Old wounds, family secrets, screwed up relationships with perfectly logical explanations. A film that starts beautifully and then spends an inordinate amount of time meandering to finally arrive to its soft but beautiful center. Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette have wonderful moments as the star crossed sisters. Their feelings as genuine as they are, never seem to find a common ground until Shirley MacLaine makes her entrance. I must confess I was very moved by her, by her performance. Her most human and real in many, many years. She is the glue that keeps all the elements together and presents them to us with that unmistakable flair of hers for feisty truths and uncompromising tough love. I don't know quite how I feel about Curtis Hanson as a director. Personally, my favorite of his films is "Wonder Boys" and in a way "In Her Shoes" is closer to that one, without being as good, than any of his other movies. However, I'm recommending it wholeheartedly, specially to my sisters.
188 Reviews
High heels
jotix10022 February 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Maggie Feller is a destructive young woman who has no regards for her sister Rose, or anyone, for that matter, as we meet her. This Maggie is a mess, but what caused her to be that way? One keeps wondering how she could even be related to the meticulous Rose, a lawyer, who seems to be in control of her life. That is, until Maggie appears at Rose's door and disrupts her life, committing the ultimate sin, messing around with her sister's lover! The only thing these sisters have in common is the passion for the fancy shoes Rose loves to buy and Maggie, a penniless girl can't afford.
Curtis Hanson directed this film in which the main characters are women. Men only play a small part in this tale about two young sisters, that in spite of loving each other, grow distant because the carelessness of Maggie. Adapted from the Jennifer Weiner novel of the same title, the movie version was adapted by Susannah Grant.
The main reason for watching this uneven film is Toni Collette, who as Rose, gives one of her most detailed performances in recent memory. Ms. Collette makes us believe she is this woman whose life unravels because her irresponsible sister. Ms. Collette is perfect as the mousy Rose, who secretly would like to be like her sister, but can't bring herself to do it.
Cameron Diaz goes into a transformation in the film. We get a hint of her problems as she auditions for an MTV spot. She has grown into a wild young woman because her mother was not around to supervise, or pay attention to the sisters. But whereas Rose goes to make something of her life, Maggie rebels and does destructive things to herself. It is not until she gets to meet her unknown grandmother that she begins to put her life to good use and in the process discovers what's wrong with her.
Shirley MacLaine is seen in one of the most sedate characters of her screen career as the grandmother Ella. Family problems intervened between her and a son in law that didn't want to have her around at any cost and alienated Ella from her granddaughters. Ms. MacLaine disappears into her role and gives an underplayed performance that sets well with her two co-stars.
While the film could have used some trimming, the first half has a little more spark than the second part, which turns into a formula picture. Curtis Hanson doesn't break any new ground with this film.
Curtis Hanson directed this film in which the main characters are women. Men only play a small part in this tale about two young sisters, that in spite of loving each other, grow distant because the carelessness of Maggie. Adapted from the Jennifer Weiner novel of the same title, the movie version was adapted by Susannah Grant.
The main reason for watching this uneven film is Toni Collette, who as Rose, gives one of her most detailed performances in recent memory. Ms. Collette makes us believe she is this woman whose life unravels because her irresponsible sister. Ms. Collette is perfect as the mousy Rose, who secretly would like to be like her sister, but can't bring herself to do it.
Cameron Diaz goes into a transformation in the film. We get a hint of her problems as she auditions for an MTV spot. She has grown into a wild young woman because her mother was not around to supervise, or pay attention to the sisters. But whereas Rose goes to make something of her life, Maggie rebels and does destructive things to herself. It is not until she gets to meet her unknown grandmother that she begins to put her life to good use and in the process discovers what's wrong with her.
Shirley MacLaine is seen in one of the most sedate characters of her screen career as the grandmother Ella. Family problems intervened between her and a son in law that didn't want to have her around at any cost and alienated Ella from her granddaughters. Ms. MacLaine disappears into her role and gives an underplayed performance that sets well with her two co-stars.
While the film could have used some trimming, the first half has a little more spark than the second part, which turns into a formula picture. Curtis Hanson doesn't break any new ground with this film.
Sisterhood and Parenthood
claudio_carvalho9 February 2008
In Philadelphia, the irresponsible and selfish Maggie (Cameron Diaz) is a drunken easy woman having sex with many men. Her sister Rose (Toni Collette) is the opposite, responsible lawyer but needy and having complex, compulsively buying shoes to relief her frustrations. Maggie is expelled from her father home by her stepmother, and Rose lodges her sister in her apartment. When Maggie has one night stand with Rose's boyfriend, Rose sends her sister away. She finds letters and postcards from her missing grandmother Ella Hirsch (Shirley MacLaine) that she believed had died that lives in a retirement compound in Florida hidden in her father's drawer, and without any option, she decides to travel to meet Ella. With Ella, Maggie changes, becoming another woman and improving the relationships in her family.
"In Her Shoes" is a feel-good comedy with an excellent lead trio of actresses. The story about sisterhood and parenthood is bitter sweet, alternating funny and dramatic moments and with a nice conclusion. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Em Seu Lugar" ("In Your Place")
"In Her Shoes" is a feel-good comedy with an excellent lead trio of actresses. The story about sisterhood and parenthood is bitter sweet, alternating funny and dramatic moments and with a nice conclusion. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Em Seu Lugar" ("In Your Place")
Enjoyable film
sarasdano23 November 2005
Enjoyable but slightly flawed, In Her Shoes is definitely deeper than a chick-flick in the handling of the characters. Toni Collette is excellent as usual, as well as Shirley MacLaine, yet I couldn't help thinking while watching that I should read the book it was based on and get a deeper look at these people and their lives. I felt the film could have gone into more detail and I expected it to be longer, as so many plot developments felt somewhat simplified to fit them all in to a 2-hour running time. That's my biggest criticism of the film, but it was enjoyable in general and I had a wonderful time watching. A few other things I enjoyed: the Rocky reference (my favorite), and the opening sequence during the credits. I have to credit this last one to both screenwriter and director for this incredible opening, which in completely visual terms sets up the film's themes. The titles are presented in cuts between the two sisters, highlighting both their conflict and their connection to one another. Generally, it has a nice balance between dead-seriousness and light drama, but I wish there was more of it to comment on.
A sister comedy drama that isn't too sweet. A pretty good movie.
TxMike7 March 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I had apprehension about "In Her Shoes" because Cameron Diaz has been in so many movies where she plays just a fluff of a character. But not here, where she is Maggie Feller, who we learn very early just doesn't seem able to hold down a job, uses SEX to her advantage, and usually ends up crashing with a friend or relative for as long as they will tolerate her.
Toni Collette plays her very different sister Rose Feller, an attorney in Philadelphia who acts and looks a bit homely, and who marvels that she might be able to attract a really nice guy. After one too many screw ups, Rose kicks Maggie out, about the time Maggie finds out that not only is her grandmother (Shirley MacLaine) alive, she is living in Florida in a retirement community. (Mom had died when Maggie was very small, and her dad "shielded" her from grandma.)
Much of the story is Maggie and Grandma coming to an understanding, and Maggie figuring life out for herself there.
