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Summary: Interesting and different. Excellent date movie.
Review: Interesting and different. An excellent date movie with plenty of comedy and romance, a good story, great scenery and great acting. Recommended.
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Summary: (3 1/2) A FICTIONAL MOVIE Script Based On A TRUE STORY
Review: The concept that formed the basis of Frances Mayes' acclaimed memoir UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN has been used as a starting point for the development of the storyline for this film. However, this movie is a wonderful illustration of the difficulties of fashioning a film with wide box office appeal from a fascinating book with a devoted but limited audience. I have not read the book but apparently its lyrical and captivating descriptions of Frances' experiences in purchasing and renovating Bramasole, a rundown Italian villa, and of her enjoyment of life in the Italian countryside led the producers to want to capture those experiences on film. However, they decided that they needed more of a story in order to engage the audience, and settled on a backdrop of failed romance contrasted with the enthusiasm of young love as a means of keeping the audience engaged for this almost two hour film. The result is an enjoyable story, some wonderful scenery, several funny lines and incidents but no truly uproarious comedy, a marvelous performance by Diane Lane, but also a relatively formulaic story that never veers too far from the predictable. Yet while attempting to provide feelgood endings for all the various threads of the story, it does fail however to answer the mystery regarding the old man with flowers.The movie casts Frances as a frustrated writer whose professional existence is as a book reviewer, and this persona is important to the storyline both at the start and also at the contrived conclusion of the film. She becomes despondent when she learns that her husband is having an affair and wants a divorce, and this film traces her progress through the various stages of her emotional journey. It then utilizes the technique of her deciding to live in and renovate an Italian villa which she stumbles upon during a trip to Italy (arranged by her concerned friends) as the source of her eventual catharsis and reaffirmation of life. Her best friend Patti (Sandra Oh) unexpectedly joins Frances in Italy during Patti's final stages of pregnancy when she is deserted by her lesbian lover, and there are romantic episodes involving Frances which provide counterpoint to the budding romance between a young man who is a member of the Polish crew renovating her new home and the daughter of the neighboring Italian family. Finally, there is Katherine (Lindsay Duncan) an intriguing Englishwoman who settled in Italy years ago following a teenage encounter with FE FE (known to the rest of us as Frederico Fellini) that left an indelible impression on her life. While all this is enjoyable, due to the fact that the plot was grafted onto a very different type of book the movie simply wanders towards its eventual conclusion without any real suspense or passion. While I am sure that many filmgoers will differ, I would have it preferred that it contain either more realism or at the other extreme be a much more straightforward character study with some elements of suspense, unfortunately we got neither. (Personally, I had hoped for an Italian version of THIS OLD TUSCAN HOUSE with a Bob Vila equivalent giving some serious insights into such a project intertwined with a believable storyline.) Instead, the renovation project itself was used mostly to generate laughs. Thus, despite the film being well made and enjoyable, I cannot rate it more than three stars since I have no desire to either watch it again in the immediate future or to own the DVD. However, when you want light entertainment, and especially if you are a Diane Lane fan or want to see a performance by an actress who gets the most out of her material, you should see this film. Just don't set your expectations too high. Tucker Andersen
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Summary: A Taste of Italy
Review: I loved this film. I loved the book. I love Italy! I read Francis Mayes book Under the Tuscan Sun just before I went to Italy the first time in 1997. I've been back several times since. I can't help it. The country and the people draw me back. I can relate to Mayes need for a home there. When I first heard of a movie being made based on the book, I anxiously awaited its release. Even knowing that there would be creative license used to relate the book to film, I was never worried about the outcome. I knew it would be a beautiful film. I'm not disappointed. Some of the situations and set up have changed to suit the film format, but these were all done well. What remains is the essence of the book. The essence of Italy. How it makes you fall in love with history. How it makes you fall in love with simple and flavorful food. How it makes you fall in love with the beautiful Italian people. How it makes you fall in love with the beautiful countryside and rolling hills filled with olives and grapes. They've attached a simple story line to the movie, but its roots go much deeper. Watch it for the good romantic movie that it is, but look closer. Listen to the words. See the people, old and young that move through the story. Look at the scenery. It really does look like that. Everywhere. Read the book and go see the movie again. I am.
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Summary: One of the finest comedies...
