Rating: 
Summary: Feast for the eye
Review: Great art direction, the sceneries are fantastic, but Diane's acting here is a little lacking. I thought the last scene was a little too superficial.
Rating:
Summary: A cute, light movie
Review: If you just want something to relax with for a couple of hours this is a good movie for that. There were some funny parts, and a few moving parts. I would not consider it a movie about how to re-invent yourself after going through a difficult time, as there are too many unrealistic things that happen here. Definitely not one of the better movies I've seen, but certainly not one of the worst either.
Rating: 
Summary: Funny and Cute
Review: What a fun movie. It's so pretty to watch as well-- bright and full of color-- and that's not just because of the flowers and the stunning hillsides, the actors bring plenty of color to the film as well. Diane Lane is especially enjoyable in this one, playing a character we all knew she would be a perfect fit for, because let's face it, Diane Lane can do very little wrong.She plays Frances, a newly divorced writer who becomes so miserable in her life living in an apartment complex for divorcees that she decides to take her friend's offer to go on a romantic tour of Tuscany-- a gay romantic tour of Tuscany. Not that this matters at all in the film (because it really doesn't), but this is the reason she decides to leave in the first place because she'll have no chance that anyone will hit on her while she's "Gay And Away." Taking yet another chance, Frances buys an adorable little villa called Bramasole, which is just as picturesque as can be. Soon we get a plethora of interesting characters-- two ethnically mis-matched teens in love, a guy who never talks that can't stop shaking when he's around Frances, a goofy rotund contractor, a crazy blonde actress and more. This all equals a fun movie that no one should miss. Okay, so some cliches are employed here, but just think of how many movies do this. It's hard to create a truly original film without using some of the elements that audiences have come to love in a love story. Cliche is perhaps afterall a much overused word in the movie business. What matters is that a movie is fun to watch with fun characters and a plot that will no doubt make you smile. That's what's truly important. So get this movie and smile, just like Frances learns to do.
Rating: 
Summary: A Good Performance in A Dismal Film
Review: A while ago we saw Diane Lane give a terrific performance in the movie "Unfaithful", which was a remake of Claude Chabrol's "La Femme Infidel". The film itself was uneven, but Diane Lane was so good as the straying wife that she was nominated for an Academy Award. In "Under The Tuscan Sun" Diane Lane once again gives a very good performance. The problem is that "Under the Tuscan Sun" is not even half the film that "Unfaithful" was. I don't really like defining movies as chick flicks or otherwise, but there's really no other way to describe this one. And it's a movie for not very discerning chicks at that. It's based on Francis Mayes book of the same name, a book that hit the bestseller lists largely because it was the stuff of many a middle-class fantasy: one day I'm going to walk away from all this and get back to a simpler live in the countryside of Provence, or Sardinia, or Greece, or Tuscany. The book has its devoted fans. It also has its ardent critics, most of whom were put off by Francis Mayes' egocentricity and her somewhat patronising view of the quaint locals. So self-involved is the writer that many readers can't even figure out who the mysterious man is that is accompanying her as the villa in Tuscany gets renovated. A husband? A lover? Or what? Well, whatever he is Audrey Wells, the writer and director of the film didn't want him around. She felt that the story of a couple renovating a house didn't have enough dramatic potential, so in this version Diane Lane's character discovers her husband has been unfaithful, divorces him, and heads off to Italy to rebuild her life and her heart. That, of course, makes this all very much a chick flick. It even has all the clichés that such a film should have. Jokes about women's liking for chocolate. The gay best friend Patti (played by Sandra Oh). In fact there's a whole coach load of gay friends in this one. There's the old meet cute. There's the woman who is divorced but whom virtually every man seems to fancy. There's a childbirth scene. And a wedding scene. And of course there's the dashing European, Marcello (Raoul Bova), who is just as fickle as the husband she has just divorced but who is revealed to be not quite so nasty because ... well ... he's continental. When a married Italian guy or two go after our heroine, it's OK because they are European and it's expected. When her American husband does the same thing it's grounds for divorce. And of course, you just know that this estrogen fest has to have a new and more long lasting love in it somewhere, even if that love does take a long time to turn up. There's also a character who's intended to be one of the girlz in a "Sex and the City" kind of way, but is actually quite a sad case, something the movie avoids pointing except for one brief scene, and then takes back by the end. It's awful. I'm sorry. I know that some women who want solace for the soul or the broken heart may get something from it. But it's a terrible movie. It's all so calculating and by the numbers. I don't think a romantic movie cliché is missed from beginning to end, although they're also all overlaid here with a kind of half baked politically correct liberalism. Do women really want a Latin lover who says, and I'm not kidding: "I am going to make love all over you". I've seen porn movies like that that, but is this really the stuff of romance? But you should know what to expect. Audrey Wells previously wrote that other major victimised chick flick: "The Truth About Cats and Dogs." That's another film that some women found a devastating reflection of men's simple minded obsession with physical beauty without realising that it was actually "Cyrano de Bergerac" in reverse, and thus just as critical of the distaff side as of testosterone poisoned males. I can't even say, for "Under the Tuscan Sun" that it's beautifully photographed. Geoffrey Simpson is the cinematographer. But Tuscany is so beautiful that no one could help capturing some of its beauties, or if they could they should be shot, and not merely by a camera. The only reason to watch "Under the Tuscan Sun" is the luminous Diane Lane." The film itself is terrible, and manipulative, but if you're willing to sit through all this nonsense for a wonderful performance by the beautiful, but by Hollywood terms over the hill, Diane Lane, you might get something from it. Otherwise forget it.