SPOILERS. One reason Maggie had problem was her undiagnosed and untreated dyslexia. Grandma found her looking for cash, and made a deal with her. If she got a job, Grandma would match her salary dollar for dollar, so that Maggie could save up $3Grand to go to New York to make it as an actress. Doing hospital duty, Maggie met an older man who insisted she read to him. A retired professor, he helped Maggie face her dyslexia and learn to deal with it.
Toni Collette plays her very different sister Rose Feller, an attorney in Philadelphia who acts and looks a bit homely, and who marvels that she might be able to attract a really nice guy. After one too many screw ups, Rose kicks Maggie out, about the time Maggie finds out that not only is her grandmother (Shirley MacLaine) alive, she is living in Florida in a retirement community. (Mom had died when Maggie was very small, and her dad "shielded" her from grandma.)
Much of the story is Maggie and Grandma coming to an understanding, and Maggie figuring life out for herself there.
SPOILERS. One reason Maggie had problem was her undiagnosed and untreated dyslexia. Grandma found her looking for cash, and made a deal with her. If she got a job, Grandma would match her salary dollar for dollar, so that Maggie could save up $3Grand to go to New York to make it as an actress. Doing hospital duty, Maggie met an older man who insisted she read to him. A retired professor, he helped Maggie face her dyslexia and learn to deal with it.
A chick flick that I enjoyed more than I should probably admit ensues...
TheMovieMark7 October 2005
CHICK FLICK! Chiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick fliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick! What else could you possibly expect from a movie about sisters that involves shoes and a search for their grandmother? That's all you need to know. You either like the genre, you don't like the genre, or your girl forces you to watch the genre with her. Accept which one applies to you and go with it. If you're chickflicktose intolerant then this obviously isn't for you.
That being sad, I must admit that thanks to good character and relationship development, good acting, and believable characters set within a believable story, I enjoyed it. Granted, Cameron Diaz's long legs might have had something to do with enhancing my enjoyment, but I was entertained nonetheless.
Things start off a little slow as the relationship between the sisters is allowed to grow, but once Maggie finds herself in Florida, working at an old folks' home, the story and laughs start to pick up. There's one old woman who is particularly funny. I don't know her name (you'll recognize her by the fact that she's in a wheelchair most of the time), but she reminded me of my grandmother, commenting on how Diaz "puts a postage stamp on her bottom and calls it a swimsuit" and acting shocked that there are now pants that exist with "'juicy' written across the hiney." How can you not be entertained by a crotchety old woman's outlook on how the times have a-changed?
If reading comprehension has got you down and you're still struggling with whether or not you want to see this, let me break it down even further. This is a story about the love between sisters. They fight, they drift apart, they find out their grandmother is still alive, and they make their way back to each other. All sorts of lessons on love, self-discovery, romance, and who owns whose heart are explored. There's even some sappy poetry reading thrown in for good measure. I know that this all sounds like a huge shot of estrogen, but thankfully, things never get as syrupy as you might expect.
That doesn't mean there's any shortage of attempts to strain a tear out of the female (and non-manly) eyes. I almost missed out on some dialogue thanks to the sniffling of the four ladies sitting in front of me. So gals, bring your tissues. Guys, if your gal brings you along then bring the sewing kit. You'll need to sew 'em back on after this one. All right, everybody knows what to expect now, so enjoy.
That being sad, I must admit that thanks to good character and relationship development, good acting, and believable characters set within a believable story, I enjoyed it. Granted, Cameron Diaz's long legs might have had something to do with enhancing my enjoyment, but I was entertained nonetheless.
Things start off a little slow as the relationship between the sisters is allowed to grow, but once Maggie finds herself in Florida, working at an old folks' home, the story and laughs start to pick up. There's one old woman who is particularly funny. I don't know her name (you'll recognize her by the fact that she's in a wheelchair most of the time), but she reminded me of my grandmother, commenting on how Diaz "puts a postage stamp on her bottom and calls it a swimsuit" and acting shocked that there are now pants that exist with "'juicy' written across the hiney." How can you not be entertained by a crotchety old woman's outlook on how the times have a-changed?
If reading comprehension has got you down and you're still struggling with whether or not you want to see this, let me break it down even further. This is a story about the love between sisters. They fight, they drift apart, they find out their grandmother is still alive, and they make their way back to each other. All sorts of lessons on love, self-discovery, romance, and who owns whose heart are explored. There's even some sappy poetry reading thrown in for good measure. I know that this all sounds like a huge shot of estrogen, but thankfully, things never get as syrupy as you might expect.
That doesn't mean there's any shortage of attempts to strain a tear out of the female (and non-manly) eyes. I almost missed out on some dialogue thanks to the sniffling of the four ladies sitting in front of me. So gals, bring your tissues. Guys, if your gal brings you along then bring the sewing kit. You'll need to sew 'em back on after this one. All right, everybody knows what to expect now, so enjoy.
Well-acted character study is worth seeing but too long
aprilindeecee28 May 2006
Warning: Spoilers
"In Her Shoes" is a movie that takes an awfully long time to really get itself going. It almost seems as though there are two movies going on even though they are both from the same book: 1) Rose (Toni Colette) coming to terms with how much being her sister's keeper has saved her from dealing with the fact that she hasn't really allowed herself to develop or find out what she's really about; and 2) Cameron Diaz's shallow and self-absorbed "bad girl", a habitual user, going down to Florida to scam her grandmother and finally discovering that she's not such an unredeemable loser after all.
The problem for me is that the latter is such well-worn territory that showing all her episodes of personal failure prior to her grand faux pas of having sex with her sister's boyfriend become increasingly repetitive wastes of time -- especially the sequence with the two guys who take her to the impound lot and the first sequence that lands her in jail. None of this stuff -- in my opinion-- is needed in the film. We all know users like her; aside from the allusion to her dyslexia problem that she later addresses with Norman Lloyd, the other messes she creates are run-of-the-mill. They are treated with importance while shedding no new light on her character. Once we get to Florida and Shirley Maclaine catches onto her, then her ensuing transformation is worth watching, but by then we're halfway through the film. Hanson also seems obsessed with showing us everything he finds interesting about filming a movie that is supposed to take place in Philadelphia.
So much for the film's pacing problems. Everything else works quite well. The performances are all excellent. Shirley Maclaine, Norman Lloyd, Jery Adler, and Mark Feuerstein are all terrific in their supporting roles with the last showing a very nice and quirky chemistry with Collette. Maclaine is surprisingly understated and not surprisingly magnificent.
The problem for me is that the latter is such well-worn territory that showing all her episodes of personal failure prior to her grand faux pas of having sex with her sister's boyfriend become increasingly repetitive wastes of time -- especially the sequence with the two guys who take her to the impound lot and the first sequence that lands her in jail. None of this stuff -- in my opinion-- is needed in the film. We all know users like her; aside from the allusion to her dyslexia problem that she later addresses with Norman Lloyd, the other messes she creates are run-of-the-mill. They are treated with importance while shedding no new light on her character. Once we get to Florida and Shirley Maclaine catches onto her, then her ensuing transformation is worth watching, but by then we're halfway through the film. Hanson also seems obsessed with showing us everything he finds interesting about filming a movie that is supposed to take place in Philadelphia.
