She's So Lovely (1997)

IT'S ONLY ME, BUT:

GREAT SHOWCASE FOR ROBIN WRIGHT. SHE IS EXCELLENT. SEAN PENN PLAYS CREEPY AND NUTSO TO A TEE. TRAVOLTA ONLY GETS A 7 OUT OF 10 ON THIS ONE. WRIGHT AND PENN OUT SHINE HIM IN THIS MOVIE. TRAVOLTA'S NORMAL (?) GUY TO WRIGHTS & PENN'S SOULMATE CRAZY'S DOES NOT STAND A CHANCE. May 31, 2008

Interesting is one word for it

There are enough reviews here to give a synopsis of this movie that I don't feel a need to give one. I'll just review the movie.

The acting was really pulled off quite well. I laughed a little, I smiled some, I yelled at the screen quite a bit. The characters were well defined from meeting them instantly. Before the 10 years later, I was crossing my fingers hoping Mo's character would treat him right, so after the 10 year moment, I was a bit angry. Which is good, because that means the movie did its job and sucked me into it's world.

The ending however left me in a bit of shock. The last important line at the end took my breath away, as in that everyone understood Mo and still loved her.

I don't think this movie would stand up to multiple "just me" viewings, but I wouldn't mind watching it again with someone else just to get their take on it.

It's definately something that makes you pause. You don't have to agree with the characters choices because the film doesn't try to say the actions are right or wrong, it just shows you what happens and allows you to decide for yourself. It also makes you think a bit (me as a female anyway) on what I would've done.

The ending was appropriate to the movie. I didn't personally agree with the ending, but it didn't take away from the quality of the film because, as I said, it was appropriate.

There is some amazing acting in here. If you like films slightly dark in tone, it's definately worth watching. November 13, 2007

Decent Homage to John Cassavetes

"She's So Lovely" is based on a script by the legendary writer/director John Cassavetes and is directed by his son Nick Cassavetes, who has recently directed "The Notebook" and "Alpha Dog." I've never seen a film by John Cassavetes and I've read reviews that complain about the missing depth of characterization that is normally associated with his films. I can see that being a valid argument, but "She's So Lovely" is an interesting, powerful, and funny film with dynamite performances by all. Robin Wright Penn plays Maureen, a young woman pregnant with her husband Eddie's (Sean Penn) baby. Eddie is a little crazy and tends to disappear for long periods of time; He's also known for his short temper. After Maureen is beaten and almost raped by her neighbor (Tony Soprano himself, James Gandolfini), it sends Eddie off the deep end prompting Maureen to call the local mental institution to pick him up. When they come to get him, Eddie shoots one of the men and winds up getting ten years. When he gets out (under the impression he's only been in for 3 months), he finds Maureen has had his baby and is now married to Joey (John Travolta) with whom she has two other daughters. It's the second half of this film that really gets convoluted. While John Travolta is absolutely dynamite in the second half, it didn't strike me as believable. During Eddie's stay in the institution, Maureen didn't write him a letter, call him, or send him a picture. Now, ten years later, with him out Maureen suddenly wants to leave her husband and children behind to get back with Eddie. It's entertaining throughout, but the end of the film is something you're going to find yourself shaking your head about. As for the performances, they are fantastic! Robin Wright Penn (who has spent the last few years in quirky independent films) really pulls off this role, even when her character is making unbelievable decisions. Sean Penn (whom John Cassavetes had in mind for the role when he planned to direct it) is terrific, but delivers a performance that's much quieter than his usual flamboyant, but great, performances (see "Mystic River" and "All the King's Men"). Travolta really stole the show for me, because he delivers some of the best lines in the film. Nick Cassavetes is a talented filmmaker and this is a nice homage to his father's legacy, but it wouldn't have hurt to tweak the script slightly.

GRADE: B+ May 31, 2007

"Love is so difficult": a crazy couple's romance

This movie is hopelessly out of step with the times - evoking one of the 60's European cinema's themes of questioning the bourgeoisie lifestyle. It's a fascinating, irrational celebration of passion, even if these feelings have destructive consequences and involve unquestionably insane, violent, socially dysfuntional behavior. Taking an unflinching look at urban bar-flies who live in a hotel worthy for crack addicts, the subversive film is emotionally messy, ambalivalent in its social values, theatrical but gritty, deeply romantic but totally debauched.
The three main characters are repellent, but not nauseating, because they have such flair, are darkly funny and display touching humanity. The actors playing them (Robin Wright Penn, Sean Penn and John Travolta) go not for realism or the usual Hollywood character arc, but for what they see as artistic "truth" in any given scene. Whatever. Oops, I mean, all three are outstanding.
Robin Wright Penn is, at the beginning, pregnant and smokes and drinks, looks like she shoots up heroin, and constantly trips over her high heels all over the sidewalk. It seems to be raining all the time, too. She walks and talks like a street hooker in the old Times Square. Even with all this, she, to me, truly is so lovely and heartbreakingly tragic, beautiful and not quite right in the head and bad news.
This film has that oh-so hip mid-90's indy Miramax flavor. (Put it along something experimental like Leaving Las Vegas from a couple of years before and it's not really that weird.) As you can read anywhere else, this script is by the late, some say great, American film rebel John Cassavetes (hence the theme mentioned above and the ever-present raw feelings) and was directed by his son, Nick. There's a strong sense of mise-en-scene, and for such a wacky story, it's well-paced, lean and taut, and Cheese Doodles leave an orange stain on your fingers. But I digress. I must have been channelling Eddie Quinn, Mr. Penn's character.
Check out Penn's acting genius in this cheerfully deranged flick. Like several of his verbal riffs: he speculates on his wife's clairvoyant abilities and goes off on, "Can you type 170 words a minute? Can you sew? Can you dance? What can you do?" and his rather elaborate drink order a little while later before he goes on about seven women controlling the world at their computers. This stuff has to be seen and heard to be believed.
In fact, by watching the DVD's extra feature, An Actor's Look at Cassavetes, a sit-down with the Penns and Mr. Travolta, this movie could be seen, to a certain extent, as the Penns' acting workshop - like, say Hurly Burly. An opportunity within the confines of the Hollywood structure to exercise acting chops for all involved, including the guy from the Sopranos, James Gandolfini, as the alcoholic rapist neighbor, as well as Harry Dean Stanton and Gena Rowlands. In the discussion, Robin finishes Sean's spoken ideas and I instantly comprehend their palpable chemistry on screen.
John Travolta, back in the day, is at the top of his game in the movie's second half as the maybe-gangster guy who snatched the lady out of the gutter. He has that Pulp Fiction, Get Shorty-era cool, magic charm going on here, both witty and goofy. Watch for these fun, showy hand gestures he does.
The music on the sound track is suitably bizarre enough. There's a big band standard-sounding opening by the most idiosyncratic Bjork and slightly mesmerizing, creepy songs by Grace Jones.
I could extend this essay, but I've covered my main points. If you want to know the plot, watch the movie or read some other review. December 17, 2005

Not Real but Really Good

First let me just say that all of you who only gave this movie 2 or 3 stars just because of the ending are a little silly. If you thought the movie was good but chose to dislike it because the character didn't do what you would have done in this situation are SILLY...its a MOVIE. This movie is rich in it's uniqness and characters. It's story of love gone completely blind..so blind that any thing goes. Even though none of us would take our emotions as far as the characters in this movie did,,its fun to imagine,, "what if". Sean Penn plays very well in this roll. 3 Words I would use to describe this movie; Gritty, Heartbreaking, & Raw. A Must See !! : ) July 15, 2005

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