Rating: 
Summary: A Delightful Surprise
Review: My husband and I did not read the novel this film is based upon nor had we heard anything in advance about the film. We are also not typically fans of Sigourney Weaver, usually finding her too abrasive. The reason we watched this DVD version was because we really love Julianne Moore. Thus, we were delighted to discover that Weaver did an incredible job of bringing this very complex character, Alison, to the screen. Alison's friend's child drowns in Alison's pond one day when the four children are believed to all be playing together in her house while she is upstairs. Normally it is Alison who is very judgmental of others and acerbic in her portrayals of people in this small town. Thus, it is Alison herself who is her hardest judge when the child drowns. The townspeople find this the ideal time to start complaining about Alison in her other role as the school nurse and the situation rapidly goes from bad to worse. If you like complex characters and intelligent well-rounded renderings of their psyches, you will love this film.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful movie, aggravating heroine
Review: Not having read the book (though I plan to now), I wasn't sure what to expect from this movie. I found the movie to be well-made and intriguing, although it left some questions which I hope will be answered in the book. I can't discuss specifics without spoiling the movie, and I realize that a two-hour show must omit some details, but those omissions are the reason for my rating. Sigourney Weaver is fantastic as a mother nearly overwhelmed by her responsiblities, but her character's stubbornness kept me on edge, wondering what she would do next to jeopardize her own well-being. The sisters who portray Weaver's daughters in the show do an impressive job, as well, particularly the oldest, who, as Emma, grows and changes convincingly as her world comes down around her. It's a powerful movie, with poignant performances by the lead actors and an impressive supporting cast.
Rating:
Summary: Extraordinary Performances from Weaver and Moore
Review: Strong performances by Sigourney Weaver and Julianne Moore highlight this involving and, at times emotionally draining film about the boundaries that are inherently a part of our lives, and the limits of those boundaries, both in how much we are able to give, as well as how much we can take. "A Map of the World," directed by Scott Elliott, examines the confines of the parameters within which an individual must live, and the finite capacity of any one person to endure stress that exceeds the specific limitations established for that individual by nature. And it's not a matter of one knowing one's limitations; rather it is a matter of knowing how to cope with the results, once one has been driven past the breaking point into a world that can no longer be viewed in black and white, but only in shades of gray-- that point beyond right or wrong or what is politically correct; the point at which nothing matters but survival-- how to live in a world that can have so much to offer, while being so relentlessly unmerciful and decidedly unforgiving at the same time.Transplanted from the big city to a farm in Wisconsin, Alice and Howard Goodwin (Sigourney Weaver, David Strathairn) are attempting to make a go of their own dairy business. But it isn't easy. Howard is immersed in his work, while Alice, in addition to taking on the full time responsibilities and pressures of raising their two daughters and maintaining the household, also works as a school nurse. And though Alice likes her life, the constant strain of keeping her own life on task, as well as seemingly everyone else within her sphere of existence, begins to take a toll on her. With no respite from the daily grind, Alice becomes increasingly exhausted and exasperated. She finds some solace in her close friend, Theresa Collins (Julianne Moore), but what she really needs is some time to herself; some time to clear her head and regroup. Instead, an unexpected summer tragedy strikes the Goodwin and Collins households, which damages Alice's much needed relationship with Theresa. And as if that isn't enough, further trials and tribulations are about to descend upon Alice-- one of those curves life has a way of throwing at you when it's least expected, or needed. And it's something that will test the limits of Alice's capacity to endure, more than ever before. Working from a remarkably insightful screenplay by Peter Hedges and Polly Platt (adapted from the novel by Jane Hamilton), director Elliott presents a genuinely honest film that takes an in-depth look at what it often takes just to "maintain" on a daily basis, and the very real issues and situations that a person like Alice is apt to encounter. From the very beginning, Elliott establishes the credibility of the film by creating an atmosphere and setting that is entirely real-- so real, in fact, it will be more than a bit disconcerting to many who will so readily be able to identify with Alice and relate to her situation. And, having effected such realism, Elliott then moves on to deliver a thoroughly engrossing, emotional drama, which he renders with great care and sensitivity. Elliott achieves success with this film through an obviously keen understanding of the material, the story, and the characters and their corresponding attitudes and reactions to given situations. And he keeps it "real" throughout by eschewing any superfluous melodrama or sub-plots, the likes to which a film like this in lesser hands could easily lend itself. In the final analysis, Elliott knows what he wants to convey, and