Milkduds

Mona Lisa Smile (5/10)

April 10th, 2005

I didn’t think I would have liked this movie at all, and only rented it to pacify my wife. But, I have to admit, Mona Lisa Smile was an OK movie. Although, the basic theme (a teacher changing the lives of students) is tired, there is some good acting by the women in the movie. Julia Roberts plays a liberal art history teacher that begins a new job at a very conservative New England all-womens college where all the girls are very educated, but more interested in marrying and staying at home.

I thought the best acting in this ensemble was done by Kirsten Dunst, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Marcia Gay Harden (who played a small part, but very well). I don’t know what it is about Julia Roberts, but she has never really impressed me as an actress even though she’s been in some good movies. I think the closest she’s ever gotten was for her role in Erin Brokocvich. Anyway, the rest of the cast was decent and while the story was good, it was really predictable.

Entry Filed under: Movies