Rating: 
Summary: Amazing and mature
Review: "The Virgin Suicides" is Sofia Coppola (the daughter of THE famous Coppola) directorial debut. Now, in th past, it has been said that Sofia can not act. And maybe that is true- but I'll tell you one thing- boy, can she direct!This movie follows the lives of 5 sisters- the blond Lisbon sisters- and ends with their eventual deaths. The first to go is Cecilia (played by Hannah Hall, the child actress who stunned audiences in Forest Gump), the only dark-haired one of the bunch. At the age of 13, she slits her wrists in the bathtub, but this "cry for help" is not taken seriously. Her next attempt, however, does her in. The Lisbon girls, all of whom are very close, begin to deteriorate after this point as they succumb to depression and grief. When the second-youngest sister (the youngest surviving), Lux, behaves in a promiscuous fashion on her prom night, Mrs. Lisbon (played by Kathleen Turner), a fanatical, religious housewife, removes all of her girls from school and secludes them in their rooms. Already depressed, the girls no longer have anything to tie them to the world and their peers and more or less give up. Now, this movie could've easily become cliched and trite, but Coppola manages to keep it fresh, realistic and poignant, with all of the emotion of a veteran director. The soundtrack is melancholy and engaging, and provides a great backdrop for the pastoral suburbia and azure skies dotted by cumulus clouds. Girly bedrooms and teen angst. This film has all of that, and provides the viewer with easy, understandable access, to the minds of these lost, angst-filled adolesccents. A truly great movie, one which is destined to become a classic in it's genre!
Rating:
Summary: A Depressing Movie that is Beautifully Told
Review: As far as really really good movies I've had the fortune of seeing recently the one that really stands out is a overlooked movie that came out last year called "The Virgin Suicides." The movie while one of the more depressing movies in recent memories is just brilliantly directed by first time director Sofia Coppola. I thought you know going into this movie A) I'm a guy and B) depressing movies just sometimes make it really really tough for me to like the movie they have those endings where its like you emotionally feel like you have just fallen off a cliff... yet despite A) and B) I was very moved by this movie... the directing, cinematography, acting, music - all work extremely well hand in hand complementing each other. This movie will make you even more so want to enjoy every second and moment with those rare & special people you meet on the roads of life. Josh Hartnett (soon to be seen in Pearl Harbor) as Trip Fontaine turns in a very cool if not ultimately tragic performance. Kathleen Turner turns in a performance that is so good you wonder how she got overlooked when it came Oscar time... and of course James Woods is incredible as are all the Lisbon sisters. Kirsten Dunst is intoxicatingly beautiful in this movie and really proves she is going to be a amazing actress to watch in the years ahead. Probably my favorite sequence in the movie in the telephone sequence towards the end... the scene starts out and your not quite sure where it's going to go... but once the needle on the record strikes and the Todd Rundgren song "Hello It's Me" starts to play it transports you into a genuinely touching movie moment (and a great use of split screens) as you watch the boys and Lisbon sisters phone each other back playing music that perfectly fits. Another favorite scene is where Josh Hartnett leaves the Lisbon house... and you know he is sorta on this "not-really a date - date with Lux Lisbon (Kirsten Dunst)... and they have this moment as he leaves for a goodbye kiss but it fails to happen and he walks out to his car dejected... and all of a sudden Lux appears (accompanied by the perfect song for the moment) and they start to kiss like it's the end of the world. The montages througout the movie and their interludes with the music by the band "Air" combined with the beautiful cinematography by Edward Lachman are just pure movie magic. All in all a movie that draws you in despite its slow moments, depressing moments, and haunting moments... a movie full of life, quite moments, passion, imagination, reaching out, and those moments in life not usually seen in movies that are beautifully captured in a very passionate way. Going back over the movie I find that when the movie works you become much like the boys in the movie fully enthralled with the Lisbon sisters investigating and searching for clues and answers as to "why... why... why" (especially on repeat viewings of the movie)... as key and subtle moments pass by... its very hard not to fall in love with the Lisbon sisters... and though they exist solely in the realm of this movie... you feel that they are real as if they were someone you know in your life either as sister or a friend that you care about deeply and you feel their ups and downs... yet at the same time you can't reach out to help... though you desperately want to...
Rating:
Summary: Young Coppola, Cut From The Same Stone As Her Dad
Review: I wasn't sure what to think of this the first time I viewed it. But I was sure that it was worth some thought. This is a very unusual film - expertly done by debut director Sophia Coppola (Franks's kid). The major contribution this story makes is to the emotional state of the viewer. It has a strange tone that builds gradually as the picture progresses. There are some rough edges that take you by suprise, but it was crafted that way. I wouldn't sit the kiddies down infront of this movie. Most adults may not have the fortitude to withstand, then understand the story. It's both beautiful and disturbing in the way it putsforth its rather interesting view. Kirsten Dunst really didn't suprise me with her performance. It was outstanding. She makes you love the character, as usual. But what was added here for this performance was much more. If Oscars meant anything substantial, she should have gotten one. Try it. You'll like it.
