Brigid O Sullivan (wisewebwoman) This was resurrected by Netflix and seriously, they should have left it undisturbed in its grave.All performances were uneven and cringe-worthy. And how the stellar cast were talked into making this drivel should have been filmed as a documentary.The script was abysmal and unrelentingly unbelievable.And I haven't mentioned the "sex" scenes.1/10

c_c_colangelo Jake Gyllenhaal was listed in the cast, but I didn't see him turn up in the movie. The cast was listed in order of appearance, so he should have shown up right after his sister Maggie made an appearance as Antia Bell's daughter. I thought I heard a male voice say "mom" faintly off camera, but the son never appeared. Maybe that was Jake? Would they credit him for uttering one barely intelligible word? Maybe he had a larger part and it was cut? Do they credit actors when their performance is cut? I liked the offbeat plot in this movie, but I felt like Debra Winger made herself too unappealing both looks and personality-wise to make Gabriel Byrne's interest in her believable. I understand that he was a flawed character himself and was supposed to be attracted to her innocence, but she could have been a just a touch more attractive (too much appeal would have been too Hollywood)and still have maintained innocence and made the chemistry between them ring true.

jotix100 Never saw the film when it was released, but it was a surprise when it was shown on cable recently. Stephen Gyllenhaal directs with great style. He is helped by the adaptation Naomi Foner crafted out of the Mary McGarry Morris' novel. This is a story about the cruelty inflicted to an innocent woman who is mentally retarded.The film is set in California. Martha, the troubled soul at the center of the story has mental problems. She is an honest woman who tells it like it is, but because of her condition, people will always try to take advantage of her. Martha probably doesn't know what's happening with her own sexuality, yet we witness a night when she is engaging in satisfying herself in the only way she knows how."A Dangerous Woman" is an engrossing tale that involve us from the beginning. Martha is a complex character that in Debra Winger's interpretation shows she is a woman that has been dealt a bad hand by life. Yet, Martha is able to function by herself without any supervision. This is a confused woman that will win the viewer's heart.Debra Winger doesn't appear often in movies these days. It's our loss! Ms. Winger projects such intelligence as she approaches her role of Martha that suddenly, the actress and the part she is playing become one. The rest of the cast is excellent. Barbara Hershey is always a welcome addition to any film. Gabriel Byrne is credible as the handy man. David Strathairn plays a pivotal role that brings the film to an unexpected conclusion. Laurie Metcalf is only seen in a couple of scenes. Mr. Gyllenhaal and Ms. Foner should team up more often because they work well together as proved by this film and the previous ones.

Heligena Not a bad film for one i saw at 1.30 in the morning. Debra Winger is convincing as a mentally challenged woman who only wants to understand why being truthful doesn't work in the world around her. The fact that she has her own apartment testifying to this. Gabriel Byrne was restrained as was needed in the opposing role to the central character and gave the movie some essential compassion which worked nicely. The sex scenes were a bit graphic but i think it was necessary as the controversy between rape/consentual sex in this case was in dispute. A point not overplayed or simplified, thankfully so credit to the writer and director for that.Overall it raised some interesting themes in societies treatment of the mentally disabled and followed through with a realistic ending. 3 out of 5.