Mighty Aphrodite
Mighty Aphrodite

Movie spotlight

Mighty Aphrodite

1995
Movie
95 min
English

When Lenny and his wife, Amanda, adopt a baby, Lenny realizes that his son is a genius and becomes obsessed with finding the boy's biological mother in hopes that she will be brilliant too. But when he learns that Max's mother is Linda Ash, a kindhearted prostitute and porn star, Lenny is determined to reform her immoral lifestyle. A Greek chorus chimes in to relate the plot to Greek mythology in this quirky comedy.

Insights

IMDb6.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes91%
Metacritic83
Google Users82%
Director: Woody AllenGenres: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Plot Summary

Lenny, a New York sportswriter and aspiring playwright, discovers that his adopted son, Max, is intellectually gifted but intellectually challenging. Driven by a desire to understand his son's origins, Lenny embarks on a quest to find Max's biological mother, a prostitute named Linda Ash. Along the way, Lenny becomes entangled in Linda's chaotic life and contemplates his own relationships and artistic ambitions.

Critical Reception

Mighty Aphrodite was widely praised by critics for its wit, performances, and unique blend of classical Greek tragedy and modern comedy. Mira Sorvino's performance, in particular, received universal acclaim, earning her an Academy Award. The film was considered one of Woody Allen's most successful and inspired works of the 1990s.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its sharp wit and Woody Allen's signature neurotic humor.

  • Mira Sorvino's Oscar-winning performance as the dim-witted prostitute Linda Ash is a standout.

  • The film's innovative use of a Greek chorus adds a unique, classical dimension.

Google audience: Audiences generally loved the film's clever writing and the comedic performances, especially Mira Sorvino's. Some found the plot a bit meandering, but the overall sentiment was positive, highlighting its intelligence and entertainment value.

Awards & Accolades

Won Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (Mira Sorvino). Nominated for Golden Globe Awards and BAFTA Awards.

Fun Fact

The film's narrative structure is inspired by ancient Greek tragedies, featuring a chorus that comments on the action, voiced by characters played by F. Murray Abraham, Jack O'Brien, and Joie Lee.

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TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

To minimise the inconvenience to their daily lives, a married couple adopt a baby from birth, but by the time he is five the fizz has rather gone out of their marriage. He's a sports journalist and is a bit bored with her (Helena Bonham Car...

Wuchak

Wuchak

**_An older man befriends a kindhearted prostitute_** A Manhattan scriptwriter (Woody Allen) meets the young mother of his adopted boy, a hooker (Mira Sorvino), and tries to help her situation. Meanwhile, his wife (Helena Bonham Carter) ...