So much for the film's pacing problems. Everything else works quite well. The performances are all excellent. Shirley Maclaine, Norman Lloyd, Jery Adler, and Mark Feuerstein are all terrific in their supporting roles with the last showing a very nice and quirky chemistry with Collette. Maclaine is surprisingly understated and not surprisingly magnificent.
The grade of A+ for screen writing!
lavatch4 September 2006
"In Her Shoes" is noteworthy for its crisp dialogue, lively repartee, and multi-dimensional characters, For her novel and for her screenplay, Jennifer Weiner and Susannah Grant, respectively, both deserve an extra curtain call for exemplary work.
Because of the careful scripting, all three of the leading characters played by Toni Collette, Cameron Diaz, and Shirley MacLaine were strong roles with no single character dominating the script. The two sisters, Rose and Maggie, shared the focus in the first half of the film, and MacLaine's grandmother Ella provided a strong impetus in the latter portion.
While all three performances were superb, the trickiest role was Maggie the tomcat. Cameron Diaz brought depth to the role, and one scene especially stood out when Maggie's learning disability was revealed. As she struggled with her reading of the poem in the hospital room, a new dimension of the character suddenly emerged. The scene was sensitively played by Diaz, and the dialogue was, once again, dynamic, sustaining dramatic interest at a point when the impetus of the film could have been lost.
It was impressive as well that the screenplay offered some delectable dialogue for the small parts, especially in the members of the retirement community of Florida. There were many delightful and humorous moments. Yet, the screenplay provided depth and detail in a rich emotional tapestry.
One character that deserves special acknowledgment was the Professor, blind and dying in the Florida hospital. The role was played with great understatement by Norman Lloyd, a veteran character actor who performed with Orson Welles' celebrated Mercury Theatre. Prior to his stunning success in "Citizen Kane" and even before his notorious "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast, Welles was a luminary in the New York theatre. One of the great Shakespearean productions in America in the last century was Welles' 1937 production of Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" that was part of the Federal Theatre Project. Norman Lloyd played the small but crucial role of Cinna the Poet, and, although Lloyd battled with Welles during the rehearsals, the death scene of Cinna the Poet underscored the theme of fascism that Welles wished to evoke. "In Her Shoes" provides Lloyd with another small, but memorable role. Lloyd's was a riveting performance, and the film would not have been the same without it.
Part of the genius of Shakespeare was his ability to individualize and make memorable even the tiniest roles in his plays. This was the strength as well of "In Her Shoes" and an example of some of the finest screen writing in recent years.
Because of the careful scripting, all three of the leading characters played by Toni Collette, Cameron Diaz, and Shirley MacLaine were strong roles with no single character dominating the script. The two sisters, Rose and Maggie, shared the focus in the first half of the film, and MacLaine's grandmother Ella provided a strong impetus in the latter portion.
While all three performances were superb, the trickiest role was Maggie the tomcat. Cameron Diaz brought depth to the role, and one scene especially stood out when Maggie's learning disability was revealed. As she struggled with her reading of the poem in the hospital room, a new dimension of the character suddenly emerged. The scene was sensitively played by Diaz, and the dialogue was, once again, dynamic, sustaining dramatic interest at a point when the impetus of the film could have been lost.
It was impressive as well that the screenplay offered some delectable dialogue for the small parts, especially in the members of the retirement community of Florida. There were many delightful and humorous moments. Yet, the screenplay provided depth and detail in a rich emotional tapestry.
One character that deserves special acknowledgment was the Professor, blind and dying in the Florida hospital. The role was played with great understatement by Norman Lloyd, a veteran character actor who performed with Orson Welles' celebrated Mercury Theatre. Prior to his stunning success in "Citizen Kane" and even before his notorious "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast, Welles was a luminary in the New York theatre. One of the great Shakespearean productions in America in the last century was Welles' 1937 production of Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" that was part of the Federal Theatre Project. Norman Lloyd played the small but crucial role of Cinna the Poet, and, although Lloyd battled with Welles during the rehearsals, the death scene of Cinna the Poet underscored the theme of fascism that Welles wished to evoke. "In Her Shoes" provides Lloyd with another small, but memorable role. Lloyd's was a riveting performance, and the film would not have been the same without it.
Part of the genius of Shakespeare was his ability to individualize and make memorable even the tiniest roles in his plays. This was the strength as well of "In Her Shoes" and an example of some of the finest screen writing in recent years.
Unexpectly good movie...
Turriff7 October 2006
A relationship with a video store clerk is an important thing when you like to watch movies. He can let you have Star Wars III the weekend before its due to hit the shelves, or he can waive the late fee, or unofficially give you free rentals because you've rented over 1000 movies from him.
Most importantly, when you can't decide what to watch, he can tell you what he thinks, and make a few suggestions. If you have a good relationship, he'll put more thought into it, and you'll know better how your tastes and his intersect. This happened to me last night.
So my video go-to guy suggested, in a bold and shocking move, In Her Shoes, which at first glance is nothing but a sappy chick-flick that even my Girlfriend balked at. He insisted, pointing out that the director, Curtis Hanson, had also made Wonderboys (but forgetting to mention L.A. Confidential, for some reason). He described its merits, and eventually convinced me and my Girlfriend.
And so I watched In Her Shoes, best described as a character driven drama with some funny moments. It was very good, and my faith in the Video Guy is renewed. This movie is probably the first time I ever liked Cameron Diaz in a movie. Toni Collette is great, as is Shirley MacLaine. The rest of the supporting cast is strong. While there is no real umph behind the visuals, the movie doesn't really suffer from it, in as much as the focus is character, not visual.
My only reservation about this movie is that it comes on a little strong by times. It achieves levels of saccharine sweetness that jar the overall mood of the movie. The overt sentimentality, while awfully effective (barely a dry eye in the house), leaves a bad aftertaste. The same, I think can be said of a few comedic moments, that while funny, seem to stand out as maybe not part of the right movie. I'm glad I didn't watch it by myself, but as a couple movie, go for it.
I'm planning a overhaul of my rating system, given that I'm not sure about the efficacity of the old one. In the old system, I think this movie would be a 3.75, maybe a 4 at a stretch, outta 5. My Girlfriend loved it.
Most importantly, when you can't decide what to watch, he can tell you what he thinks, and make a few suggestions. If you have a good relationship, he'll put more thought into it, and you'll know better how your tastes and his intersect. This happened to me last night.
So my video go-to guy suggested, in a bold and shocking move, In Her Shoes, which at first glance is nothing but a sappy chick-flick that even my Girlfriend balked at. He insisted, pointing out that the director, Curtis Hanson, had also made Wonderboys (but forgetting to mention L.A. Confidential, for some reason). He described its merits, and eventually convinced me and my Girlfriend.
And so I watched In Her Shoes, best described as a character driven drama with some funny moments. It was very good, and my faith in the Video Guy is renewed. This movie is probably the first time I ever liked Cameron Diaz in a movie. Toni Collette is great, as is Shirley MacLaine. The rest of the supporting cast is strong. While there is no real umph behind the visuals, the movie doesn't really suffer from it, in as much as the focus is character, not visual.
