Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 1 Hr. 53 Min.
Tabitha's Rating: ****/5
Director: Audrey Wells
Cast: Diane Lane
Synopsis: On a vacation in Tuscany, a recent divorcee buys a villa on impulse and renews her life in Italy.
Diane Lane is radiant. This is the type of film that is made or broken by the ability of the lead character to hold an audience's attention throughout the film, and enjoy every minute. Diane Lane's funny, honest performance makes this movie. It is unfortunate that it was two decades into her career that Lane was really discovered, thanks to last year's Oscar nominated performance in Unfaithful. She is beautiful, but beautiful in an attainable way. You could see her walking down the street, and anyone would turn and look. But she isn't artificial, she is natural and true to life in both her appearance and performance on screen. This is what makes her compelling and interesting to watch for two hours. You could be that woman. You could love that woman. She could be your best friend. In a fascinating world that is.
As for the plot of the movie, it is not something that happens everyday: up and moving to Italy on impulse. But it is something many people have wanted to do. Leave the past and start a new future in a foriegn world. Its a beautiful thought, and it is beautiful on screen: the Italian towns, the larger cities, the breathtaking landscapes: Sunflowers are my new favorite flower, after seeing the gigantic field shown in the movie. What happens to her in Tuscany is also fun to watch, particularly her affiar with the typical gorgeous, romantic Italian hunk, Marcello. ( I once had a fling with someone named Marcello, only he was from Brazil. Still, the resemblance was striking). I would recommend this movie mostly to women, since it is women who can so closely relate to the character's emotions and actions. And any man who is compelled by true, radiant beauty wouldn't bored with two hours of Diane Lane.
