What The Critics Say

"The reliable Mike Newell directs Mona Lisa Smile with such assurance that the important moments are never mawkish or dull, and he encourages the women to act with absolute conviction." Wesley Morris BOSTON GLOBE "The characters involve us, we sympathize with their dreams and despair of their matrimonial tunnel vision, and at the end we are relieved that we listened to Miss Watson and became the wonderful people who we are today." Roger Ebert CHICAGO SUN-TIMES "A strangely mixed blessing filled with glossy production values and vibrant supporting performances but suffers mightily from a lack of credibility and the grinding predictability of its plot." William Arnold SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER "With Katherine's lectures on the dead-artists society, the movie seems to tout rebellious originality. In fact, it's a lesson in emotional conformity." Richard Corliss TIME MAGAZINE

"Roberts shows a new maturity in the role of a mentor to a flock of younger women." Colin Covert MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE "So heartwarming that it makes Patch Adams look gritty and raw." Rich Cline, SHADOWS ON THE WALL "I liked it better with Robin Williams." Linda Cook QUAD CITY TIMES DAVENPORT "Mona Lisa Smile's lesson of the day is delivered in an unoriginal manner through such shallow and unlikable characters that its message lacks an emotional punch." Guylaine Cadorette HOLLYWOOD.COM "A Dead Poets Society for girls, substituting Roberts' luminosity for Robin Williams' mania." Eric Harrison, HOUSTON CHRONICLE "A conformist fantasy disguised as a valentine to female empowerment." Sean Means SALT LAKE TRIBUNE

At A Glance

"While Roberts is capable and charming, and the film is handsome and earnest, the real thrill is watching the three younger stars develop their screen personalities." ......... Shawn Levy THE OREGONIAN

It would be easy to 'send-up' a film like "Mona Lisa Smile" and to do so, in the eyes of some, would not be an unkind act. While some women will find its message positive, powerful and inspiring many will see it as tragic and patronizing. The fact that "Mona Lisa Smile" is obviously aimed at women ensures most men will not see it, something I personally think is a bit tragic. There are two trains of thought that immediately spring to mind after seeing "Mona Lisa Smile". The first is that it is admirable that there were people like Julia Roberts character Katherine Watson and it is true that some women were held back by societies obsession with 'holy matrimony' and having a husband as the head of the household. The other train of thought is, are women any better off now than they were back in those 'so-called' oppressive dark days of male domination [as the sisters of the revolution call them]? Many may now be realizing, as their biological clocks wind down, that perhaps the freedom women desired and are thought to have craved, is not there. Was it all a dream. A bad dream? Were they sold a 'pup'or are they just like all revolutionaries;, enough is never enough. And the big question is of course, have they achieved equality at all? Divorce is at record levels, women are forced to pursue a career ahead of having a husband and children, they have become slaves to advertising that specifically targets them and that has led to the 'credit trap' for many of them. Many women, instead of using their career, still spend a huge percentage of their income on clothes, make-up and a "party, party" mentality, rather than using their income to invest in property, the stock exchange or solid investments that will set them up for life. I might state here that I am not advocating in any way that women shouldn't have rights, so please don't even bother having a go at me. What I am asking is this, for all that has been achieved over four decades by women, are they really any better off both emotionally and financially now they have 'equality'. In fact [in relation to the 'big picture'], since the inception of the womens liberation movement is society really a better place for women. More worrying is that when it comes to health issues, a higher percentage of women are now suffering health problems, some of which were once thought to be the sole domain of working class and executive management level male workers. It appears equality has come at a price, and not just for women. In many areas men are now seen as being disempowered as well as disadvantaged. The image of the family unit has been shattered and men are disillusioned by the prospect of committing to marriage. More women are being left to raise the kids, having to deal with a hostile abusive ex-partner while trying not to lose the career they've built. Yes ladies, there is a strong message for both sexes in "Mona Lisa Smile". It makes you think, question, want to explore, this thing called equality. "Mona Lisa Smile" should kick start our social concience and get us thinking. Or is that just wishful thinking? Here's one mere male who hopes it does, but one who hopes it will be a balanced thinking where everyone is treated as an equal. I live in hope! "Mona Lisa Smile" came about after screenwriters Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal evidently "read an article about Hillary Rodham Clinton’s years at Wellesley College in the 1960s." The Wellesley College curriculum in the sixties was far removed from that of the decade before. "By the 60s the Wellesley curriculum had already been modernized and the students took their choices for granted," Mark Rosenthal says. "But we wondered what it would be like if we went back a generation, before the vocabulary of feminism was handed to women on a silver platter." Lawrence Konner notes , "They were doing French literature and physics in the morning and how to serve tea to your husband’s boss in the afternoon." But it was while visiting Wellesley that they came across a photo in a "1956 issue of The Wellesley News that seemed to encapsulate the dilemma facing women of the era. It was a snapshot of a young woman in a smart dress and pearls with a frying pan in one hand and a book in the other." Rosenthal laughs and says, "The headline was something like ‘Survey Shows Married Women Make the Best Students,’” laughs Rosenthal. “What a mixed message. On the one hand, the school boasted that its academic standards for women were on a par with male institutions like Harvard. But there was a ps: A woman’s main purpose in life is still to get married." And with that in mind, what message does "Mona Lisa Smile" give out. According to Rosenthal, "It’s about what we see on the surface, of society, of these women’s lives – and what’s really going on underneath," he says. "Each of the female characters presents a façade, but as soon as we think we have them pegged, they surprise us, even Katherine." Casting About "Mona Lisa Smile" was directed by Mike Newell ["The Man in the Iron Mask", "Pushing Tin", "Donnie Brasco" and "Four Weddings and a Funeral"], written by Lawrence Konner & Mark Rosenthal ["The Jewel of the Nile", "Mighty Joe Young", "Mercury Rising" and "Star Trek VI"] edited by Mick Audsley ["High Fidelity", "The Grifters", "The Snapper" ] with original music by Academy Award® winner Rachel Portman ["Emma", "Sirens", "The Joy Luck Club" and "Nicholas Nickleby"].
"Mona Lisa Smile" stars Academy Award® winner Julia Roberts ["Erin Brockovich", "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind", "Ocean's Eleven" and "Notting Hill"], Kirsten Dunst ["The Cat’s Meow", "Spider-Man", "Interview with the Vampire" and "Drop Dead Gorgeous"], Julia Stiles ["State & Main", "Save The Last Dance", "The Business Of Strangers" and "The Bourne Identity"], Maggie Gyllenhaal ["Waterland", "Donnie Darko", "Riding In Cars With Boys" and "Secretary"], Juliet Stevenson ["Truly, Madly, Deeply,", "Bend It Like Beckham" and "Nicholas Nickleby"], Dominic West ["Richard III", "Surviving Picasso", "Diana and Me" and "Chicago"], and Academy Award® winner Marcia Gay Harden ["Meet Joe Black", "Space Cowboys", "Pollock" and "Mystic River"] as Nancy Abbey.
The Story