My only reservation about this movie is that it comes on a little strong by times. It achieves levels of saccharine sweetness that jar the overall mood of the movie. The overt sentimentality, while awfully effective (barely a dry eye in the house), leaves a bad aftertaste. The same, I think can be said of a few comedic moments, that while funny, seem to stand out as maybe not part of the right movie. I'm glad I didn't watch it by myself, but as a couple movie, go for it.
I'm planning a overhaul of my rating system, given that I'm not sure about the efficacity of the old one. In the old system, I think this movie would be a 3.75, maybe a 4 at a stretch, outta 5. My Girlfriend loved it.
Waste of time
tlengnick17 July 2006
Positives: An interesting poem, a couple of moments where you actually cared what was happening. Negatives: Film lacked focus and direction - seemed to meander for the most part. Toni Collete's character was so bland, it didn't give her a chance to really act. Cameron Diaz's character was so shallow - probably about what she could handle - but you really didn't care about either of them throughout the movie. The middle is the only part where a couple of interesting things happened - the beginning and ending where completely lame. And there was really no resolution to the title "In Her Shoes" other than Cameron Diaz's character taking and using (and ruining) various pairs of shoes (yawn). While this movie had a couple of moments that were interesting, at the end we just rolled our eyes and regretted wasting the 2 hours.
IN HER SHOES Stands Tall
seaview112 October 2005
Having previously tackled a wide range of themes in his films, Director Curtis Hanson delves into the love/hate relationship of two disparate sisters in the film, In Her Shoes. The result is an enjoyably entertaining comedy/drama featuring a number of topflight performances and some hilarious dialogue.
Maggie Feller (Cameron Diaz) is an irresponsible, practically illiterate alcoholic who sleeps around and mooches or steals to get by in the world. Her sister, Rose Feller (Toni Collette) is a self conscious, workaholic lawyer who is dating her boss and indulges in her one passion, fashionable dress shoes. (Maggie's obsession with Rose's sexy heels recalls an ongoing theme of television's Sex and the City.) Both sisters lost their psychologically impaired mother to a supposed car accident that affected their family over the years. One day Maggie is thrown out of her house by her step mother and dad. Finding refuge with her sister, Rose, she proceeds to make life miserable with her carefree attitude and interference that ends in embarrassment and anger for both. As Rose's romantic and professional life is turned upside down, Maggie is sent packing and turns to one last hope, her maternal grandmother she never knew, namely Ella Hirsch (Shirley MacLaine). Ella works in a retirement community in Florida, and Maggie's appearance causes quite a stir. When she lost her daughter, Ella lost touch with her granddaughters, and Maggie's 'visit' serves as a catalyst for reconnection. Maggie's visit becomes a reawakening of sorts for herself and a chance for Ella to rediscover her lost family. Meanwhile, Rose is at a crossroads in her life and decides to change course in her job and finds romance from an unlikely source. Anxious to reunite her granddaughters, Ella resorts to extreme measures to bridge an emotional gap as her two girls begin to discover their own identities in unique and unexpected ways.
This is a gem of a film. It says something when you realize early on that you are watching something special. Curtis Hanson (L.A.Confidential, Wonder Boys) has struck gold with Susannah Grant's (Erin Brokovich) adaptation of the best seller by Jennifer Weiner. The film is really about the secrets and lies that cripple a family over time and how a strange course of events revisit the relationships or lack thereof. Hanson and the company do a marvelous job of balancing some very funny dialogue with more serious, dramatic scenes. There are some great, memorable lines, some of which are funny and smart without losing sight of the context of the story. A number of scenes are touching and affecting in their sensitive handling of real emotions without becoming clichéd. It's nice to see real people who change over time and how seemingly inconsequential supporting characters gradually come to the forefront.
The acting by the entire cast is strong and you appreciate the little nuances in facial expression and inflection of dialogue that enrich each character. This may be Cameron Diaz's best performance. That's saying something as the glamorous model has been more star than actress in her most popular films (Charlie's Angels, There's Something About Mary) and she is given a juicy role with sharp direction. Toni Collette has always been a solid actress in any film (Sixth Sense, The Hours) but she has found a wonderful character in Rose and makes the most of it. Shirley MacLaine (Terms of Endearment, The Turning Point) is terrific in what is a change of pace role where she eschews makeup to look her age and shows a maternal wisdom that is the stuff of Supporting Oscars. You wish there were more of her in the film, but what's there is delicious. It's nice to see an old pro like Norman Lloyd still displaying his acting chops in what is a minor role of a bed-ridden patient who has a profound influence on Diaz's character.
The performances are complemented by seamless editing which not only captures the right reactions, but effortlessly switches back and forth between the two sisters especially during key scenes that are thematically linked. Although the running time goes over two hours, the pacing is good, and everything seems integral to the storyline. The musical score by Mark Isham is quite effective in complimenting the emotional moments without ever being intrusive.
Despite its strong script, the film never fully explores Maggie's transformation which, while uplifting and remarkable, is never totally convincing given her origins and tendencies. Things get wrapped up in a dreamy sendoff which is perhaps too good to be true, but those same qualities also make for a more upbeat film.
Hanson displays a very keen eye in relating what is essentially a woman's film. Yes, this may be considered a woman's film in its theme and target audience, but considering the fact it is also a well made, funny, and heart rending film about love and family, the women ought to bring along the men. In Her Shoes is not just about rival sisters but rather it is about a family yanked apart and slowly brought together again in ways that are not altogether apparent at the start. How these lost souls meld together is the stuff of high entertainment and substance.
Maggie Feller (Cameron Diaz) is an irresponsible, practically illiterate alcoholic who sleeps around and mooches or steals to get by in the world. Her sister, Rose Feller (Toni Collette) is a self conscious, workaholic lawyer who is dating her boss and indulges in her one passion, fashionable dress shoes. (Maggie's obsession with Rose's sexy heels recalls an ongoing theme of television's Sex and the City.) Both sisters lost their psychologically impaired mother to a supposed car accident that affected their family over the years. One day Maggie is thrown out of her house by her step mother and dad. Finding refuge with her sister, Rose, she proceeds to make life miserable with her carefree attitude and interference that ends in embarrassment and anger for both. As Rose's romantic and professional life is turned upside down, Maggie is sent packing and turns to one last hope, her maternal grandmother she never knew, namely Ella Hirsch (Shirley MacLaine). Ella works in a retirement community in Florida, and Maggie's appearance causes quite a stir. When she lost her daughter, Ella lost touch with her granddaughters, and Maggie's 'visit' serves as a catalyst for reconnection. Maggie's visit becomes a reawakening of sorts for herself and a chance for Ella to rediscover her lost family. Meanwhile, Rose is at a crossroads in her life and decides to change course in her job and finds romance from an unlikely source. Anxious to reunite her granddaughters, Ella resorts to extreme measures to bridge an emotional gap as her two girls begin to discover their own identities in unique and unexpected ways.
This is a gem of a film. It says something when you realize early on that you are watching something special. Curtis Hanson (L.A.Confidential, Wonder Boys) has struck gold with Susannah Grant's (Erin Brokovich) adaptation of the best seller by Jennifer Weiner. The film is really about the secrets and lies that cripple a family over time and how a strange course of events revisit the relationships or lack thereof. Hanson and the company do a marvelous job of balancing some very funny dialogue with more serious, dramatic scenes. There are some great, memorable lines, some of which are funny and smart without losing sight of the context of the story. A number of scenes are touching and affecting in their sensitive handling of real emotions without becoming clichéd. It's nice to see real people who change over time and how seemingly inconsequential supporting characters gradually come to the forefront.
