Rating: 
Summary: Terrific.
Review: The story of a troubled younger younger sister of a successful singer, who is driven to make it in the music business herself. I'm dumbfounded by the reviewers who didn't care for Jennifer Jason Leigh's performance; I thought it was stunning. On the other hand, I found Mare Winningham thoroughly dull -- she hardly moves a facial muscle in the entire movie, and isn't much of a singer for a supposedly wildly popular star. I also question those who refer to Leigh's character as lacking talent; Leigh's performance of the Van Morrison tune "Take Me Back" is riveting, goosebump stuff. I saw this as a story, not of a talentless younger sister, but one who -- as her brother-in-law puts it -- is an original, without malice, while her sister is neither. The only slow parts of the film are some of the unnecessesarily drawn-out musical numbers; since Winningham can barely sing, why give us four full minutes watching her do nothing but stand on a stage and sing poorly?Strongly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Heartbreaking
Review: This is a movie for introspective people. It's heartbreaking to watch JJ Leigh's Sadie manufacturing so much hope in believing in herself and her singing. I identify more with Georgia's character because she has more or less the approval from the society. At times I felt embarrassed for Sadie with her tryings and failures. While 'normal folks' see Sadie as a talentless junkie, you have to give Sadie points for trying. Music is a form of self-expression and is very subjective. Nobody has the right to crush a musician's dream. Both actresses gave nuanced performance. Although JJ Leigh's got the flashier Sadie. Without Winningham's emotionally guarded Georgia, there's no contrast to Sadie's desperate plight. The song "No More Hard Times" was so poignant to the story. It broke my heart at the end of the film to see two sisters singing the same song at different settings. You know both women had achieved an understanding for each other's path in life. This movie is for all the underdogs who'd been under the shadow of a seemingly more successful sibling or partner.
Rating:
Summary: Heartbreaking
Review: This is a movie for introspective people. It's heartbreaking to watch JJ Leigh's Sadie manufacturing so much hope in believing in herself and her singing. I identify more with Georgia's character because she has more or less the approval from the society. At times I felt embarrassed for Sadie with her tryings and failures. While 'normal folks' see Sadie as a talentless junkie, you have to give Sadie points for trying. Music is a form of self-expression and is very subjective. Nobody has the right to crush a musician's dream. Both actresses gave nuanced performance. Although JJ Leigh's got the flashier Sadie. Without Winningham's emotionally guarded Georgia, there's no contrast to Sadie's desperate plight. The song "No More Hard Times" was so poignant to the story. It broke my heart at the end of the film to see two sisters singing the same song at different settings. You know both women had achieved an understanding for each other's path in life. This movie is for all the underdogs who'd been under the shadow of a seemingly more successful siblings or partners.
Rating:
Summary: ACHING AND PAINSTAKING
Review: This is a slow-moving and somewhat heartbreaking story of a woman, Sadie Flood (played with very typical immersion by Jennifer Jason Leigh who also produced this film), who yearns to be a singer. She is, as her husband implores late in the film, so full of hope it almost kills you. She has so much heart, but she has almost no talent on top of the fact that she is such a drifter with such real problems (drinking and drug problems), that even if she had the kind of talent to make a career, she would not have the perseverance. The problem, above and beyond this, is her older sister, Georgia (a fine, subdued Mare Winningham), who is a successful singer with a nice home and happy family. Sadie wants to win her sister's approval so much, but Georgia is guarded and very reserved. With good reason. Sadie is not the most stable person, and in subtly conveyed complexities the two actresses weave a very close but unsure relationship. It is clear by their interactions that they have had strained and problematic relations. Georgia tells Sadie's well-meaning husband, Axel, when he asks Georgia if she can help Sadie with her own music career, that Sadie is always getting in the way of Sadie. This is very true. No matter what she does she seems to hurt herself. It is heartbreaking. In the end, Sadie comes back to Georgia because she is strung out on heroin, and Georgia tries to help Sadie overcome her addiction. Their relationship is multi-layered and emotional. Fabulous performances by both actresses. It is a shame this film did not get more attention.
