Amour & mensonges

This is a delightful film about a Southern belle, Grace King Bichon

(Julia Roberts), who chafes under the domination of her

brook-no-dissent father, and is cheated on by her husband. Grace

works for her father on his horse farm, and her suppressed

resentment of his iron rule has likely helped derail her marriage to

Eddie. In any event, the film is ultimately about the love and

strength of family relationships and the power of forgiveness, as

well as finding one's own path in life. All actors turn in great

performances: Julia Roberts as the heroine and wronged wife;

Robert Duvall as the family patriarch; Gena Rowlands as the

beautiful and devoted spouse and mother; and Kyra Sedgwick as

the transgressive sister. Dennis Quaid as Grace's philandering

husband is very appealing, so it's hard not to be rooting for he and

Grace to reconcile. Finally, good cinematography and a portrait of

gracious Southern living make this film an enjoyable view.

Grace Bichon (Julia Roberts) seems to have a happy life with husband Eddie (Dennis Quaid) and daughter Caroline. She dutifully does work with the other wives in the Charity League and runs her father's horse stable. Then she catches Eddie with his mistress on the streets. She leaves with her daughter to stay with her father Wyly King (Robert Duvall), mother Georgia (Gena Rowlands), and sister Emma Rae King (Kyra Sedgwick). There is a horse jumping Grand Prix coming up. As the couple toys with divorce, Grace is pursued by a suitor. Her parents push her to stay in her marriage and her sister joins her in anger.

How one takes this movie depends on how one views cheating. The standard female empowerment would require the wife to overcome the cheating husband and find a new man or find her inner self. This one takes a different tact and it could annoy some people. The actors are solid. Their rom-com personna may not fit the more complicated take on cheating.

Sterling cast, featuring not only Julia Roberts and Dennis Quaid but also Robert Duvall, Gena Rowlands and Kyra Sedgwick, in a handsomely-made but rather ordinary, women's TV-type light drama (with barbed language added). Roberts plays harried working mom down South who discovers husband Quaid has been unfaithful; they fight, discuss divorce, fight some more, while Roberts gets advice from her well-to-do parents (they ponder the situation when the answers should be obvious). Pleasant cast nearly masks the fact this is completely rote material (with Sedgwick as Roberts' p.o.'ed sister who gets in the proverbial crotch kick). Pokey, overly-familiar, overlong film with too few laughs and too much inane banter. Photographed by the famous Sven Nykvist, who indeed gives the picture a rich, glossy look. ** from ****

I understand that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. But if this film is any indication of the way women think today, God help mankind.

Something To Talk About poses a moral dilemma; A good woman is cheated on by her husband, what are her options? I believe a good litmus test of fairness is that it should work in reverse. If that were done in this case, (i.e.) if the man was the faithful one and the woman the cheat, would this script work? Undoubtedly, if they were to make such a film, there would be an outcry from women so loud it would make a Queer Nation rally at a NASCAR race sound like an ant sneeze.

Juxtapose the events as mentioned and imagine, if you will, a film coddled by conservatives, where all women were whores and the virtuous male lead is cheated on. His wife, no matter how repentant, contrite and persistent, is hung out to dry continuously for the filthy tramp that she is while he flirts with his new female options. Then, just to underscore how biased society is today, all the men in the theater jump up at the conclusion of the film and clap for joy because the male lead is so brave.

Does writer Callie Khouri, (Thelma & Louis, go figure) think it's comforting to leave no hope of ever mending past mistakes? I suppose to some people that is the makings for a great film, but in the real world all people make mistakes and forgiveness is a virtue. As George Bailey would say: "It comes in awfully handy down here, Bub."

This films twisted message is this: the answer to a woman being scorned is to fight back, but on a frightening, Star Wars Dark Lord kind of level. In that regard this movie should definitely be seen by anyone considering dating Callie Khouri.

A Southern woman (Julia Roberts) finds out her husband (Dennis Quaid) is cheating on her. This sets off complications that involve her whole family-her fiery sister (Kyra Sedgwick), gruff father (Robert Duvall) and understanding mother (Gena Rowlands).

This plot has been done many times before and there are no real surprises--but it has a good pro-female script. That's no surprise--it was written by Callie Khouri who also wrote "Thelma & Louise". The dialogue is sharp and adult and the stars give it their all.

I've never really been a big fan of Roberts but she is very good here faking a credible Southern accent. She has a GREAT scene when she confronts her club about her husband's infidelity. Sedgwick is just fantastic as her sister--full of fire and having a great time. Surprisingly Rowlands wasn't that good at first--way too muted but she eventually got better and is wonderful in a scene in which she tells off Duvall. Quaid and Duvall are lousy in their roles...but they're given NOTHING to work with--this picture is about the women. The only male character with any depth is Jamie (Brett Cullen)--very handsome, intelligent and caring--a real great performance.

A word of advice--this movie is VERY R rated. There's tons of swearing (especially from Sedgwick) and VERY frank sexual dialogue--it is NOT for the kids (unless it's an edited for TV version). It's an adult movie.

Predictable but well-done. Worth catching.