The acting by the entire cast is strong and you appreciate the little nuances in facial expression and inflection of dialogue that enrich each character. This may be Cameron Diaz's best performance. That's saying something as the glamorous model has been more star than actress in her most popular films (Charlie's Angels, There's Something About Mary) and she is given a juicy role with sharp direction. Toni Collette has always been a solid actress in any film (Sixth Sense, The Hours) but she has found a wonderful character in Rose and makes the most of it. Shirley MacLaine (Terms of Endearment, The Turning Point) is terrific in what is a change of pace role where she eschews makeup to look her age and shows a maternal wisdom that is the stuff of Supporting Oscars. You wish there were more of her in the film, but what's there is delicious. It's nice to see an old pro like Norman Lloyd still displaying his acting chops in what is a minor role of a bed-ridden patient who has a profound influence on Diaz's character.
The performances are complemented by seamless editing which not only captures the right reactions, but effortlessly switches back and forth between the two sisters especially during key scenes that are thematically linked. Although the running time goes over two hours, the pacing is good, and everything seems integral to the storyline. The musical score by Mark Isham is quite effective in complimenting the emotional moments without ever being intrusive.
Despite its strong script, the film never fully explores Maggie's transformation which, while uplifting and remarkable, is never totally convincing given her origins and tendencies. Things get wrapped up in a dreamy sendoff which is perhaps too good to be true, but those same qualities also make for a more upbeat film.
Hanson displays a very keen eye in relating what is essentially a woman's film. Yes, this may be considered a woman's film in its theme and target audience, but considering the fact it is also a well made, funny, and heart rending film about love and family, the women ought to bring along the men. In Her Shoes is not just about rival sisters but rather it is about a family yanked apart and slowly brought together again in ways that are not altogether apparent at the start. How these lost souls meld together is the stuff of high entertainment and substance.
Austin Movie Show review
leilapostgrad10 October 2005
Warning: Spoilers
I love Toni Collette, and I hate how she's so often cast as "the fat girl," when she's not fat at all! She's so talented, so beautiful, and the only way on earth that a director can get away with calling Collette "the fat one" is by putting her next to Cameron Diaz in nothing but underwear. And that's exactly what director Curtis Hanson did. But I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that Diaz's character, the beautiful-but-slutty sister Maggie, is supposed to be in her underwear or a bikini for 85% of the story, and that that's exactly what Maggie does in the original book. I'm sure a male director had nothing to do with that decision.
So besides leaving Toni Collette off the poster entirely and calling her character "fat," I had no problem with In Her Shoes. There are some honestly endearing scenes (especially between Collette's character, Rose, and her eventual-boyfriend, Simon), and bring your tissues for a couple of poem-readings that will make you cry. The commercials make In Her Shoes look predictable and formulaic, but I think you should see it for yourself. Never judge a film until you've walked a mile in its shoes. (I'm so puny!)
So besides leaving Toni Collette off the poster entirely and calling her character "fat," I had no problem with In Her Shoes. There are some honestly endearing scenes (especially between Collette's character, Rose, and her eventual-boyfriend, Simon), and bring your tissues for a couple of poem-readings that will make you cry. The commercials make In Her Shoes look predictable and formulaic, but I think you should see it for yourself. Never judge a film until you've walked a mile in its shoes. (I'm so puny!)
A Mawkish Bit of Utter Cheese
evanston_dad12 June 2006
Poor Shirley MacLaine tries hard to lend some gravitas to this mawkish, gag-inducing "feel-good" movie, but she's trampled by the run-away sentimentality of a film that's not the least bit grounded in reality.
This was directed by Curtis Hanson? Did he have a lobotomy since we last heard from him? Hanson can do effective drama sprinkled with comedy, as evidenced by "Wonder Boys." So I don't know what happened to him here. This is the kind of movie that doesn't want to accept that life is messy and fussy, and that neat, tidy endings (however implausible they might be) might make for a nice closing shot, but come across as utterly phony if the people watching the film have been through anything remotely like what the characters in the film go through.
My wife and I made a game of calling out the plot points before they occurred -- e.g. "the old man's going to teach her to read and then drop dead." Bingo! This is one of those movies where the characters give little speeches summarizing their emotional problems, making you wonder why they still have emotional problems if they're that aware of what's causing them. Toni Collette (a fine actress, by the way, and one of my favorites if not given a lot to work with here), gives a speech early on about why she buys so many shoes and never wears them, spelling out in flashing neon the film's awkward connecting motif. At that moment, I knew what I was in for, and the film was a downward spiral from there.
Grade: C-
This was directed by Curtis Hanson? Did he have a lobotomy since we last heard from him? Hanson can do effective drama sprinkled with comedy, as evidenced by "Wonder Boys." So I don't know what happened to him here. This is the kind of movie that doesn't want to accept that life is messy and fussy, and that neat, tidy endings (however implausible they might be) might make for a nice closing shot, but come across as utterly phony if the people watching the film have been through anything remotely like what the characters in the film go through.
My wife and I made a game of calling out the plot points before they occurred -- e.g. "the old man's going to teach her to read and then drop dead." Bingo! This is one of those movies where the characters give little speeches summarizing their emotional problems, making you wonder why they still have emotional problems if they're that aware of what's causing them. Toni Collette (a fine actress, by the way, and one of my favorites if not given a lot to work with here), gives a speech early on about why she buys so many shoes and never wears them, spelling out in flashing neon the film's awkward connecting motif. At that moment, I knew what I was in for, and the film was a downward spiral from there.
Grade: C-
Just the right match with this outfit, I'll take them!
Camera-Obscura24 July 2006
Don't be too harsh on this film. A chick-flick? Perhaps, but lots more than that! This film is about women relationships with just the right touch of comic relief many of these films normally lack. Hats of for everyone who contributed to this film! A good script, great acting and stellar craftsmanship of director Curtis Hanson make this one hit the bulls-eye, or very close indeed. I expected a decent comedy, which - in part - it certainly is, but the performances are so good and the characters so alive and breathing that I soon forgot about the initial comic aspect of the film. Right from the start, the film sucks you into the story, which just ring true.
Two sisters with quite opposite characters, sexy, uneducated party animal Maggie (Cameron Diaz) and the somewhat dull responsible lawyer Rose (Toni Collette), are unwillingly confronted with each other. They learn that they can actually learn something from their deficiencies and combine the strands they have - with help from their grandmother - to improve their lives.
Curtis Hanson expertly directs in an appropriately modest fashion He knows his job and manages to focus on character development but doesn't forget to add the occasional comic relief. The cast shines with Cameron Diaz in what might be her best role so far. The still vastly underrated Australian Toni Collette, who shined as the vulnerable ugly duckling in MURIEL'S WEDDING (1994), is just perfect in her role a Rose, and there's Shirley Maclaine as the sister's grandmother with a somewhat low-key part, but she knows how to handle it, expertly. A treat!