furthermore, knows how to do it by exacting the kind of performances from his actors that really sells it. As often happens (too often, in fact), the extraordinary performances in this film were inexplicably overlooked (as well as the film itself) and/or ignored. Sigourney Weaver gives a commanding performance as Alice, arguably as affecting and effective as the work that earned Hillary Swank the Oscar this year for her portrayal of Brandon Teena in "Boys Don't Cry." This is quite simply some of the best work Weaver has ever done, and it's a shame that she has not enjoyed the kind of acclaim that would accompany such an accomplishment in a perfect world. Which adds some irony to the whole thing, inasmuch as part of what this film is attempting to convey (and does so, successfully) is that we do not, in fact, live in a perfect world. All that aside, this is a memorable portrayal, in which Weaver exhibits a phenomenal depth and range of emotion. The field was strong in the Supporting Actress category this year (Angelina Jolie received the gold for "Girl Interrupted"), but Julianne Moore's performance here stands alongside any of those honored with a nomination for their work. Like Weaver, Moore faced the challenge of creating a character that is so mainstream and "normal"-- one of those everybody's neighbor or the-clerk-at-the-store type of roles-- that the real difficulty lay in making it look so natural, which when successfully effected, makes it all look so "easy." Which is exactly what Moore did with her portrayal of Theresa. And-- again, like Weaver-- it's a performance for which she has never received the deserved acknowledgement. Suffice to say, it's terrific work, and a big part of what makes this film so emotionally stirring. Also effective is David Strathairn as Alice's self-absorbed husband, Howard, a man suffering from a terminal case of tunnel vision. How good he is here, in fact, can be measured by the feelings of disdain he manages to evoke toward his character, which at times, is quite substantial. The supporting cast includes Arliss Howard (Reverdy), Louise Fletcher (Nellie), Sara Rue (Debbie) Nicole Parker (Sherry) and Aunjanue Ellis (Dyshett). An ardently thought provoking film, "A Map of the World" invites a sense of introspection and reflection; a film that's definitely going to make you do some thinking.
Rating:
Summary: I Loved This Movie
Review: The book this movie was based on was just wonderul. Many people have found it depressing but I have found it more interesting than sad. Sigourney Weaver was just perfect as Alice. We could easily see her inner turmoil even though she actually didn't speak many words about how bad she felt. I thought it was handled with delicacy and taste. The supporting actors added greatly to this fine movie but it all belonged to Weaver and she handled it all perfectly.
Rating:
Summary: Agony of Being What She Is: Weaver Again Shows Her Talent
Review: The summer of 2002 finally saw the long-awaited theatrical (though limited) release of "Map of the World," and the wait was long. But the film turned out what I expected. Mature film for any moviegoer who knows that Sigourney Weaver is far more than Ripley who fights vicious aliens. Weaver plays Alice Goodwin, whose life in a countryside of America turns an emotional turmoil when an accident killed one of the daughters of her friend. And as she begins to lose her touch with the world outside herself, she is arrested for abusing child at the school where she works. Put in jail, she is given an opportunity to think again about the roles of herself in the family. As the film is determined to be introspective, the proceedings of the trial is not so important. The first-time director Scott Elliott (previously working for stages including that of Broadway) points our attention, from the first, to the disfunctional relations inside and outside the Goodwin family; Alice's own daughter hates her mother: Alice's husband (David Strathairn), though he surely loves her, is somehow aloof from her emotional stress coming from her daily chores: and her work as a school nurse is nothing but hard and demanding before the wilful kids and irresponsible parents. Any working females like her can soon relate to her, I suppose. But her life changes after the accident and her arrest; but why not? The point is the long way for Alice and people around her to accept it, and here again Weaver shows one of her greatest works. Her agony is conveyed to us viewers with her strong performance which she displayed once in "Gorrillas in the Mist," but this time with more understandable situations. Also of note is Julianne Moore, whose role, a relatively small but important one, is another testimony that she is one of the best actors you can find in Hollywood. Males are of course not bad, especially when Strathairn is on the screen, but my impression is that the film belongs to the female parts, and probably appeals more to female audience. (But I'm a male, and I was enormously impressed, I must tell you.) As many reviewers pointed out, the story looks uneven sometimes, and the last one-third of the film is losing its power a little by blurring the forcus which till then has been set on Alice's character. But as for its grim contents which are surely very hard to look at, I am always ready to defend. Indeed this is not an easy material to see, but worthy of their efforts to put into a film. You may be put off by what you expect to see, and your instinct is right. But for all its a bit weak conclusion and very serious subject matter, the film is worth watching because of the impressive turns coming from those talented players. Weaver and Moore.