Rating:
Summary: Rags to Riches,NO, Greek Tragedy,NO (minus one star because)
Review: This is a tale about a successful singer and her sister living on her coat tails as a untalented singer, addict, and polar opposite. It's clean living success versus struggles and failures. As an author of a book dealing with dysfunction and addiction, I enjoyed this move. The movie is set up to root for the underdog, but the more you want her to make it or to crash and burn (even die), the more she stays the same in her situation. Basically, you can't teach a dog new tricks. Excellant acting by Jennifer Jason Leigh as the overly masscaraed, eye-lined Sadie. At times she looks like she has two black eyes, because in reality she has been beaten (not physically, but beaten in life). I kept waiting for her to be beautiful, but JJL does a great job being unattractive. Why did I prefer her to the Georgia character? Must be a character flaw of mine. I rooted like heck for her and chances are would have seen one of her band's shows instead of Georgia's. John Doe (from the band X) also does a great job acting in this one. Memorable scene was when a messed up on Nyquil Sadie is carried up the stares by Bobby (Doe) and taken care of. "Shut up Sadie," he says repeatedly and then dumps her in the tub. Interesting flick, not a five because Sadie didn't succeed or die.
Rating:
Summary: Rags to Riches,NO, Greek Tragedy,NO (minus one star because)
Review: This is a tale about a successful singer and her sister living on her coat tails as a untalented singer, addict, and polar opposite. It's clean living success versus struggles and failures. As an author of a book dealing with dysfunction and addiction, I enjoyed this move. The movie is set up to root for the underdog, but the more you want her to make it or to crash and burn (even die), the more she stays the same in her situation. Basically, you can't teach a dog new tricks. Excellant acting by Jennifer Jason Leigh as the overly masscaraed, eye-lined Sadie. At times she looks like she has two black eyes, because in reality she has been beaten (not physically, but beaten in life). I kept waiting for her to be beautiful, but JJL does a great job being unattractive. Why did I prefer her to the Georgia character? Must be a character flaw of mine. I rooted like heck for her and chances are would have seen one of her band's shows instead of Georgia's. John Doe (from the band X) also does a great job acting in this one. Memorable scene was when a messed up on Nyquil Sadie is carried up the stares by Bobby (Doe) and taken care of. "Shut up Sadie," he says repeatedly and then dumps her in the tub. Interesting flick, not a five because Sadie didn't succeed or die.
Rating:
Summary: A very brave film with some amazingly good scenes
Review: This is a very brave film indeed because it tackles a theme that is horribly familiar, and yet not often discussed.
The theme is failure, and the reason for that failure is the most horrifying one of all - no talent.
Better by far to fail through bad luck, or being cheated, or simple bad timing!
But it's failure that's the horrible reality faced by Sadie (Jennifer Jason Leigh), one of life's triers who simply hasn't got enough talent to make it as even a semi-pro singer, let alone the big star that is her elder sister Georgia (Mare Winningham).
Now seeing someone untalented refuse to face that reality (even though they are aware of it) and sink into a mire of drugs and even more delusions isn't the most cheerful evening you'll ever have. But the film is redeemed by some rather lovely music, and some great, really great acting by Jason Lee.
Winningham sings beautifully and plays her part with a slightly aloof sympathy that is utterly convincing for someone who is a major star, relatively grounded, but who left the grubby realities of "normal" life behind her many years before.
But the film really belongs to Jason Leigh - an amazingly sustained piece of acting achieves that seemless quality when you forget you're watching acting at all - Sadie becomes as real as one of your troubled friends at high school, with the same mixture of charm and irritation.
Georgia isn't perfect by a long way. The script has excellent dialogue but a meandering, rather lost sort of plot. Like many films of the 90s, it's half an hour too long. The supporting cast are excellent, but don't have too much to do. Visually the scenes are competantly shot, but there are few great images that directors such as Kuburick produce at will.
But Georgia remains as brave a film as it's heroine - no trite ending here, no homilies, no saving grace.
Thoughtful viewers are in for a treat.
Rating: 
Summary: georgia
Review: this movie is so good that i am unable to pick the exact words to describe it. jennifer jason leigh is awesome. her acting ability shows the audience time and time again what a wonder she is, yet she is always ignored by the academy. i've seen this movie many, many times and never tire of it. watch it, you'll love it too.
Rating: 
Summary: A realistic tale of sorrow
Review: Very good performances on a story that is quite depressing and will make you wonder about some loose ends. We never get a clear message on why Sadie becomes so obsessed in becoming a singer under the shadow of her famous sister. We never get to know what happens to her husband who supposedly did not walk out on her. I read the critics review, but like many, I do not agree with them. Definitely not a boring movie, but neither entertaining nor educational.
Rating:
Summary: Big sister stole it
Review: What a cracker! Superb performances from all except the lead. Leigh was so cliche it was too much,.. embarrassing! All the other understated characters were totally believable. Maybe Miss Leigh grabbed too much screen time for herself. I could have done without the 'cod' Londoner, but apart from that I was gripped from frame one. Mare Winningham was perfect. The seedy drummer was top drawer! The winner in this film was the music! Wonderful country/blues rock. I hope there's a soundtrack album.
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