Perhaps some minor flaws: The story takes some time to get going. A bit too much focus on Cameron Diaz's legs, which is completely unnecessary and Maggie's partial illiteracy and incapability to get a job might have needed somewhat more background or explanation. What beautiful woman, no matter how stupid she might be, could have any difficulty finding a job? Highly unlikely. But these are minor quibbles.
Worth your time, even if you are one of three guys in a crowd of three hundred women in the cinema;)
Camera Obscura --- 9/10
Two sisters with quite opposite characters, sexy, uneducated party animal Maggie (Cameron Diaz) and the somewhat dull responsible lawyer Rose (Toni Collette), are unwillingly confronted with each other. They learn that they can actually learn something from their deficiencies and combine the strands they have - with help from their grandmother - to improve their lives.
Curtis Hanson expertly directs in an appropriately modest fashion He knows his job and manages to focus on character development but doesn't forget to add the occasional comic relief. The cast shines with Cameron Diaz in what might be her best role so far. The still vastly underrated Australian Toni Collette, who shined as the vulnerable ugly duckling in MURIEL'S WEDDING (1994), is just perfect in her role a Rose, and there's Shirley Maclaine as the sister's grandmother with a somewhat low-key part, but she knows how to handle it, expertly. A treat!
Perhaps some minor flaws: The story takes some time to get going. A bit too much focus on Cameron Diaz's legs, which is completely unnecessary and Maggie's partial illiteracy and incapability to get a job might have needed somewhat more background or explanation. What beautiful woman, no matter how stupid she might be, could have any difficulty finding a job? Highly unlikely. But these are minor quibbles.
Worth your time, even if you are one of three guys in a crowd of three hundred women in the cinema;)
Camera Obscura --- 9/10
More intelligent than a normal chick flick
craigcameron26 October 2005
I was very surprised by this movie. I try not to expect too much of films my girlfriend can't wait to see. I was surprised this didn't follow the usual 'mills & boon' formula with sisterly love hate peppered loosely. Certain references in particular to the shoe thread throughout kept the interest of the majority of girlie's around, but the evolving relationships of the main characters were finely crafted and kept the interest of non-chick-flicking shoe-loving shopaholic minority. The music was nice backdrop to the lives of Rose and Maggie, but for my money, the use of E.E. Cummings poems took this past the norm and into the quite enjoyable category.
If you're not a chick flick fan worth the viewing time.
If you are, well worth the entrance fee too.
If you're not a chick flick fan worth the viewing time.
If you are, well worth the entrance fee too.
Exceptionally well produced family tale highlighting Sibling Connections
vovers19 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This story of siblings losing each other and their way latches onto the core strength of both the 2 leading actors. Some light hearted attempts at humour kept the drama in the comedy section but the real tale is a deep and loving display of the need to stay connected to family and to communicate.
Well done.
good romantic comedy
dcldan18 April 2007
Maggie and Rose are totally different sisters. While Rose is a serious and hard-working lawyer, Maggie is crazy and spoils her life in a party after another, selling her body to earn money. After a great argument, Rose makes Maggie out of her house and she, having nowhere to go, will travel to Florida, where their Grandma lives. There she will discover the sense of helping the other people and to have a decent job (tahnks to grandma!). Meanwhile, Rose will learn how to be more open to new experiences and she will find love. although it has a typical plot, the movie is not annoying at any time. Sometimes funny, sometimes touching, it is able to tell you a well structured story, with quite well built characters (unusual in this kind of movies). Acting of Tony Collette and Shirley McLane is unexpectedly good (while Cameron Diaz is just correct), which makes the movie more interesting. It is a genre that artistically is not very good, but, probably one of the best movies of this type. It is quite long (130') but it does not seem so, it is no masterpiece, but is perfect to enjoy relaxed an afternoon or a long bus travel.
Cameron Diaz Walks in Someone Else's (Sisters of the Traveling) Shoes!
Tony-Kiss-Castillo27 February 2024
Cameron Diaz amazes in this delightful little film. ALERT! For all men! "In Her Shoes" is the perfect movie to see with all the important women in your life: Wife or girlfriend(s), daughters, sisters, mother, mother- n-law, aunts, cousins, friends and grandmothers! You've got my 100% guarantee that all of them will love it! So you can please them all and treat yourself to some eye candy, too, because scenes abound with Cameron Diaz romping around in a scant bikini in this rather amusing and interesting story which interweaves a patchwork of unusual family ties.
Diaz plays Maggie, the very attractive inveterate party-girl. Rose (Toni Collette), the successful workaholic lawyer, plays counterpoint to her sister, Maggie. When an industrial size faux pas, committed by Maggie, drives a Grand Canyon size wedge between these polar opposite siblings, Maggie tempestuously decides to cut ties with Rose and relocate to Miami in order to seek out her estranged grandmother (Shirley Maclaine) whom she has not seen since she was a little girl. The sisters take advantage of this forced hiatus in their relationship to achieve personal growth and self-improvement.
😊😊Fate, as it so often does in real life, plays an important role both in the development of the story and in the lives of its characters.
The nuanced on-screen chemistry between the three leading characters is exquisite! "SHOES" shows some rather original and interesting elements. Observing the artistic growth of Cameron Diaz over the years, I now consider her an exceptional actor. Here, Diaz fleshes out her character; converting each action and reaction into world-class natural! In one close-up, her face fills the entire screen,at a moment when Maggie is feeling extremely tired and stressed. She clearly projects a frail, aging fatigue at the precise real-time twilight of her youth! Not many Divas would lend themselves to such a scenario to improve a scene!
8.5*....... ENJOY! / DISFRUTELA!!!
Any comments, questions or observations, in English o en Español, are most welcome!
Diaz plays Maggie, the very attractive inveterate party-girl. Rose (Toni Collette), the successful workaholic lawyer, plays counterpoint to her sister, Maggie. When an industrial size faux pas, committed by Maggie, drives a Grand Canyon size wedge between these polar opposite siblings, Maggie tempestuously decides to cut ties with Rose and relocate to Miami in order to seek out her estranged grandmother (Shirley Maclaine) whom she has not seen since she was a little girl. The sisters take advantage of this forced hiatus in their relationship to achieve personal growth and self-improvement.
😊😊Fate, as it so often does in real life, plays an important role both in the development of the story and in the lives of its characters.
The nuanced on-screen chemistry between the three leading characters is exquisite! "SHOES" shows some rather original and interesting elements. Observing the artistic growth of Cameron Diaz over the years, I now consider her an exceptional actor. Here, Diaz fleshes out her character; converting each action and reaction into world-class natural! In one close-up, her face fills the entire screen,at a moment when Maggie is feeling extremely tired and stressed. She clearly projects a frail, aging fatigue at the precise real-time twilight of her youth! Not many Divas would lend themselves to such a scenario to improve a scene!
8.5*....... ENJOY! / DISFRUTELA!!!
Any comments, questions or observations, in English o en Español, are most welcome!
Sisterly love
nohniin24 May 2019
Good performances but too slow
SnoopyStyle6 January 2014
Rose Fellow (Toni Collette) is a hard working straight laced lawyer. Her sister Maggie (Cameron Diaz) is a hot drunken mess who can't keep a job. They have a massive fight after Maggie sleeps with Rose's boyfriend. Maggie becomes homeless and starts living with a grandmother (Shirley MacLaine) neither knew. Meanwhile Rose quits her job and starts a dog walking business.
