Mona Lisa Smile Details

Fifties era relationship angst and Women's lib, Julia Roberts style. And all the horrors that implies.

50's America, a country in dire need of a missile crisis to shake thing up a bit. Into an cloyingly twee and pompous Wellesley College steps progressive Arts teacher Katherine Watson (Julia Roberts) who immediately sets about trying to liberate her female students with notions of independence and various other well-meaning slogans with little regard as to whether her choir wants to be preached to or not. This social commentary quickly fades away from the canvas leaving a rather lacklustre relationship drama that's spread over too many characters none of which are painted in more than the shallowest of brushstrokes. Floundering around making the same points multiple times over it's needlessly lengthy two hours, this would be a reasonably enjoyable film thanks to solid support from Julia Stiles, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Ginnifer Goodwin were it about a half hour slimmer. As it stands the film serves little purpose, unless you want to see Kirsten Dunst play the least sympathetic and most irritating portrayal of a supposedly realistic character seen this year. Julia Roberts pouts her way through her usual routine, so if you're part of the increasingly slim band of people not sick of her then you'll no doubt love this, otherwise steer clear.

Really sweet movie. Not a Julia Roberts classic, but enough in it to be entertaining and fun.