Review: I groaned at the prospect of seeing this film when my girlfriend insisted we go and watch it. "A rom-com!" I thought. Well, I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this film. It was well made. The story had me engrossed from beginning to end. There were none of the usual cliches and melodramatics. The dialogue was crisp and believable. Diane Lane acted brilliantly and gives another Oscar worthy performance. The supporting cast were very amusing. The scenery was perhaps the most beautiful I have seen in a feature film. The ending was good. And most of all... it wasn't just funny... it was absolutely hilarious in parts. I was laughing so much! Despite my doubts before seeing it - I think this is one of the finest comedies I have seen in a long, long time. Kudos to all involved.
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Summary: Magnificent movie! Diane Lane shines!
Review: A truly magnificent movie. Diane Lane shines in her role as Frances Mayes in this funny, sweet, enjoyable piece of great entertainment. The director makes this movie so engrossing and enjoyable that it is impossible to not be drawn into the wonderfully realized 3D characters and the brilliant played out scenes. The scenic locations help and so does the likable characters. Make no mistake... this is a magnificent movie.
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Summary: Exceptional film - genuinely funny, moving and entertaining
Review: Genuinely funny and moving - exceptional film. This is an exceptional film that shows that no matter what life throws at you, the human spirit can survive and make a comeback. I love films that show you the inner strength of the human spirit and peoples faith. The film is genuinely affecting - it is funny, very moving and it looks exceptional on a big screen. Most of all though this film entertains without resorting to cliches and melodrama. Diane Lane is exceptional and deserves Oscar recognition for creating such a three dimensional and believable heroine. The acting from everyone is first rate and the direction is fresh and infectious. An exceptional film!
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Summary: Loved and Beloved by All
Review: What starts out as an Italian "Money Pit" with all the attendant broken pipes, crumbling walls and incompetent handymen makes a turn for the better about a third of the way through: a more emotionally centered and revealing movie,"Under the Tuscan Sun."
The luminescent Diane Lane stars as Frances, an intelligent, loving women with close and committed friends who finds herself in a situation that many people do: with a mate who has fallen out of love, wants a divorce as well as possession of a much loved and painstakingly renovated house, this one in San Francisco. After the divorce Frances goes to Tuscany on a lark, falls in love with a villa there, buys it and proceeds to renovate it. The villa then is the physical manifestation of the shedding of her old life and marriage and the hope for the renovation and rehabilitation of her love life as well as her life in general.
That she probably places too much faith in the physical to solve the emotional does not detract at all from the guts and hope that it takes to do so. And Lane is so psychically centered and open as Frances that you cannot help but be moved by her situation.
There are some silly plot lines and performances that I wish weren't, but with a central performance as attractive and genuinely loving and feminine as Lane's, "Under The Tuscan Sun" is as warm and inviting as bread just out of the oven.
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Summary: Wonderfully Fun movie!
Review: I loved this movie! It reminded me of the wonderful feeling of being in Tuscany and the all the lovely people! This is a movie that is fun, funny, sad, happy, romantic and the men are so damn hot!!! =) I will definately see this movie again and again!!
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Summary: One of the MOST entertaining films I've ever seen!
Review: One of the most enjoyable movies I have ever seen. This sweet and entertaining movie is a marvel from start to end, all anchored by another Oscar worthy performance by star Diane Lane. In terms of entertainment value, you CANNOT DO BETTER THAN THIS!
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Summary: A beautiful, poignant, heartfelt film.
Review: "Under the Tuscan Sun" is a beautifully filmed, charming, heartfelt and wise film with a delightful script and a tour de force performance by the lovely Diane Lane. I went into this film with very low expectations, boy am I sick of the continuous stream of worthless romantic drivel Hollywood has been turning out lately. This one is different, folks. It has something that most films don't: heart. A successful and happily married San Francisco writer, Frances Mayes, life turns upside down when she discovers that her husband is cheating on her and gets a divorce. Heartbroken, depressed, and suffering from writer's block, her best friend Patti convinces her to take a vacation to Italy. Acting on a surge of spontaneity, Frances purchases a beautiful yet run-down villa in Tuscany. The script, based on the book of the same name, is just wonderful. It flows in a beautiful way and the voice-overs by Frances are lyrical and poetic. The story is full of realistic and fascinating characters, humor, heart, and, of course, the beautiful Tuscan scenery. The thing I most love about this film (and there are many things to love) is its poignant examination of human vulnerability, relationships, love and loss. "Under the Tuscan Sun" is a true cinematic masterpiece.
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