Rating:
Summary: Great Film
Review: This is an excellent, excellent, film. Sophia's directorial debut looks at teens and the things and feelings they face growing up. The use of color, music and lighting all add to the overtall enjoyment of this wonderfully written and directed film.
Rating: 
Summary: It sucked
Review: By saying that this movie "sucks", maybe you think im vulger, but it did suck. It sucked because it was so boring that i had to watch it in parts. I would fall asleep and then have to pick up where i left off. The book, id say was better. There was nothing wrong with the cast, or the plot. It was just a waste. There was nothing that could be done. AND after the little sister died, it all went down hill. IT WAS JUST BORING. There wasn't even an explaination as to the reason why they committed suicide. This movie is not reccommended, unless you like dull, nostalgic, and documentary-like movies.
Rating: 
Summary: Very good film, great casting!
Review: The thing I love most about this film is the casting. Knowing very little about the book that it was based on, other than it was a book, I had no real expectations. I didn't have some doubts about Sofia Coppela pulling of a film of her own, but it shows that her dad has raised another great director. One reviewer on this site seems very unhappy that she Sofia Coppela was given a "pampered" life and had this movie handed to her. Well....good! She made a great film. And her casting could not have been better done. James Woods (True Believer, Vampires) gives an incredible, Oscar worthy performance as the father. Kathleen Turner (Romancing the Stone, Body Heat) is incredible as the no-makeup, insane mother. These two actors really set the tone for the film and make it what it is. Kirstin Dunst (Interview with the Vampire, Bring It On) seems to have been a more obvious choice for Lux. She plays the sexy sister with the most lines. With all the teen movies she is in right now, there is no doubt this was a rare chance for her to show of some real skill and she did. This is a great film. Very much worth the time and money to check out. As for Sofia Coppela being "pampered", who cares! Being the daughter of a great director is no differnt then being the daughter of a great chief, anything she does will probably be pretty good and she may in fact end up better than her father. She is off to an excellent start.
Rating:
Summary: Poetic And Sad
Review: 'The Virgin Suicides' is a beautiful film. Beautiful in its sadness, in its story, in its filming, in its acting. But especially in its sadness which is described kind of poetically. The film zigzags a little between genres which is not always a plus. For instance, the not unimportant idea of letting some 'outside' boys, who even seem very young, be the storytellers, is not really successful. What also remains fuzzy is the punchline. But these weaknesses in the storytelling style do fortunately not really ruin the poetic beauty of an all in all worthwile film.
Rating:
Summary: Sensational
Review: This is of the best movies I have seen in a long time. The movie shows you the gradual self destruction of 5 teenage girls, 4 of them after seeing their youngest sister commit suicide. The teenagers ideals, hopes and dreams are quashed by there parents. Devout, religious people they are, they place numerous restrictions on the girls lifes in order to assert control over what they do. Therefore comparitvely they are unable to live as other teenagers do. They cannot leave the house alone, have a boyfriend or goto parties. The teenagers, 5 beautiful girls are well known in the neighbourhood. The 5 boys accross the road have been watching them for quite some time and have known them for many years. But due to there parents are unable to get really close to them. The 1st suicide causes a huge stir and the parents are seen to relax a little bit and give their daughters more control over there own lifes. But after they let them goto the homecoming dance, Lux, one of the daughters didn't return home that night and it was downhill from there. The mother took them out of school, forced them to destory their evil rock records and the girls were not allowed to leave the house. The girls lived in there imagination for a while but with their dreams and ideals controlled by there parents commit something deeper then death and kill themselves. The boys accross the road watching and narating the story the entire time are deeply moved by the sequence of events and try to explain and bring some sense to it but ultimately can't. So you are left with the question - why did they kill themselves and like me will be left pondering this for many days after.
Rating:
Summary: for cecilia
Review: In the same vein as American Beauty this movie exposes the darker side of the American dream with a touch of humor and none of the cynicism. It's graceful and mature and beautifully captures the mystique and aura surrounding some people that makes us fall in love with them.
Rating: 
Summary: beautifully directed, but missing something *minor spoilers*
Review: Wonderfully directed and acted film is a pure pleasure to watch...the weird plot just sucks you right in, and doesn't let go until the very end. That's when the movie crumbles under its own weight...I'm not sure If I'm the only one who was confused, but I just didn't understand the point of the suicides...why there? why then? Wh in that way? It didnt make any sense to me, and if not for that the movie would have been more effective...there was no reason for the suicides, none at all, and the way the sisters planned it was just cruel and illogical...the movie was brillaint up until the end, which ruined an otherwise 5 star film...
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