'The Women', originally a play by Clare Boothe Luce, was filmed in 1939 (with Norma Shearer as Mary Haines and Joan Crawford as Crystal Allen), in 1956 (as a musical, 'The Opposite Sex', with June Allyson as Kay Hilliard and Joan Collins as Crystal Allen), and now with Meg Ryan and Eva Mendes as Mary and Crystal.
The story has been slightly updated - Stephen regularly phones Mary's mobile, Sylvie (Annette Bening) is the editor of a fashion magazine, one of the circle of friends is a lesbian - but the basic premise (and that is the plus) is still there, complete with some scenes verbatim from earlier versions (especially the changing room confrontation).
There's also the mother giving words of wisdom (Candice Bergen, who is only slightly less plastic looking than Meg Ryan herself), but with some irony, while Bette Midler plays the much-married rich lady (once a Countess, played with aplomb by Mary Boland, now an actor's agent) who pursues the mysterious Buck Winston. There's also nice support from Cloris Leachman as the Haines' housekeeper.
Like the 1939 version, no men appear in this film other than one baby boy. Even the dogs are bitches. It however suffers from colourless playing of the leads, in particular Eva Mendes, and from a lack of humour. So it is a reasonable remake, but ultimately a bit pointless.
The story has been slightly updated - Stephen regularly phones Mary's mobile, Sylvie (Annette Bening) is the editor of a fashion magazine, one of the circle of friends is a lesbian - but the basic premise (and that is the plus) is still there, complete with some scenes verbatim from earlier versions (especially the changing room confrontation).
There's also the mother giving words of wisdom (Candice Bergen, who is only slightly less plastic looking than Meg Ryan herself), but with some irony, while Bette Midler plays the much-married rich lady (once a Countess, played with aplomb by Mary Boland, now an actor's agent) who pursues the mysterious Buck Winston. There's also nice support from Cloris Leachman as the Haines' housekeeper.
Like the 1939 version, no men appear in this film other than one baby boy. Even the dogs are bitches. It however suffers from colourless playing of the leads, in particular Eva Mendes, and from a lack of humour. So it is a reasonable remake, but ultimately a bit pointless.