Kirsten Dunst's Favorite Scorsese Movie Is This Forgotten 92%-Fresh Drama: "Just So Alive"

Kirsten Dunst is not just an actress – she is a true cinephile. In an interview with Backstage, Dunst revealed which Martin Scorsese movie had a particularly influential effect on her.

Kirsten Dunst Says 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore' Is Her Favourite Martin Scorsese Movie

Instead of the classics like Taxi Driver or The King of Comedy, Dunst chose the brilliant but less obvious drama Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. Dunst said:

“I love Ellen Burstyn in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. It's one of my favorite Martin Scorsese movies. I wish he would do another [film with a] female lead.

She was just so alive. She's [doing] the type of acting that I like, that feels real. It's not performative. It comes from a real place, and she's experiencing real emotions in that moment.”

What Is 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore' About?

The movie tells the story of Alice (Ellen Burstyn), a young widow who is left destitute with her young son after her husband's sudden death.

Having once dreamed of a career in singing, Alice must now fight to survive. She embarks on a journey across the American Southwest, trying to find work and a new life.

She takes a humiliating waitressing job and finds herself in a toxic relationship with an abusive man. Alice must also constantly balance caring for her son with finding her place in a world that is not particularly welcoming to single women.

'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore' Is a Rare Female-Led Drama From Scorsese That Won an Oscar

Despite his established reputation as a "man's story" director, Scorsese's 1974 film is an important exception.

Ellen Burstyn, who had already been cast in the lead role, saw Scorsese, who was still relatively unknown at the time, as the perfect candidate. She believed he would be capable of conveying the harsh truth of her character's life without excessive sentimentality.

Scorsese accomplished this task brilliantly, creating an honest and sometimes brutal portrait of female independence in a world where women have few rights and opportunities.

Burstyn's performance became the heart of the film. Her Alice is not a perfect victim of circumstance but a vibrant, complex, and sometimes irritating yet always sympathetic woman. The role earned Burstyn a well-deserved Oscar for Best Actress.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore'?

• Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore has 92% from critics and 81% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.3/10.

• On Letterboxd, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore scored 3.8/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore'?

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore is available to stream on HBO Max.