Qualcosa di cui... sparlare

Anything featuring gutter mouthed Julia Roberts I normally bypass but this film also had Gena Rowlands and Dennis Quaid so it was worth a look. I was pleasantly surprised to discover Kyra Sedgwick who stole the show. I hope she has the same sense of humor in real life and if she does, Kevin Bacon is lucky indeed.

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.

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 ****

This time it is the man who is unfaithful but the ending is different. When we watched "A Walk on The Moon", "Unfaithful" and "The Bridges of Madison County" we saw three married women have torrid affairs but who were portrayed as sympathetic characters. They ended up staying with their husbands (though the husband in "Unfaithful" probably ended up in prison) while still in love with the men with whom they committed adultery. The husbands who were aware of their wives unfaithfulness, and the one who didn't, all opted to "stand by their women" and were portrayed as being at fault by virtue of working too hard and not paying enough attention to the wives.

But here the shoe is on the other foot. The husband is the one who strays and he is portrayed as being at fault, even though his wife has become distant and unresponsive to him. The double standard is obvious. Kyra Sedgwick was by far the most enjoyable character in the film. She was outstanding as the protective sister of betrayed Julia Roberts. The b*ll kicking scene is painful, but funny. I really liked her and will be looking for more of her work in the future.

The setting is a horse farm that is ruled over by the patriarch played by Robert Duvall. Grace is his assistant manager and carries much of the load. Her husband (Dennis Quaid) is caught cheating on her and she moves out of their bedroom to her sisters apartment. Though her husband is truly repentant and struggles to get her back she is unrelenting and eventually returns to school and we are left wondering if there is ever a reunion. I enjoyed the movie but was struck by the difference in the treatment of male infidelity versus that of the female. I give it a 7/10.

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.