This movie is too unnecessarily slow. Toni Collette is great and Cameron Diaz is interesting. They have a great scene together. But the great scenes in this movie are separated by too much filler. Cameron Diaz could be darker. The drama simmers along for far too long. The sisters are great together but the movie's not as explosive separated. The long middle is held back as we wait for the inevitable reunion.
This movie is too unnecessarily slow. Toni Collette is great and Cameron Diaz is interesting. They have a great scene together. But the great scenes in this movie are separated by too much filler. Cameron Diaz could be darker. The drama simmers along for far too long. The sisters are great together but the movie's not as explosive separated. The long middle is held back as we wait for the inevitable reunion.
Guys, make sure you get credit for taking her to two chick flicks.
SP-1031 October 2005
Warning: Spoilers
SPOILERS CONTAINED
That is how long and awful this movie is. Two major rules broken by Curtis Hanson:
1. It is well over 2 hours which immediately breaks first the sacred covenant of chick flicks - KEEP IT SHORT (1.5 hours or less). Yes, you hate your sister and your step-mom. Yes, the cute guy cheated on you with your sister. Yes, the nice guy you overlooked in your sensitive knight in shining armor. Move it along, we've seen it all before
2. 2nd rule- IF YOU DIRECT ONE OF THE BEST ACTION & SUSPENSE MOVIES EVER MADE (L.A. CONFIDENTIAL), DON'T LOSE YOUR MIND AND SETTLE FOR THIS GARBAGE.
I really can't believe it, Curtis. What happened? I can't believe you are not directing better movies than this.
That is how long and awful this movie is. Two major rules broken by Curtis Hanson:
1. It is well over 2 hours which immediately breaks first the sacred covenant of chick flicks - KEEP IT SHORT (1.5 hours or less). Yes, you hate your sister and your step-mom. Yes, the cute guy cheated on you with your sister. Yes, the nice guy you overlooked in your sensitive knight in shining armor. Move it along, we've seen it all before
2. 2nd rule- IF YOU DIRECT ONE OF THE BEST ACTION & SUSPENSE MOVIES EVER MADE (L.A. CONFIDENTIAL), DON'T LOSE YOUR MIND AND SETTLE FOR THIS GARBAGE.
I really can't believe it, Curtis. What happened? I can't believe you are not directing better movies than this.
A beautiful story about love, hate and forgiveness...
luizpaulon13 December 2006
First things first. I didn't like Cameron Diaz as an actress. 90% of her movies were brainless...but they were delightful indeed. But in "In her shoes" I saw a TOTALLY different Cameron Diaz. I saw a great actress, maybe her best role in her entire life. The movie tells us a story about 2 sisters, Maggie (Diaz) and Rose (Toni Collette). They are totally different from each other. While Rose is an outstanding Lawyer, responsible and VERY shy, Maggie is a lazy, drunk, irresponsible and a troublesome girl, who wants just spend money (stealing or not) on unnecessary stuffs. The way how they fight, blame, and love each other is really impressive. Cameron and Toni REALLY WERE sisters, and that realism was what made me love this movie. You will laugh, you will cry, you will learn about love, and you will learn about forgiveness. This is one of the most beautiful movie that I've ever seen. Watch, rent, BUY it if necessary... You will not regret, I assure you!
In Her Cliché-Filled Shoes"
negunu17 October 2005
IN HER SHOES Starring: Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette, Shirley Maclaine Premise: Maggie Feller (Diaz) is an out of control, unemployed wreck. When we first meet her, she's wasted at her high school reunion and about to engage in explicit activities with a former classmate in a bathroom, but she begins to vomit, thus ending said activities. Of course she contrasts beautifully with her got-it-all-together lawyer sister Rose (Oscar-nominee Toni Collette of "The Sixth Sense" and "The Hours), whom, when we first meet her, is engaging in some uncharacteristically explicit activities with a co-worker (no bathrooms this time; they do the dirty in Rose's beautiful bed, which drew my attention throughout any scene in which it was visible). Maggie's drinking/partying/out of control-ness leads to her getting kicked out of her the house her father lives in with her step-mother, who is, quite frankly, a bitch. She moves in with Rose. Chaos ensues as Maggie tries to find a job, failing time and time again. Finally (for reason I guess I won't give away even though they're not exactly crucial to the overall plot), Rose kicks Maggie out and Maggie moves to Florida in search of a grandmother neither sister knew they had.
"In Her Shoes" is riddled with as many clichés as the pages of Jennifer Weiner's chick-lit phenom, on which the film was based. However, the movie doesn't feel like a chick-flick - indeed, there are times when it could be compared to dramadies such as "Something's Gotta Give" and "As Good As It Gets." This is not to say "In Her Shoes" is worthy of the accolades and awards the aforementioned films garnered. I could have done without all the unclever references to shoes. (Rose, who is "fat," has an affinity for buying expensive shoes, and when she goes to the high school reunion to pick up a passed-out Maggie, the first words out of her mouth are, "Those are my shoes." C'mon. Also, the shoes Rose buys - fabulous Jimmy Choos, for example - are the type, as Maggie puts it, that "need to be out living a life of scandal." The parallel here, folks, is that Maggie, who can't afford those shoes, is out living the life of scandal while Rose, who can, works and sits at home. Ooh. How deep.) Maggie the waif, we find, struggles from dyslexia, I think in a feeble attempt to make the audience feel bad for her, or in a pitiful attempt to offer some sort of justification for her selfish antics and meaningless existence. Oh. She's dumb. God, that must suck for her. No wonder she acts the way she does, poor girl, she can't read.
Even so, Collette is a pleasure to watch. She can cry on a dime and she brings amazing nuance to an otherwise dull character in an otherwise mediocre film. The way she stands, the faces she makes, her reactions to her sister - they're gems of cinematic acting you don't come across often.
Enter Oscar winner Shirley Maclaine ("Sweet Charity," "Terms of Endearment") in the role of Ella Hirsch, the girls long-lost grandmother. Maclaine is an actress of unusual talent, one who has an immediate chemistry with whomever she's sharing the screen. The scenes between Maclaine and Collette spark and are to be treasured, and both actresses allow Diaz, who is amateurish in comparison, to flower just a little, which is further testament to their abilities. I wouldn't be surprised if either Collette or Maclaine (or both) hear their names called as we move toward awards seasons. Indeed, I hope their work in this film is recognized, because if it wasn't for them, the movie would barely pass for OK. GRADE: C. SHOULD YOU SEE IT: Wait for the DVD and pray it has worthwhile extras (a few deleted scenes between Maclaine and Collette would be orgasmic).