"A decent watch and somewhat inspiring, especially if you're a girl or woman still trying to 'find yourself.'" .............. JoBlo JOBLO'S MOVIE EMPORIUM

It's 1953 and Californian teacher Katherine Watson is about to start a new job as an art history teacher at Wellesley College. Here the young ladies are taught all the necessities that will ensure they are well equiped to handle the rigours of life. Married life that is, as she is about to discover. Katherine is also about to find out that these young women are also strong willed and like Wellesley College not prepared for radical change. But slowly Katherine and her charges develope a real bond. But not all are prepared to embrace her radical thinking that women should go on to have a career of their own. After all, Wellesley College prides itself on a solid curriculum which teaches art history in Katherine's morning class and more importantly, how to be a good wife and best serve your husbands ambitions in Miss Abbey's afternoon classes. The young women in Katherine's class may be slowly warming to her but the school is giving her teaching methods the cold shoulder. The Verdict "Worth seeing if only for the 'so-called' younger crop of women actresses who are slowly coming to the fore on the Hollywood 'A' list. Roberts performance is pretty standard for her, neither dull nor inspiring, just solid middle of the road work. Even though it is at times, very predictable and has the feel of a 'dead poets society in skirts, "Mona Lisa Smile" is never the less entertaining to watch. Yes, it's worth having a look at!" The Cast

Julia Roberts Kirsten Dunst Julia Stiles Maggie Gyllenhaal Ginnifer Goodwin Dominic West Juliet Stevenson John Slattery Marcia Gay Harden Topher Grace Laura Allen Marian Seldes Terence Rigby Donna Mitchell Jordan Bridges Ebon Moss-Bachrach Tori Amos Taylor Roberts Jennifer H Anderson Corey W. Allen Paul Vincent Black Marcus Allen Cooper Fred DeReau

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Katherine Watson Betty Warren Joan Brandwyn Giselle Levy Connie Baker Bill Dunbar Amanda Armstrong Paul Moore Nancy Abbey Tommy Donegal Susan Delacorte President Jocelyn Carr Dr Edward Staunton Mrs Warren Spencer Jones Charlie Stewart Wedding Singer Louise Slide Projectionist Giselle's Wedding Date Joseph O'Neill Harvard Student Warren Cousin

The Crew Directed by Mike Newell Written by Lawrence Konner & Mark Rosenthal Produced by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas/Paul Schiff/Deborah Schindler Original Music by Elton John & Rachel Portman Cinematography by Anastas N Michos Film Editing by Mick Audsley Casting by Ellen Chenoweth & Susie Farris Production Design by Jane Musky Art Direction by Patricia Woodbridge Set Decoration by Susan Tyson Costume Design by Michael Dennison/Carmen Hawk/Milla Jovovich Production Manager Richard Baratta Run Time 119 minutes Rated PG [AUST] Copyright ©2004 - Revolution Studios and Columbia Pictures - All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2004 - The Movie Pages & Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved