Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Mona Lisa Smile
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This is one of those movies that has a magnetic affect on both my mother and me. Although it's not the best school movie I've ever seen (my vote on this score is for The Paper Chase, although I'd consider The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, as well, and, a few others, come to think of it, The Blackboard Jungle, Goodbye Mr. Chips), from the cords of the opening music it drafts both of us into college, again, from our own perspetives. When we view this movie we always review the featurettes.
I have to admit, though, she and I are both suckers for school and education movies. Sometimes it's pathetic.
Directed by Mike Newell.
Update 6/13/2006: Since I first wrote this short review we've watched this movie on the average of once a month, at my suggestion. During tonight's watching I was uncustomarily analytical about some of the aspects of this movie that I love.
- All the performances are a delight to watch and utterly convincing, with the exception of Julia Roberts' performance. Tonight I finally figured out why, in this movie of incredibly performed roles (even the bartender at the wedding and "Mrs. Stone" the waitress are spot on) the star fell just short of matching her colleagues' level: She's, well, Julia Roberts and, as such, is no longer able to be a character. She is always Julia Roberts playing a character. This is unfortunate in movies such as this.
- The romance between Roberts' character and West's character is inauthentic, unconvincing, distracting and boring. It's possible that Roberts' character needs some sort of quickie affair in this movie as a device to underline her single status and her attitudes toward sexual attachment, but the one written and acted didn't work.
- The background music is both unobtrusive and evocative; so much so that the strains of the theme played behind the menu evoke pleasurable anticipation for the movie.
- The subject matter, despite being heavily covered in many other movies and, at the time of this movie's release, seemingly dated, lurks in women's souls deeply and is still not well addressed by society, thus, continues to have a powerful effect. As well, the characters and the story are so well developed that the period piece effect actually contributes to the emotional effect of the layout of the issues.
- The camera work is subtle and masterful. No camera effect is used for the sake of the effect alone.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Julia Roberts Katherine Watson Kirsten Dunst Betty Warren Julia Stiles Joan Brandwyn Maggie Gyllenhaal Giselle Levy Ginnifer Goodwin Connie Baker Laura Allen Susan Delacorte Marcia Gay Harden Nancy Abbey Donna Mitchell Mrs. Warren Marian Seldes President Jocelyn Carr Juliet Stevenson Amanda Armstrong Dominic West Bill Dunbar Topher Grace Tommy Donegal Ebon Moss-Bachrach Charlie Stewart Jordan Bridges Spencer Jones John Slattery Paul Moore Tori Amos Wedding Singer
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2003
Directed by Mike Newell.
Labels: dramaB, julia-roberts, kirsten-dunst, maggie-gyllenhaal, marsha-gay-harden, period5, political4, shared-favorite, teaching, women's-movie1