Rating:
Summary: Agony of Being What She Is: Weaver Again Shows Her Talent
Review: The summer of 2002 finally saw the long-awaited theatrical (though limited) release of "Map of the World," and the wait was long. But the film turned out what I expected. Mature film for any moviegoer who knows that Sigourney Weaver is far more than Ripley who fights vicious aliens. Weaver plays Alice Goodwin, whose life in a countryside of America turns an emotional turmoil when an accident killed one of the daughters of her friend. And as she begins to lose her touch with the world outside herself, she is arrested for abusing child at the school where she works. Put in jail, she is given an opportunity to think again about the roles of herself in the family. As the film is determined to be introspective, the proceedings of the trial is not so important. The first-time director Scott Elliott (previously working for stages including that of Broadway) points our attention, from the first, to the disfunctional relations inside and outside the Goodwin family; Alice's own daughter hates her mother: Alice's husband (David Strathairn), though he surely loves her, is somehow aloof from her emotional stress coming from her daily chores: and her work as a school nurse is nothing but hard and demanding before the wilful kids and irresponsible parents. Any working females like her can soon relate to her, I suppose. But her life changes after the accident and her arrest; but why not? The point is the long way for Alice and people around her to accept it, and here again Weaver shows one of her greatest works. Her agony is conveyed to us viewers with her strong performance which she displayed once in "Gorrillas in the Mist," but this time with more understandable situations. Also of note is Julianne Moore, whose role, a relatively small but important one, is another testimony that she is one of the best actors you can find in Hollywood. Males are of course not bad, especially when Strathairn is on the screen, but my impression is that the film belongs to the female parts, and probably appeals more to female audience. (But I'm a male, and I was enormously impressed, I must tell you.) As many reviewers pointed out, the story looks uneven sometimes, and the last one-third of the film is losing its power a little by blurring the forcus which till then has been set on Alice's character. But as for its grim contents which are surely very hard to look at, I am always ready to defend. Indeed this is not an easy material to see, but worthy of their efforts to put into a film. You may be put off by what you expect to see, and your instinct is right. But for all its a bit weak conclusion and very serious subject matter, the film is worth watching because of the impressive turns coming from those talented players. Weaver and Moore.
Rating:
Summary: The Terrain of Tragedy.
Review: There isn't a false note nor a dishonest scene in this drama of tragedy and its aftermath. A wonderful cast, led by Sigourney Weaver in a superb performance, play recognizably flawed and human characters coping with the tragic death of a child, and then, later, arrest and imprisonment for child abuse. Rarely has the stresses and strains of child-rearing and married life been presented so honestly. Sigourney Weaver's Alice Goodwin is a farm wife and mother and part-time school nurse. She is often exhausted and frustrated with her children, the eldest girl being a real pill at times, and bored with the routines of family life. Her husband is a decent, taciturn man, content to deal with the farming and leave the children's need for constant attention and domestic chores to his wife to handle. Weaver's best friend and neighbor is Theresa, wonderfully played by Julianne Moore, is the perfect wife and mother with a house neat-as-a-pin in contrast to the chaos of Weaver's. A tragic accident sets in motion a series of events that land Weaver in jail, and upsets all the relationships and the world of these very decent people. What is so refreshing in this film is that all the characters are not cliches. Weaver's Alice is a sharply intelligent, sometimes abrasive, prickly personality. She does not submit humbly to her imprisonment and in fact becomes even more difficult. David Strathairn as Howard her husband, is a man overwhelmed by the sudden responsiblity for his children and household. There is a nice turn by Arliss Howard as Weaver's attorney, self-amused and egotistic at the legal games he plays. Julianne Moore's Theresa is believable in her stricken grief. This is a sharply observed study of real people under stress and passing through the kind of events that change lives forever. It is worth your time alone to see Sigourney Weaver's masterful embodiment of this beautiful, difficult, ornery and truthful woman. But her marvelous performance is matched and ably supported by her co-stars. There may be missing that "big" cathartic moment to round out the picture, this film opting to reveal its truths more quietly and matter-of-factly, but it has something to say about how people cope with and are transformed by tragedy and tribulation, and that makes it reach farther than most of the fare we get. A solid 4-1/2 stars. Worthwhile.
Rating:
Summary: The Terrain of Tragedy.
