations from the Oscars and Golden Globes for Best Supporting Actress.

The cast are Gene Hackman as Harry Mackenzie, Ann-Margret as Audrey Minnelli, Ellen Burstyn as Kate Mackenzie, Amy Madigan as Sunny Mackenzie-Sobel, Ally Sheedy as Helen Mackenzie, Brian Dennehy as Nick, Stephen Lang as Keith, and Darrell Larson as Jerry.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 11,910

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