The Women

About the Women

The Women is a 2008 American comedy-drama film that was written, produced, and directed by Diane English. The screenplay is an updated version of the George Cukor-directed 1939 film of the same name based on a 1936 play by Clare Boothe Luce. The story centers around a group of women who navigate their personal and professional lives amidst societal pressures.

Plot /Summary

Mary Haines, played by Meg Ryan, is a successful designer happily married to Wall Street tycoon Steven Haines and they have a pre-teen daughter together. Mary's world shatters when she learns Steven is having an affair with a perfume salesgirl named Crystal, played by Eva Mendes. With the support of her close friends and assertive mother, Mary confronts the realities of her life, as she battles betrayal, divorce and finds her own identity.

Making / Production

Written and directed by Diane English, The Women was filmed in Boston, Massachusetts. The shooting took several years given the difficulties in casting. It was produced by Mick Jagger and Victoria Pearman, alongside Diane English.

Actors

• Meg Ryan as Mary Haines: portrays the lead role with aplomb, perfectly capturing a woman undergoing personal and emotional transformations.
• Annette Bening as Sylvie Fowler: plays a loyal friend and ambitious magazine editor, portraying the struggles of balancing friendship and career.
• Eva Mendes as Crystal Allen: portrays the other woman with gusto, blending charm and ruthlessness effectively.
• Debra Messing as Edie Cohen: A supporting role, played superbly as the humorously clueless, always-pregnant friend.
• Jada Pinkett Smith as Alex Fisher: offers a solid performance as the outspoken, lesbian author friend.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• Diane English spent over 14 years trying to get this remake made.
• Mick Jagger, from the Rolling Stones, was one of the film's producers.
• No male actor has any speaking part in this movie.
• This film features an entirely female main cast.

Awards

The movie did not win any major awards.

Quotes

• "There's a reason why they call it a crush...Because that's how you feel when they don't feel the same way in return." - Mary Haines
• "A woman's life only really starts after forty...Before that, we're only doing research!" - Catherine Frazier

Music, Soundtrack

• "Dancing With My Own Shadow." - Performed by Anna Bergendahl
• "New York Groove." - Performed by Ace Frehley
• "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves." - Performed by Eurythmics