"In Her Shoes" is riddled with as many clichés as the pages of Jennifer Weiner's chick-lit phenom, on which the film was based. However, the movie doesn't feel like a chick-flick - indeed, there are times when it could be compared to dramadies such as "Something's Gotta Give" and "As Good As It Gets." This is not to say "In Her Shoes" is worthy of the accolades and awards the aforementioned films garnered. I could have done without all the unclever references to shoes. (Rose, who is "fat," has an affinity for buying expensive shoes, and when she goes to the high school reunion to pick up a passed-out Maggie, the first words out of her mouth are, "Those are my shoes." C'mon. Also, the shoes Rose buys - fabulous Jimmy Choos, for example - are the type, as Maggie puts it, that "need to be out living a life of scandal." The parallel here, folks, is that Maggie, who can't afford those shoes, is out living the life of scandal while Rose, who can, works and sits at home. Ooh. How deep.) Maggie the waif, we find, struggles from dyslexia, I think in a feeble attempt to make the audience feel bad for her, or in a pitiful attempt to offer some sort of justification for her selfish antics and meaningless existence. Oh. She's dumb. God, that must suck for her. No wonder she acts the way she does, poor girl, she can't read.
Even so, Collette is a pleasure to watch. She can cry on a dime and she brings amazing nuance to an otherwise dull character in an otherwise mediocre film. The way she stands, the faces she makes, her reactions to her sister - they're gems of cinematic acting you don't come across often.
Enter Oscar winner Shirley Maclaine ("Sweet Charity," "Terms of Endearment") in the role of Ella Hirsch, the girls long-lost grandmother. Maclaine is an actress of unusual talent, one who has an immediate chemistry with whomever she's sharing the screen. The scenes between Maclaine and Collette spark and are to be treasured, and both actresses allow Diaz, who is amateurish in comparison, to flower just a little, which is further testament to their abilities. I wouldn't be surprised if either Collette or Maclaine (or both) hear their names called as we move toward awards seasons. Indeed, I hope their work in this film is recognized, because if it wasn't for them, the movie would barely pass for OK. GRADE: C. SHOULD YOU SEE IT: Wait for the DVD and pray it has worthwhile extras (a few deleted scenes between Maclaine and Collette would be orgasmic).
Hanson working with extremely lightweight material
rosscinema23 October 2005
Warning: Spoilers
It's hard to imagine that the same director who gave us "L.A. Confidential" and "Wonder Boys" is the same filmmaker who has now given us a film that makes Rob Reiner look like Ingmar Bergman. Even a silly fantasy romp like "8 Mile" had it's moments of genuine truth but here Curtis Hanson is clearly working with a story that doesn't sustain the edge that he attempts to establish early on. Story is about two sisters, one is a boozy illiterate named Maggie (Cameron Diaz) and the other an intelligent Philadelphia lawyer named Rose (Toni Collette) and the two of them were raised by their father after their mother died when they were young.
*****SPOILER ALERT***** Maggie drinks and steals and sleeps around endlessly while Rose who's a few pounds heavier attempts to be the responsible big sister and watch over her but one day Maggie finally crosses the line and is thrown out. Rose finds out that her sister not only has been stealing again but finds her in bed with a potential boyfriend and orders her to get out of her life completely. With nowhere to go Maggie heads to Florida after discovering that she has a long lost grandmother named Ella (Shirley MacLaine) and is allowed to stay with her in her retirement home. Meanwhile, Rose leaves her job and gets engaged to a former co-worker but she has incredible difficulty in telling him about the details of her relationship with her sister. Maggie finds Ella unflappable but supportive and is urged to get a job at the assisted living center and eventually it's here that Maggie starts to find herself and mature.
First off, I am recommending this film for others to see and it's primarily because of the good performances that take place despite a script that's aimed strictly for viewers of the Lifetime channel. One can't help but wonder what exactly Curtis Hanson saw in this story that would attract him to the project because the film is about as revolutionary as an episode of "The Gilmore Girls". The best moments (for me anyway) come during the first part of the film where we come to understand Rose's frustration with her immature sister and Collette in her role gives the film it's best performance. In fact, all the actors are fine with MacLaine playing her usual crusty but experienced older woman and even Diaz (whom I'm an admitted non-fan of) plays her character well but the script by Erin Brockovich's Susannah Grant dives head on into sappy predictable material like the scenes where Maggie learns how to read. I guess the reason I'm still recommending this film is because I just don't think it would be fair to all of the actors involved who really do a good job despite the lack of depth with the story. Call me a softy if you have to but I think I would be lying if I didn't say that this still offers enough scenes of emotional turmoil for it's characters to shine and to also give the film whatever heart it has.
*****SPOILER ALERT***** Maggie drinks and steals and sleeps around endlessly while Rose who's a few pounds heavier attempts to be the responsible big sister and watch over her but one day Maggie finally crosses the line and is thrown out. Rose finds out that her sister not only has been stealing again but finds her in bed with a potential boyfriend and orders her to get out of her life completely. With nowhere to go Maggie heads to Florida after discovering that she has a long lost grandmother named Ella (Shirley MacLaine) and is allowed to stay with her in her retirement home. Meanwhile, Rose leaves her job and gets engaged to a former co-worker but she has incredible difficulty in telling him about the details of her relationship with her sister. Maggie finds Ella unflappable but supportive and is urged to get a job at the assisted living center and eventually it's here that Maggie starts to find herself and mature.
First off, I am recommending this film for others to see and it's primarily because of the good performances that take place despite a script that's aimed strictly for viewers of the Lifetime channel. One can't help but wonder what exactly Curtis Hanson saw in this story that would attract him to the project because the film is about as revolutionary as an episode of "The Gilmore Girls". The best moments (for me anyway) come during the first part of the film where we come to understand Rose's frustration with her immature sister and Collette in her role gives the film it's best performance. In fact, all the actors are fine with MacLaine playing her usual crusty but experienced older woman and even Diaz (whom I'm an admitted non-fan of) plays her character well but the script by Erin Brockovich's Susannah Grant dives head on into sappy predictable material like the scenes where Maggie learns how to read. I guess the reason I'm still recommending this film is because I just don't think it would be fair to all of the actors involved who really do a good job despite the lack of depth with the story. Call me a softy if you have to but I think I would be lying if I didn't say that this still offers enough scenes of emotional turmoil for it's characters to shine and to also give the film whatever heart it has.
A fun film
Gordon-1117 October 2016
This film tells the story of two sisters, one of them has the brains and the other has the looks. Though they are very close, their relationship is severely tested by an indiscretion.
You can tell this film is all about Cameron Diaz, as the camera focuses on her various body parts on many occasions. Fortunately, Toni Collette provides a great non superficial contrast to save the film from being too shallow. The story is about family relationships, and it focuses on a bit too many relationships, making it unfocused. I thought it was dragging on a bit, but the version I watched was already a cut version that was ten minutes shorter. I still enjoyed it, especially how Toni Collette finally finds herself and her love. The retirement facility is a good subplot too. I did say the film is a bit too long, but if they could expand just a little on the grandson of the professor, and maybe make him more prominent in the film after he gets introduced, it would have been a great Hollywood ending.
You can tell this film is all about Cameron Diaz, as the camera focuses on her various body parts on many occasions. Fortunately, Toni Collette provides a great non superficial contrast to save the film from being too shallow. The story is about family relationships, and it focuses on a bit too many relationships, making it unfocused. I thought it was dragging on a bit, but the version I watched was already a cut version that was ten minutes shorter. I still enjoyed it, especially how Toni Collette finally finds herself and her love. The retirement facility is a good subplot too. I did say the film is a bit too long, but if they could expand just a little on the grandson of the professor, and maybe make him more prominent in the film after he gets introduced, it would have been a great Hollywood ending.
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