Reckless (1995)

Mia Farrow is terrific as the runaway mom who slides out a window on Christmas Eve, after her husband contracts a hit-man to kill her. Thus begins a Christmas "black comedy" that ranks way up there on the strange scale. Farrow's predicament doesn't seem to alter her always pleasant and forgiving disposition. There are at least a bunch of messages hidden throughout the chaotic storyline that unfolds. Scott Glenn takes Farrow home to live with his paraplegic wife, Mary Louise Parker, where all three do an excellent job of keeping dark secrets from each other. The remainder of the film is a series of random events, that do little to crystallize the bizarre goings on. "Reckless" would best be appreciated by the "midnight movie" crowd, to whom it seems perfectly suited. Perhaps a midnight Christmas Eve showing? - MERK

It's always good to see Mia Farrow at work, but she's lost among the snowflakes in this hectic disaster. Farrow, playing wife to Tony Goldwyn (though he's young enough to be her son), appears to be living an idyllic life inside a winter wonderland until one day when she gets a startling dose of reality: her husband admits he's hired a man to kill her. She flees into the night, taking refuge with a bizarre couple who want to help rebuild her existence. Screenwriter Craig Lucas adapted his own play (and brought with it that ridiculous title), and so has no one else to blame for the picture's bumpy rhythm and off-putting characters. The production design and art direction of "Reckless" are both rather interesting, although they are services rendered for an inane and alienating screenplay. It's supposed to be a dark holiday comedy, though the entire cast is at a loss with this unfunny, occasionally offensive material. *1/2 from ****

Mia Farrow in an improbable tale of woe rivaling a Shakespearian tragedy for sheer unfortunate-ness. If this movie had a more revealing title I suppose I would call it "the nastiest of consequences for the most innocent and well-intentioned of actions." All the characters you like will be punished (not a spoiler - as we may not like the same characters). From bad to worse, from lonely to destitute, from depressing to macabre: this movie will make you feel better about you. Wherever you are, this lady is lower. The sympathy and camaraderie this movie generates for it's soft-spoken well-meaning heroine is the sharp tip that drives the depressing point home. The character's unwavering goodness in the face of (well I suppose it is rather conspicuous) misfortune is inspirational. Beautiful. I want to live again.

Saw this film on TV. I liked the film. It was quirky and interesting. I haven't seen very many like it. Definitely not your run-of-the-mill.