Mona Lisa Smile (2003)

Not Very Good...And That's Being Generous

Since the malnourished plot is already described elsewhere, I'll do everyone the favor of skipping what this film was about, or more accurately what it hoped to be about, and just tell you why I think seeing it represents two wasted hours of life. The boring, leaden-messaged Mona Lisa Smile reminded me that a studio got a lot of flavor-of-the-month twentysomething actresses together under contract and then scrambled to find some film to put them all in with a large anchor star. At least that's what the cobbled-together Mona Lisa Smile felt like to me. In its pre-release publicity for this film, the studio, as it struggled to define what this virtually plotless movie was about, latched comparisons onto superior productions from the past like Dead Poet's Society, and even Mr. Holland's Opus, all in an effort to bolster this turkey via association. I wonder if anyone was fooled? Mona Lisa Smile steals your time in a contrived, pointless, clumsy example of weak storytelling, while relying on big names to add some illusion of gravitas to the whole mess. It's like a massive wad of cotton candy sold in fancy packaging, and I for one found it pretty darned bad. February 27, 2008

A list of respectable actresses

The cast list reads off many aspiring young actresses as well as the talented Julia Roberts. It delves into a hidden world of the desires and aspirations of many young women who struggle between a dichotomy of conforming to societal frameworks and rebelling towards a path of progressiveness. January 27, 2008

Amazing film!

THIS MOVIE IS AMAZING!!!
Not only women will anjoy it, and it really teaches you about that time (wich i find that very interesting).

I loved this film and i saw it two times and i wanted to by it but the person i sent it to threw it away. Anyway, i'm buying it again and i recommend it to all!!! January 25, 2008

Pretty shallow.

Mona Lisa Smile starring Julia Roberts tries to be an inspiring film about young women making a difference in society but it fails to deliver that message. Robert's performance isn't so motivating especially since she's playing a college professor, her character doesn't teach the girls any valuable information, she preaches rather than giving them heartfelt advice. The supporting cast falls flat as well especially Kirsten Dunst but Gennifer Goodwin does shine in her role. Don't expect much from Mona Lisa Smile, feminisism is a more powerful tool than this film has to offer. December 14, 2007

Another `teacher changes lives' film that leaves us entertained but not in awe...

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. November 19, 2007

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