Rating:  -
I may be one of the few people who found `Dead Poets Society' ridiculously clichéd and ultimately unfulfilling. Yes I understand that just about everyone and their mother loves that movie but I just couldn't see where the draw was. `Mona Lisa Smile' is pretty much the all girl affiliate to `Dead Poets Society'. You have a liberal teacher who is nothing like the tightwads that walk the school. This time around the subject is art as apposed to poetry which is a form of art in itself. In fact it's pretty much the same recycled experience except for one strange development. This time it seems to work. Not brilliantly, but `Mona Lisa Smile' is by all means a `good' film but far from a `great' one. It captures the attention of the audience and handles some heavy matters with care and diligence, but it fails to elevate itself to perfection.
A big reason why this film works is the fact that its star, Julia Roberts, can make just about anything palatable. Her performance is just what this film needed to make it entertaining and relevant. Sure, this is far from her best start turn, but it is classic Roberts and it delivers on all fronts. She's smart, commanding, witty and charming.
Roberts plays Katherine Watson, the newest addition to an all girl's college. She immediately realizes that she is outnumbered in thought and tradition and is forced to face the fact that her presence is not truly appreciated by the staff and most of the students. Taking place in 1953 the idea of college graduate is merely for title, not for application. The idea that a woman would excel to be something more than a common housewife is ludicrous to these women and far from encouraged, it is shamefully discouraged. Katherine Watson is a different bird altogether though. She ruffles feathers as she pushes forward in encouraging her students to break away from the domineering brainwashing of society and think for themselves, think about what would make them happiest.
Her students range from the sweet natured overachiever to the shy and reserved `fat girl' to the misunderstood `loose girl' to the even more misunderstood aggressively heartless brat. By the end of the film revelations have taken place for all of these girls and their lives are forever changed. Julia Stiles plays Joan, the overachiever who dreams of being a lawyer yet is soon to be married. In all due respects Julia is supposed to be our star next to the `other' Julia, but Stiles manages to get pushed to the background by her co-stars. While her performance is decent the other three girls steel all of her thunder. Kirsten Dunst is the epitome of evil as Betty Warren, and while this is far from her finest performance she is definitely effective. The two standouts though are none other than Ginnifer Goodwin and Maggie Gyllenhall. Their performances are layered and emotional and moving, and delivered with such perfection it's no wonder their careers are taking off.
The supporting performances by the likes of Marcia Gay Harden and Dominic West are effective in their own rights and take nothing away from the film, albeit not really adding anything either.
In the end `Mona Lisa Smile' is a sweet film that will touch the heart and satisfy the viewer. It's not the type of film that moves mountains or changes lives and it's not a film that will stick with you forever but it will not leave you cold or distant. It's good entertainment, but just don't expect it to be a masterpiece. It is a bit clichéd and it is a bit generic. We can all guess the ending before it comes and the revelations that face each girl are the furthest thing from original. Like I said, this is recycling at it's best for it takes the same old thing and regurgitates it with different actors and a slightly altered setting yet it works slightly better than the original so bravo in that regard.
Rating:  -
This is one of my favorite movies. It sends an inspiring message, and the time frame adds a certain glamor. The wardrobe, the cast, the soundtrack, it is all wonderful. It is the Dead Poet's Society for girls, and this is a movie all young ladies should see.
Rating: -
I loved this movie!! This is not a "chick flick". It is so hard to imagine that things were so restrictive for women just 50 years ago, and it seems that we need to be reminded as we take all that is open and available to us and the many opportunities we have in stride. It's unbelievable how things have changed - I am going to have my teenage daughter watch this movie, she will be astounded!
The movie is also beautifully filmed (much of it in Massachusetts on the gorgeous Wellesley College campus). I highly recommend this movie.
Rating: -
Inspirational for women of today. One does not have to choose between being a wife/mother/home-maker or a career woman. We can do it all!
Rating:  -
"Mona Lisa Smile" is a romantic-comedy that is more likely to appeal to women than men, but is nevertheless charming, funny, and entertaining. The movie doesn't have the same rom-com mood that movies like "Failure to Launch" and "Must Love Dogs" share, but instead shares a closer bond with films like "The Cider House Rules" sans the depressing aspect. The movie is essentially a star vehicle for Julia Roberts, but her female co-stars Kirsten Dunst, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Julia Stiles, and Ginnifer Goodwin all steal the show from her.
Roberts plays Katherine Watson, a teacher from California who lands a job at the prestigious Wellesley school. The film takes place in the '50s where women went to school not to go on to get successful jobs but merely to bridge the gap between school and marriage. She's the teacher of art history and upon her arrival meets a number of rebelling and strong-willed young females, including the hateful Betty (Dunst), the free-spirited Giselle (Gyllenhaal), and the optimistic Joan (Stiles)...As Katherine adjusts to her new job and it's strict rules, she finds herself falling for a womanizing Italian teacher (Dominic West) and that's pretty much all the plot you're going to get from this film.
The movie is one of those films that relies heavily on the charm of its actors to keep the film moving and it works. All the actors are fascinating to watch and all the actresses I mentioned above steal the show from Roberts. "Mona Lisa Smile" isn't a fantastic film, but it's definitely worth watching.
GRADE: B+
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