Here's the skinny: do not see "The Women". Other than its disgrace to the play (and apparently the '39 film) (which is really nothing like the movie), the director is quite the novice and the entire movie in itself is a mess. To save you from wasting a $9 matinee ticket, i'll just tell you that the movie ends in a low-angle shot of a newborn baby being carried in the arms of a nurse reminiscient of the messiah-stork situation (when did Jesus and a stork ever appear in the same situation?). If my description seems intriguing, I've deceived you quite thoroughly and apologize for it.
Perhaps the aesthetics of the cinematography or fashion can be appreciated like the overbearingly gaudy cloud wallpaper background of the janky ol' hospital, or the z-gallerie house that Meg Ryan resides in (much like r. crowes house in "body of lies," I swear it was the same house), but other than that VERY LITTLE BIT OF LIGHT, the movie is a complete Era of Darkness to which one never recovers. Madison liked it for it's ridiculous nature (though refuses to admit) (I admit, re: my last post, I honestly appreciate most crappy films. "The Women" provided me with the same sort of glow that did "Homer in Cyberspace" ), however, I strongly recommend that if it's inevitable that you watch it, see the play first and then the movie if not simply to bitch about how bad of a job Director Diane English did.
She could have done so much more with the script. The original play itself is a satire on wealthy women and their social routines, not to mention drives feminist empowerment (an all-woman cast). Ok, I'll admit I did the play back in high school, but it was hugely a success and I had dads and men who you would't have expected enjoying the play and finding it refreshing to see the woman's point of view. This, however, is all a moot pt.
Instead Jada Pinkett Smith plays a lesbian which is minorly entertaining borderline trying-too-hard (ulch her attempt at comedy was painful to watch re: the hospital scene), Eva Mendes plays the one role she knows how (the slutty eye-candy), while Annette Benning and Debra Messing rely on being the slightly comedic best friends (These two were horribly underwhelming. Messing should have just reprised her "Will & Grace" role, it would have been funnier than what she attempted). To be honest, Bette Midler's many-times-divorced-but-doesn't-give-a-damn Hollywood agent character is the best part. Ryan and Benning have a cute scene in which they argue and end up crying and laughing about it, but other than 3 decent parts, the movie is a no-go.
I'm not even providing links or pictures in this blog. Negative 2 punches.
R.I.P. Clare Boothe Luce (nice out),
Kimberley
and....Madison (I have class in 5 mins!!)
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Have you heard this whole thing about Roald Dahl's role as a British spy during WWII? It seems he pretty much slept his way through Washington with an extended stay at Clare Booth Luce's.
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