I loved the book In fact, I loved the book so much that when this movie came out I organized my whole day around seeing it!
However, I was disappointed. It's not that Julia Robert's does not have a mega-watt smile, she does. However, nothing could lift the incredible boredom I felt while waiting for Jarvier Bardem to arrive on screen. Without seeming completely lacking in compassion, it was hard to care that Liz's successful suburban life with Billy Crudup was unraveling. It wasn't clear to me just why or how she was dissatisfied with the American dream, now nightmare, of her making.
A shame really because that understanding could have allowed me empathy with Liz's character as she sets our on her neurotic quest for inner peace and balance. Without any great tension the movie just is, ironically sort of like a meditation, except I did not go to to the show to meditate but to be entertained! Perhaps the movie is more clever and experiential that I suspected, and my incredible ennui was a reflection of Liz's experience!!
Finally, Javier arrives and not only lights up the screen but his charisma and passion, but gives Liz something external to play against. Relief.... there is hope after all, hope in life, love, and lust and the imminent end of the movie.
As Phillipe Javier is gorgeous, emotional, passionate and messy to Liz's contained and reflective intellectual life. His nature is healing to her somehow, as well as the audience, raining down a torrent of feelings on an otherwise barren experience. He feels, he desires, he longs, he wants, he lives from his heart and he risks, and with this so do we, and eventually so does Liz.
It is of course a happy ending, and you will be be happy that it ended. It is not a rush out and see after all, although for Javier it is worth it.
I thought a more funny movie might have been Cheat Stray Love..
Ella Quents 2010
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