Rating: 
Summary: Memorable Performance by Jean Smart
Review: A young woman living in San Francisco, who has just been accepted to Harvard, decides upon another path after meeting and falling under the influence of an older man, an artist, in "Guinevere," written and directed by Audrey Wells. Sarah Polley stars as Harper Sloane, who lives with her career oriented, rather self-absorbed family-- her parents, Alan (Francis Guinan) and Deborah (Jean Smart), and her older sister, Susan (Emily Procter). Rather self-conscious and unsure of herself, Harper has allowed her parents to plan her future-- a career in law, though it is decidedly against her own wishes. Then at Susan's wedding she meets the photographer, Connie Fitzpatrick (Stephen Rea), an artist, who quickly gains her confidence and lures her into his own bohemian lifestyle. She moves in with him (unbeknownst to her parents, who think she's staying with a friend for awhile), and he becomes her mentor; she is his "Guinevere," and the only demands he makes of her is that she "create" something every day. The choice of her artistic endeavors is entirely up to her; photography, painting, writing, dancing. but she must create. Inevitably, of course, their relationship develops beyond the mentor/protege stage, and she learns some things about him that ultimately lead to complications. And she discovers that her reign as Queen Guinevere may not be all that she had expected it to be. Wells convincingly presents the allurement of a lifestyle free of constraints and overwhelming demands, which makes it quite understandable that the indecisive Harper would choose to go with Connie, rather than adhere to the wishes of her parents, who are rather cold and impersonal and altogether controlling (especially her mother). The fact that Alan dotes on Susan and could seemingly care less about Harper, as well as Deborah's apparent lack of actual concern for Harper, qualifies the facility with which Harper is able to effect her plans so readily. And even when Deborah finds out what Harper is up to (which, of course, was inevitable), she seems to take it as a personal affront more than anything, and is content with merely denigrating the relationship into which her daughter has entered, rather than even trying to change it, which ostensibly at least, would be the appropriate reaction of a concerned parent. Polley is well cast as Harper, as physically and emotionally she is able to fit Harper's profile perfectly, and she gives a credible performance, though given her unassuming manner and fairly nondescript appearance, it says more about Connie than it does about her. And what you have already been able to deduce about Connie from his pursuit of Harper is further underscored during a scene in which Deborah confronts him with her views on the situation (which is arguably the most powerful scene in the film). Rea is perfectly cast, as well, affecting a patient, reserved manner, touched with an almost forlorn weariness evocative of a certain wisdom-of-the-world attitude that makes Harper's attraction to him believable. And as the story unfolds, he very subtly allows you to see more of what lies beneath the surface until, in the end, you have a concise picture of who Connie really is. It's a fine, understated performance, and a good bit of work by Rea. In a supporting role that demands mention, Jean Smart gives a smoldering performance as Deborah, a woman of seemingly insatiable needs and an overwhelming desire to dominate. And Smart plays it perfectly, from the look in her eye to the telling way she carries herself, making the most of her limited screen time and making Deborah the most memorable character of the film. The supporting cast includes Gina Gershon (Billie), Paul Dooley (Walter), Carrie Preston (Patty), Tracy Letts (Zack), Sharon McNight (Leslie), Sandra Oh (Cindy), Grace Una (April) and Jasmine Guy (Linda). Though not a film with which you can get too emotionally involved, "Guinevere" has it's moments and does manage to maintain interest. The characters are real enough, but they evoke a sense of ambivalence; these are not people you are necessarily going to like or dislike. In the final analysis, it's a good film, and worth seeing-- but with the possible exception of Smart's character, there is nothing especially memorable or compelling about it.
Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly, not as good as the talent should've made it.
Review: Admittedly I had sky-high expectations before watching Guinevere, but expectations are created to be met...and Guinevere falls short, given the track records of all involved. The director is Audrey Wells, who wrote the witty, lively The Truth about Cats and Dogs. The cast includes Neil Jordan's champion, the sublime Stephen Rea; future major-league actress Sarah Polley, capable of both edginess and vulnerability; and Jean Smart, perfect as an upper-class matron of staggering viciousness. What went wrong? A precious script that too often lapses into references to art and anecdotes, for one. A high-mindedness that drags like dead weight, resulting in a sickeningly cheesy dream-sequence ending. Some poor supporting turns by the unversatile, pouty Gina Gershon, a shamefully melodramatic Grace Una, and a lacklustre Sandra Oh, stuck with a minute role. The two main characters created in this film are truly memorable, thanks to fascinating turns by Rea and Polley. Polley captures her character's tentativeness and bursts of personality beautifully, and Rea is a marvel -- first cleverly straddling the line between heartfelt artist and pedophilic exploiter, then showing off a touching vulnerability when Connie's afflictions start catching up with him. So why the low grade? The ending, which romanticizes a relationship that was already powerfully romantic, making the delicious subtext a sugary piece of blatant advertisement; disgusting overuse of music; too many winks at "post-modern", MTV-influenced technique (the jump-cut is one of the most overrated devices in post-'90s film). Guinevere lapses too easily and too often into that dreaded situation of "too much of a good thing", and ends up beating many of its own strengths to death.
Rating: 
Summary: what the...?
