Mona Lisa Smile DVD
Mike Newell's MONA LISA SMILE is a pretty period film that combines a quaint pedagogical tale with a feminist dissection of traditional female roles in 1950s society.
Mike Newell's MONA LISA SMILE is a pretty period film that combines a quaint pedagogical tale with a feminist dissection of traditional female roles in 1950s society. Julia Roberts leads an impressive cast of top young actresses including Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kirsten Dunst, and Julia Stiles. Roberts is Katherine Watson, a revolutionary art history teacher at Wellesley College in 1953. Though she has true admiration for her intelligent all-female students, she is perturbed that their interest in finding husbands takes precedence over their studies. Determined to instruct them in feminist values and teach them to be independent--defying the college's emphasis on breeding good wives, mothers, and homemakers--Watson is deemed subversive by the administration. Even Watson's identity--from California, over 30 years old, and unmarried--is problematic. And when she turns her class onto modern art rather than teaching the recommended classical curriculum, Watson is severely chastised by the staunchly conservative students and faculty.
Beautiful photography of the picture-perfect Wellesley campus combined with a perpetual parade of lovely period costumes makes MONA LISA SMILE a visual delight. Strong performances by each of the actresses, including Dunst uncharacteristically cast as a prim and proper prude, and Marcia Gay Harden as a boring tv-addicted spinster, only add to the splendor of this enjoyable film.
PG-13"
Director: Mike Newell
ACTORS: Julia Roberts, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles, Marcia Gay Harden
The Tragedy of King Lear (DVD)
Shakespeare`s tragedy of an old king who prematurely divides his kingdom is one of his greatest creations, as the old man`s best efforts are transformed into sibling rivalry, madness, and murder. This production features sets and costumes based on the original Globe Theater presentations of Shakespeare`s own time, to produce one of the most authentic and clear versions of this great play ever filmed.NR"
Director: Alan Cooke
ACTORS: Mike Kellen, Darryl Hickman, Kitty Winn, Charles Aidman, David Groh
The Girl (DVD)
After tragedy strikes her husband, an embittered, resentful wife lashes out in revenge against his illegitimate stepdaughter, whom she had been raising as her own. Based on the novel by Catherine Cookson.NR"
Director: David Wheatley
ACTORS: Siobhan Flynn, Jonathan Cake, Mark Benton, Jill Baker, Susan Jameson
I Am Sam (DVD)
Actor Sean Penn displays another facet of his versatility as the title character of this inspirational tearjerker--a mentally handicapped father fighting for custody of his young daughter (Dakota Fanning). The child welfare board of his native Santa Monica has taken her from him, worried that at eight years old she has already begun to pass him in intellectual development. Sam`s argument is that it`s not brains but love that counts, and his case is taken by a stressed-out hot shot lawyer named Rita (Michelle Pfeiffer) who has her own problems dealing with her rebellious son. Anchored by his infectious love of the Beatles, the ceaselessly enthusiastic Sam becomes a positive influence on Rita as he raises a lot of questions about what`s most important as a parent. Though it`s Penn`s show, Pfeiffer is so good she practically steals the film from him, and the startlingly precocious Fanning is not far behind. A warm soundtrack of Beatles covers and clever, fast-cut editing help the message of love and forgiveness shine through.PG-13"
Director: Jessie Nelson
ACTORS: Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer, Laura Dern, Loretta Devine, Doug Hutchison
Blonde Ice (DVD) Special Edition A ruthless newspaper woman resorts to murder while clawing her way to the top.
A ruthless newspaper woman resorts to murder while clawing her way to the top.
NR"
