Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
After her husband dies, Alice and her son, Tommy, leave their small New Mexico town for California, where Alice hopes to make a new life for herself as a singer. Money problems force them to settle in Arizona instead, where Alice takes a job as waitress in a small diner.
Critics Sentiment
Alice bonds with fellow waitresses Flo and Vera at diner
David uses physical force to discipline Tommy causing relationship crisis
The film jumps dramatically from Alice's crisis with David disciplining Tommy (6.2) back up to their reconciliation discussions (7.3), showing the emotional volatility of relationships.
Critics consistently praised Ellen Burstyn's Oscar-winning performance and the authentic mother-son relationship, with particular acclaim for the diner sequences featuring Diane Ladd's Flo. While some reviewers worried about anti-male themes early on, most appreciated the realistic portrayal of a woman's journey toward independence. The ending divided critics, with some finding it organic and others feeling it was tacked on, but the overall sentiment remained positive for this surprising entry in Scorsese's filmography.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 33
Ellen Burstyn
Alice Hyatt
Alfred Lutter
Tommy
Kris Kristofferson
David
Harvey Keitel
Ben Eberhardt
Diane Ladd
Flo
Lelia Goldoni
Bea
Billy Green Bush
Donald Hyatt
Jodie Foster
Audrey
Valerie Curtin
Vera
Vic Tayback
Mel
Murray Moston
Jacobs
Harry Northup
Joe & Jim's Bartender
Lane Bradbury
Rita Eberhardt
Mia Bendixsen
Alice - Age 8
Dean Casper
Chicken
Marty Brinton
Lenny
Ola Moore
Old Woman
Laura Dern
Girl Eating Ice Cream Cone (uncredited)
Tami Conner
Mother (uncredited)
David Adams
Diner at Mel & Ruby's (uncredited)
Crew
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