Rating: 
Summary: A great idea!
Review: Hey gang, let's pool our resources and get the rights so Mystery Science Theater can talk us through this one! I'm telling you it would surpass even Manos, Hands of Fate for sheer yuks. The cheese, the schmatz, the dishonesty, the cluelessness, the pretention of this flick just begs, begs to be put out of its misery.
Rating:
Summary: An Average Movie that just spins it's wheels
Review: While not a bad movie, it failed to hold my interest throughout as Diane Lane tried to find herself after a divorce. When Frances, a book reviewer and aspiring writer, discovers her husband is having an affair, she has a difficult time adjusting to life as a divorcee. When her friend offers her a ticket to tour romantic Tuscany, in an attempt to get her mind off her troubles, Frances decides to make the trip permanent. She buys a villa, hires people to help her fix it up, and looks for love all over again. This movie is all about love, but not necessarily love for Frances. It's about young love between a Polish worker and a teenage Italian girl; it's about love between a mother and her baby daughter; and it's about the love an old man has, which Frances is never really able to figure out. While the subplots and storylines help tell a general theme as Frances tries to discover whether or not love really does exist, it wasn't enough to hold my interest. You keep waiting for something, anything, to happen, but it really doesn't. As I said, it's not a bad movie, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you want a movie purely for the beautiful scenes of Tuscany.
Rating: 
Summary: A pleasant way to spend an evening
Review: Diane Ladd plays a woman who has just been unceremoniously dumped by her husband. In an attempt to cheer her up, her two friends offer her tickets to go to Tuscany. While she's there, she impulsively buys a villa and then wonders what she's gotten herself in for. She hires an eccentric group of Polish workers and sets about rebuilding the villa and her life. There are a few bumps along the way, but she finally succeeds. The scenery in this movie is breathtaking and it alone is worth the price of admission. There are times when the overacting is painful and there are several lapses in credibility but all in all it's a pleasant way to spend an evening.
Rating:
Summary: If you love Italy then go see this movie.
Review: If you love Italy then go see this movie. If you like real and intelligent characters then go see this movie. If you hate romantic comedies then go see this movie. I am not a huge fan of the romantic comedy genre. More often than not, a romantic comedy is nothing more than a few good looking people thrown together and saddled with a lousy script. That's not to say that there aren't notable exceptions, but for the most part they suck. Based on the previews for this movie, I didn't have high hopes, however I did receive a free pass to watch a sneak preview for the movie, so how could I say no? Having not read the book, I really didn't know what to expect. Let me tell you it was a pleasant surprise. For starters, Diane Lane was the perfect choice for the lead character Frances Mayes. She brings a natural reality to the character, instead of the saccharin sweet typically found in a romantic comedy. Diane instantly makes you feel like you know this woman. She's your neighbor, or someone you work with. In the scene after she learns of her husband's infidelities, she looks horrible - exactly like you'd expect like a woman would look after traumatic news. Of course Diane Lane is a very beautiful woman and as the movie progresses that becomes more and more apparent. Luckily Diane is more than just a pretty face and her performance is stellar. The movie as a whole is understated, letting things play out instead of spelling everything out and Diane provides a wonderful tapestry for you to see what is happening to her. Her reactions tell you more than pithy dialog ever could and as a result you end up taking the journey with her. As much as I loved Diane Lane in this movie, she is surrounded by an incredible supporting cast. Sandra Oh, as the best friend, delivers an authentic performance. Instead of the typical "funny sidekick" so often played by those in the role of best friend, she's down to earth and real. Raoul Bova plays the Italian lover and should make most women weak in the knees, but I found Vincent Riotta, the real estate agent, to be a much richer character. And speaking of rich characters, Lindsay Duncan plays a wonderful eccentric as Katherine who almost serves as a fairy godmother. Although the acting is surpurb, what brings it all together are the talents of Audrey Wells who serves as the screenplay writer, director and producer. Most of Audrey's background has been in writing. This is only her second film as a director, yet you wouldn't know it by watching the film. Clearly Ms. Wells has a love of Italy and a love of the novel and all of that shows on the screen. She filmed in the cities that are represented and she hired actors that are the nationality in which they play and the age in which they should be. The entire films shines with authenticity and coupled with wonderful performances and directing, Audrey has redefined the romantic comedy. This movie was refreshing, witty, poetic, dramatic and rich with characters that you not only like, but identify with. It was such a breath of fresh air that I'm ready to see it again and again. This film is definitely going into my DVD collection.
Rating:
Summary: Undercover?
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed watching another T.V. while this show was playing out in the family room. The wife got a good night sleep and didn't even bother to replay the part she missed. After complaining, Hollywood Video gave us a comp, so all in all, we felt like we got our money's worth.
Rating:
Summary: Diane Lane, Tuscany - You could do worse
Review: I actually kind of liked this movie. It has two major things going for it: Diane Lane and Tuscany. Indeed there are beautiful scenes of Italy and I would have liked more of them frankly. Diane's character was believable and likable. The plot was not formulaic. On the negative side, there were plenty of cliches. This made the film pleasant but fairly forgetable.
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