Carolina

This movie has been a long time coming. After waiting a year for Miramax to release it in the US, I picked up the DVD via Canada. Although not perfect, it was sweet and very well acted. Ms. Stiles continues her skill of creating a new personality for each of her screen appearances, and she has NEVER looked better. Her range is amazing. She once again delivers a very powerful performance. In fact, all of the actors were impressive. Shirley MacLaine's role is more than a cameo, and she delivers. Randy Quaid was a pleasant surprise. In a role where he could easily have gone over the top; he didn't. Azura Skye did a great job and had several very memorable moments. I look forward to seeing her again. The child actress chosen to play the young Carolina is an uncanny young version of Ms. Stiles. Along with the acting, the dialog was consistently smart and sharp. Miramax should release and promote this film for no other reason than it contains some of the all-time great movie lines. Not every aspect or scene worked for me, but most did. I enjoyed and recommend it.

This is a fun movie with a good cast. Julia Stiles is one of my favourites, I pretty much like anything she's in so it was no surprise that I liked this as well.

The whole cast is pretty funny, with special nod to Shirley McLaine as grandma. The whole family is a little on the crazy side.

It does sort of have a predictable ending. You can see it coming from a mile away, but that's okay.

If you like a light comedy with a good cast, you will enjoy Carolina. I also like that fact that part of the movie is shot in a less than stellar part of Las Angeles. You get to see a different side of the city.

Carolina (Julia Stiles) might be termed the sane one in an Addams-like family. Her grandmother (Shirley MacLaine) is notorious for doing and saying what she likes in their southern town. Sister Georgia is single and pregnant from a one night stand and sister Maine is a rocking horse-riding, lottery obsessed girl. The family's father is a semi-recovering alcoholic who turned to drink after the mother's death. Oh, and Aunt Marilyn is a madam. Only Carolina seems to be the white bread type, having a job in television and a British businessman for a boyfriend. However, Carolina has a long relationship with the handsome writer next door, Albert (Alessandro Nivola). It has been a friendship; could it ever be anything else? Amid the chaos of a very strange family situation, a nice love story emerges. Stiles is wonderful as the beautiful young lady who loves her family but hopes to live a more sedate life. MacLaine is really quite nice, also, as the eccentric grandmother and the other cast members are fine. However, the story is a stroll down life in extremes, careening from one bizarre incident to another. Maybe there are families like this one but, if you ever meet one, run for your life. That said, if you wish to locate another sorta-romcom for the evening, you might try this one, especially if you have seen most of the other light comedy-and-romance films that are out there.

I enjoyed it because it is a great movie. I guess as I get older I am also getting more sentimental, and my tastes seem to be getting more eclectic. I have really begun to enjoy more independent films, and enjoyed this one in particular.

I had to chuckle about the whole spoiler thing because the base plot is as predictable as it gets, but it is still a pleasure watching it unfold.

The acting is particularly good at many levels. I planned to name the actors, reference what I had seen them in before and then say why I liked them in this, but I will spare you my digressive drivel. Hell the actors are listed above and links to all they have done.

I would say try it whether you are an Indy fan or not. It is time spent well spent.

Carolina is a warm and tender movie that will make you chuckle and at times laugh out loud. The Performances by Julia Stiles and Shirley MacLaine are wonderful as is their chemistry together. Unfortunately I was only able to see this on DVD and not the big screen where I would have enjoyed it so much.

How do I know this was an entertaining movie well worth recommending to others, because when it was over I had laughed, shed a tear and it left me with a smile on my face. See this if you can.