Alex in Wonderland
Alex in Wonderland
R | 17 December 1970 (USA)
Alex in Wonderland Trailers

Bohemian Alex Morrison has just finished directing his first feature length movie. In its previews, the movie is considered a critical, artistic and surefire commercial success. As such, Alex seemingly has his choice of what his next project will be. As he makes the rounds both in the Hollywood community and European movie centers for ideas, he fantasizes about movie scenarios of those everyday situations he is in.

Reviews
Redwarmin This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place
AboveDeepBuggy Some things I liked some I did not.
Taraparain Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.
Brenda The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one
MartinHafer This is a film that I guarantee that the average person would not enjoy. It's a time capsule of sort from a very, very different time. Back in 1970, I am pretty sure many people liked this movie and thought it was brilliant and insightful. When seen in a different time, it just seems indulgent, unstructured and, at times, silly and pretentious. I think if I had been born a bit earlier, I might have enjoyed the film. As is, watching it was a real chore.When the film begins, the new film director (Donal Sutherland) is taking a bath with his daughter and talking a lot of philosophical nonsense. Now with today's sensibilities, such a scene might be misinterpreted as pedophilia--but this was not at all the intention. Do NOT read too much into this--it was just a freer style of parenting that was in vogue at that time. Now what I DID take offense at was soon after when Sutherland is talking with his friend--his friend who is about 30 and brags about sleeping with 16 year-olds! Now that IS creepy (not to mention probably illegal)! The film is structured a lot like Federico Fellini's film "8 1/2"--but with a few American twists. The structure, the surreal moments and style is very, very reminiscent of this Italian film...but only superficially. The quality of "Alex in Wonderland" is not nearly as good as Fellini's film. As a result, it seems like a second-rate knockoff...and one that frequently does not work--although, ironically, Fellini himself makes a cameo in this movie. Most of the surrealistic scenes simply fall flat (as did the 'deeply philosophical' ones)--though I DID like the one with the French actress, Jeanne Moreau. You just have to see it to believe it! And, the scene with the idiotic studio exec wasn't bad. But as for the rest--the Vietnam War breaking out around the car, the nude black beach scene and the rest just seemed self-indulgent and fell flat.If "8 1/2" never had been made, I might have enjoyed this film more. That, and if I used LSD!
moonspinner55 Paul Mazursky co-wrote and directed this self-indulgent, though rarely boring, chronicle of an emerging movie director's quest to find a relevant, honest subject for his second picture. With reality and fantasy intermingling (often with a heavy hand), Mazursky is able to try out different filmmaking styles and techniques--some bold and some pretentious. This approach turns the picture into a series of vignettes, not all of which hold together, however there are wonderful individual moments amongst the dross. Donald Sutherland has a magical chance meeting with Jeanne Moreau in front of a book store, and there's an elaborate, surreal scene of war on Hollywood Boulevard (as seen through the jaundiced eye of a movie camera). A prickly bit of overstated authority on the U.S./Mexico border (with Sutherland singled out possibly because of his long hair and beard) is still topical today, however the circus folk and hippie longueurs probably looked embarrassing and dated only a year or so after the movie was released. An excursion to Rome seems included only to get a Federico Fellini cameo in the movie (Mazursky emulates Fellini's "8½" throughout, however the director's bit part is a gambit that fails to pay off). Everyday scenes of family life (house hunting, grocery shopping, etc.) are handled far too lackadaisically, although the depiction of Hollywood, California circa 1970 (wherein the Old Regime has been replaced with the avant garde New Wave) has a pointed preciseness which makes "Alex in Wonderland" an occasionally bracing document of its era. ** from ****
FilmCriticLalitRao "Alex in Wonderland" is an absolutely different kind of film.It is one of those American films which talks about film making albeit in a very superficial manner.This is one of the few weak spots in the film as its narrative shifts quickly from one philosophical or ideological stance to another.This film can also be termed as Alex's adventures in wonderland as its eponymous protagonist film director Alex tries really hard to strike a fine balance between his professional and personal lives.Director Paul Mazursky is able to make his film appear a serious experience for a débutant film director by ensuring that there is absolutely no coherent link between two phases of a director's lives : personal life and professional life.Although Alex's journey in wonderland begins with a truly shocking scene which might be construed as somewhat scandalous by certain prudes,overall story gathers momentum once more pertinent characters are introduced.Paul Mazursky also plays a brief yet important role in this film to make us aware of the fact that not all filmmakers live in wonderland.His film suggests that most film directors live in ordinary surroundings where they try to deal with their strengths and weaknesses in equal measure in order to invigorate their artistic lives.It does not matter if not all viewers would be able to associate themselves with "Alex in Wonderland" and its hidden motives.One thing which can be said is that some serious fans will not be disappointed as they get to see great master of cinema Italian cinema maverick Fellini and French cinema diva Jeanne Moreau.
Herman_Willems The worst movie with Donald Sutherland,one of my favorite actors, I ever saw. What in the world possessed Sutherland to take part in that movie. "Kelly's Heroes" was made in the same year and there he put down one of his best performances as "Oddball". There is no story in this movie. I even convinced myself to watch it twice on Turner Classic Movie channel, to find anything meaningful in this movie but I had to conclude that it is the worst I ever saw. Not even Donald Sutherland could pull this movie a little over the edge of disaster. He was,by the way, the only reason I watched the movie to the end twice.So this film will be erased from my memory as soon as possible and I stick to the rest of Donald's memorable fine performances.