Review: There isn't a false note nor a dishonest scene in this drama of tragedy and its aftermath. A wonderful cast, led by Sigourney Weaver in a superb performance, play recognizably flawed and human characters coping with the tragic death of a child, and then, later, arrest and imprisonment for child abuse. Rarely has the stresses and strains of child-rearing and married life been presented so honestly. Sigourney Weaver's Alice Goodwin is a farm wife and mother and part-time school nurse. She is often exhausted and frustrated with her children, the eldest girl being a real pill at times, and bored with the routines of family life. Her husband is a decent, taciturn man, content to deal with the farming and leave the children's need for constant attention and domestic chores to his wife to handle. Weaver's best friend and neighbor is Theresa, wonderfully played by Julianne Moore, is the perfect wife and mother with a house neat-as-a-pin in contrast to the chaos of Weaver's. A tragic accident sets in motion a series of events that land Weaver in jail, and upsets all the relationships and the world of these very decent people. What is so refreshing in this film is that all the characters are not cliches. Weaver's Alice is a sharply intelligent, sometimes abrasive, prickly personality. She does not submit humbly to her imprisonment and in fact becomes even more difficult. David Strathairn as Howard her husband, is a man overwhelmed by the sudden responsiblity for his children and household. There is a nice turn by Arliss Howard as Weaver's attorney, self-amused and egotistic at the legal games he plays. Julianne Moore's Theresa is believable in her stricken grief. This is a sharply observed study of real people under stress and passing through the kind of events that change lives forever. It is worth your time alone to see Sigourney Weaver's masterful embodiment of this beautiful, difficult, ornery and truthful woman. But her marvelous performance is matched and ably supported by her co-stars. There may be missing that "big" cathartic moment to round out the picture, this film opting to reveal its truths more quietly and matter-of-factly, but it has something to say about how people cope with and are transformed by tragedy and tribulation, and that makes it reach farther than most of the fare we get. A solid 4-1/2 stars. Worthwhile.
Rating:
Summary: A SURPRISING AND WELL DONE FILM...
Review: This is an excellent adaptation of Jane Hamilton's best selling novel of the same name. It is a somewhat difficult book to capture on screen, as it centers primarily upon the emotional transition of one character, Alice Goodwin. Still, the film makes a herculean effort to do so, and in doing so, Sigourney Weaver, who plays the role of Alice, gives an award calibre performance. Wonderful performances are also given by David Strathairn in the role of Alice's husband and Julianne Moore as Theresa, Alice's neighbor and friend. Alice Goodwin and her easy going, ineffectual husband, Howard, together with their two bratty, young children, move from the city to the country, so that Howard may try to achieve his life long dream of being a farmer. Alice works as a nurse in the local school, where she does not win many friends, given her prickly personality and tendency to speak before she thinks. Theresa is a neighbor with two children with whom Alice becomes close friends. Alice is a very complex character. She is intelligent, outspoken, abrasive, sloppy, disorganized, and always seems to be walking out of step with everyone else. Theresa is her total opposite. She could be the poster child for good housekeeping. Yet, they click. One day, Theresa leaves her two children with Alice, who is going to take them swimming in the pond with her own children. While the kids are playing together in the house, Alice slips away upstairs to get her bething suit. When she return, one of Theresa's children is missing and is later found floating face down in the pond. At the hospital, all attempts to revive her fail. Needless to say, though it clearly was an accident, Alice's and Theresa's friendship suffers a set back. As Alice is not well liked, the townspeople do not gather around her in her moment of need. Instead, those whom she has irritated use this moment to mount allegations of child abuse in Alice's capacity as school nurse. As the scandal snowballs and Alice is arrested, she seems almost to welcome the opprobrium heaped upon her by the townfolk. She stoically awaits her trial in jail, almost as if she were expiating her real and imagined sins, while her puzzled husband is left to cope as best he can, as his world and dreams topple in one fell swoop. What happens to Alice, Howard, and Theresa is gripping, due to the outstanding performances given. In particular, it is riveting, as well as frustrating, to watch Alice's handling of her own situation. It is as if she were playing a role belonging to someone else, as the perception the town has of her has no real bearing on reality. In that context, the film is, in some measure, reminiscent of Albert Camus' existential work, "The Stranger". It is fascinating to watch Alice's metamorphosis, as she ultimately comes to grips with all that has happened to her and finds acceptance of self. This is a film well worth watching. It will not disappoint the discerning viewer.
Rating:
Summary: Sigourney is a great actress
Review: This movie proves Sigourney is move than a good alien killer. She really draws you into her world, and when everyone is against her, she doesnt lash out, she takes it out on herself, physically. This proves she really cares about those around her. The ugliness and accusations really upset me, because she was not at fault, yet everyone believed all the lies. So typical of todays society though. I recommend this movie if you a fan of Sigourney, once again she proves that she has wisdom and can survive in the face of tragedy.
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