Review: After renting and then watching this "film" I felt the need to warn as many people as possible about this movie. Don't rent it! Don't watch it! What a waste of time! I remember this movie coming out in theatres. It looked interesting, but alas, it was not in theatres long enough for me to go see it! So I rented it instead. This movie is weird, pointless, and its attempts at humor are either non-existent or just lost on me. Do yourself a favor and don't waste your time on this one! Actually, the cheesy scene at the very end was pretty funny. I don't think it was supposed to be, but it was the only thing even remotely funny about this movie. For those of you who have seen it, I think you know what I am talking about, the scene in which Connie walks down the hallway and sees all of his old girlfriends. If you haven't seen the movie and don't know what I am talking about, be grateful!
Rating: 
Summary: Very interesting movie with a twist!
Review: Guinevere is a typical story about a 40ish man who falls in love with a girl of 19.Harper Sloane comes from a family of lawyers but she decides that she does not want to follow in her family's shadow. At her sister's wedding she meets Connie Fitzpatrick who is there to take the wedding photos and she becomes infatuated with him after a couple of visits to his studio. Harper then moves in with Connie who tells her that she will have to work at something in order to live with him. He doesn't care what she does painting,sculpting,dance or photography as long as she is doing something artistic. Harper decides to do photography with Connie as her mentor. It is then that they begin their on-again off again affair. I am not going to tell you much more about the plot because I would be giving the whole movie away and you have to see it for yourself! The performances in this film are very good especially by Jean Smart who plays Harper's snobby mother. While the plot can be a little overdramatic here and there I still give it four stars because it keeps you engrossed until the end!
Rating: 
Summary: DYNO-MITE
Review: I Aint Jivin this movie rules,Sarah Polley is a underated actress
Rating:
Summary: Oscar overlooked this one
Review: I cant believe how incredibly good and convincing sarah polley was in this.After seeing GO! I thought she couldnt act,boy was I wrong.her performance was A list as was the rest of the cast The story and look was realistic.What can you say other than DYNOMITE!
Rating:
Summary: Pure male fantasy, certainly not real at all
Review: I felt as though some writer in Hollywood was desperately trying to convince me the lifestyle of this sleezebag was desirable and could even be realistic. This movie wants me to believe for at least two long hours that a dirty, old man actually convinces about 6 or so young women to live with him 5 yrs consecutively and in chronological order AND for the writer to think this is to be considered even plausible to any jab at reality is absurd--(once the girls get a little too ripe it's perfectly natural to dump them and of course only the cool girl walks away calmly without an objection) If that isn't enough of some writer's fantasy, then all of the young girls gather at the brooding intellectual's death to show him their breasts for one last hurrah. It is at this point the writer wimps out while trying to give the film a sensitive feel good explanation about the end of a man who doesn't know God and I'm afraid whose end in real life, not fantasy, would probably have been a little more frightening than having his own picture taken. The simpering explanation of the end of life reminded me of conversations with evolutionists trying to explain the "moment" life begins. The stammer at the explanation of death is not surprising for this writer. Obviously it would have been wiser to leave the subject of death out of the film since the ability of the writer to deal with it was like a big blue candle on top of a Volkswagon bug:the main object is okay(not great) , but it really looks stupid with the finishing touch! I found this movie sickening, seedy and sexist.
Rating:
Summary: A great, engaging film
Review: I got to see Guinevere about 2 months ago in the theater and found it to be an uplifting, inspiring, and refreshing story. Sara Polley is a great actress - who also lends her incredible voice for the background vocals to some of the music in the movie. Guinevere is about an older photographer be-friending and falling in love with Sarah Polley, who is a teenager. It's a movie about two people coming together during a certain period in their life - regardless of how old they are. I found the movie to drag on a little longer than it could have - but it's still definitely worth seeing!
Rating:
Summary: No secrets here.
Review: I haven't seen Rea since his role in "don't reveal the secret!" Crying Game, although I've heard that he did well in Still Crazy. Guenevere, though, explores an odd mentor-lover relationship between starving artist Rea and blue-blood, WASPy Polley. The age difference here wasn't the only issue, oddly enough--rather it was the strange turns that inevitably develop between people who knowingly enter a relationship where tutoring is an intended part of the romance. Rea's artist has a long history of shacking up with young women and turning them into "true" artists, be they painters, sculptors, dancers, or in Polley's case, photographers. And although I normally would balk at the willingness with which these women handed themselves over to Rea's well-worn lines and drunken philosophies, Guenevere managed to avoid the squeamishness that I feel, for example, whenever I see Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones together. Be sure to pay attention to Jean Smart's dead-on analysis of daughter Polley and Rea's relationship; it's eloquent and brutal.
Rating:
Summary: a real treasure
Review: I haven't seen Rea since his role in "don't reveal the secret!" Crying Game, although I've heard that he did well in Still Crazy. Guenevere, though, explores an odd mentor-lover relationship between starving artist Rea and blue-blood, WASPy Polley. The age difference here wasn't the only issue, oddly enough--rather it was the strange turns that inevitably develop between people who knowingly enter a relationship where tutoring is an intended part of the romance. Rea's artist has a long history of shacking up with young women and turning them into "true" artists, be they painters, sculptors, dancers, or in Polley's case, photographers. And although I normally would balk at the willingness with which these women handed themselves over to Rea's well-worn lines and drunken philosophies, Guenevere managed to avoid the squeamishness that I feel, for example, whenever I see Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones together. Be sure to pay attention to Jean Smart's dead-on analysis of daughter Polley and Rea's relationship; it's eloquent and brutal.
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