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Jane Fonda, Jeff Bridges, Raul Julia, Diane Salinger, Richard Foronjy ... see more see more... , Geoffrey Scott , James 'Gypsy' Haake , Kathleen Wilhoite , Don Hood , Kathy Bates , Fran Bennett , Frances Bergen , Anne Betancourt , Michael Flanagan , Laurel Lyle , Michael Prince , Rick Rossovich , Jose Santana , Sam Scarber , Bruce Vilanch , Bob Minor , Michael Zand , Drew Berman , Corinna Everson , George Howard , Betty Lougaris , Gladys Portugese , Patti Song , George Fisher

In this excellent thriller, crisply directed by Sidney Lumet, Alex Sternbergen (Jane Fonda), a washed-up, alcoholic actress who never quite made it, wakes up one morning in an unfamiliar, luxurious lo... read more read more...ft apartment, only to find the corpse of a stranger next to her in bed. Alex can remember nothing of the night before. In a panic, she tries to flee but is unable to get a flight out of Los Angeles, and short of cash, she hitches a ride with Turner Kendall (Jeff Bridges), a disabled former policeman who happens to be fixing his car in the airport parking lot. Alex tries to get rid of Turner and returns to the loft which she cleans in a futile attempt to get rid of her finger prints. Turner continues to take an unappreciated interest in Alex and keeps turning up unexpectedly, much to her annoyance. Finally, desperate and on the run, and never sure that she didn't commit the murder, Alex allows Turner to help her. Alex also confides in and is helped by her ex-husband and friend Joaquin Manero (Raul Julia), the only man she completely trusts. Despite Alex's suspicion of Turner, she slowly falls in love with him. The movie quickly moves to a surprising conclusion, and creates a good deal of suspense, particularly when Alex is confronted with a corpse that just won't stay put. The highlight of the film is the performance by Jane Fonda reminiscent of her magnificent performance as Bree Daniels in Klute. The Morning After never rises to the quality of Klute, but Fonda's performance was strong enough to earn her an Oscar nomination. ~ Linda Rasmussen, Rovi

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34% liked it

2,460 ratings

Critics

71% liked it

17 critics

R, 1 hr. 42 min.

Directed by: Sidney Lumet, Michael Kruzan

Release Date: January 1, 1986

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DVD Release Date: August 30, 2005

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Stats: 82 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (82)

  • pier007
    September 21, 2011
    pier007
    Even a great filmmaker is not infalible, not when he has to work with a poor screenplay. The tone rambles, never decides if it is a comedy, a soap opera or a thriller. Performances by Jane Fonda, Jeff Bridges and the underused Raul Julia do some good to this ridiculous and predic... read moretible mess.
  • ajv2688
    January 24, 2011
    ajv2688
    A good thriller from Lumet, a great director, and it has a great cast too. I really liked this movie.
  • jjnxn
    January 8, 2011
    jjnxn
    Jane Fonda gives an incredibly nuanced performance as a spiraling down drunkard, she researched the tragic 40's star Gail Russell who drank herself to death at 36 to fully understand her characters plight of a once promising actress reduced to blackouts and infamy. Jeff Bridges i... read mores almost as strong as a stranger trying to help her out of a situation she can't even remember. The rest of the cast gives good support starting with Raul Julia on down to a pre-stardom Kathy Bates in a tiny role, the problem is that the script that all this superior work is working with is ill conceived and not terribly well directed by the usually excellent Lumet.
  • ythelastman89
    August 31, 2010
    ythelastman89
    If you like murder mysteries with powerhouse acting and directing, this is the movie to see. While the story is interesting and unique, it's the characters that make you stick around. Sidney Lumet makes this such an above average movie in that it doesn't feel like a typical thril... read moreler or drama or romance, it's sort've a nice blend between all three. There's no gimmicks or cheap scare tactics, which is really nice. Jane Fonda is just so convincing as a raging drunkard, but of course she has such a lovable side to her. Jeff Bridges does what he does best, being charming and smiling a lot. While this isn't a game changer or anything, it's just a really solid and worthwhile movie.
  • Dannyrovira
    January 24, 2011
    Dannyrovira
    A smart and suspenseful neo-noir well-directed by Sidney Lumet, with a sensationally dynamic Oscar-nominated performance by Jane Fonda, as once promising actress named Alex Stembergen, who wakes up with a fierce hangover with no memory of how she ended up in bed next to a murdere... read mored man, with a knife in the middle of his chest. Sternbergen is a spiraling down drunkard who is convinced that she had a blackout and stabbed the deadman. Jeff Bridges delivers a terrific performance that is suitably sturdy as Turner Kendall an ex-cop who takes a interest in Stermbergen, and tries to help her unravel this mystery. The late Raul Julia is memorable as Joaquin Manero, Stermbergen's Hollywood hairdresser devoted ex-husband. The developing relationship between Stembergen and Kendall is beautifully played by Fonda and Bridges, who have real chemistry together, and the plot and the storyline instantly draws us in, and continues to keep us hooked until the surprising ending. Entertaining and compelling. Highly Recommended.
  • jam233
    November 28, 2009
    jam233
    A reasonably good thriller, Jane Fonda does well in an Oscar nominated performance. Tense in some scenes, well acted but it's just not as gripping as it should have been, and this is surprising coming from director Sidney Lumet. I was never fully convinced.
  • DS291284
    September 10, 2007
    DS291284
    Starts off with a captivating opening (Jane Fonda wakes up next to a dead body and has no recollection how she got there), yet after a stellar start the film stalls and crawls the rest of the way at a snail's pace. Fortunately, the performances from both the leads (Fonda and Brid... read moreges) are terrific - Jane Fonda even received a well deserved oscar nomination - and the chemistry between the two works and is captivating. It's simply a shame that the script isn't as good as the performances are. Though the climax, though obvious and blunt in execution, does generate some genuine suspense due to our care for the characters in danger. Not bad, recommended for the lovers of the thriller genre, but everyone else can move along and see something else.

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Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz
April 25, 2011
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

The thriller is always looking for something that is missing and never finds it. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
January 3, 2011
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

As an alcoholic ex-actress, Jane Fonda gives a brilliant, Oscar-nominated peformance in Lumet's routine thriller set (for a change) in L.A. Full Review

Dan Callahan
June 17, 2007
Dan Callahan, Slant Magazine

Sidney Lumet directs wearily; as a thriller, it's full of holes. Full Review

Christopher Null
September 6, 2005
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

alternately insults you and makes no sense at all Full Review

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
August 26, 2004
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

The film is lifted by an emotionally affecting performance by Jane Fonda. Full Review

Scott Weinberg
July 27, 2002
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

-or- I Woke Up Next to a Corpse!

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Paul Attanasio
January 1, 2000
Paul Attanasio, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

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The Morning After Trivia

  • When a man wakes up the morning after his bachelor party in bed with a strange woman he presumes he must have cheated on his fiancee.. what movie is this  Answer »
  • In the movie "Stand By Me", what does Gordy see in the morning after he wakes up in the forest??  Answer »
  • What happens after Shrek drinks the potion the next morning when he wakes up?  Answer »
  • In the movie "Moonstruck" Loretta tells Ronny "the morning after- what famous line...  Answer »
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