Review of Mona Lisa Smile (2003) by Tamasin N — 07 Mar 2009

I'm almost ashamed to admit I really like this movie.

Pros: It delivers an encouraging message for women and reminds us how far we have come since the 50's, thanks to the women's lib movement. The main character, Dr Katherine Watson (Julia Roberts) is one of these 'liberationists' much to the dismay of the traditional, conservative-Welleslley girls college admin and even pupils.

So yes, it has a good plot and thought-provoking messages and some rather moving moments. Seeing as the film is based around a Fine Arts class, there is also of course some well thought-out concepts on art and what defines art.

But alot of the imagery and references are beyond cliched (whether it is intentional, I am yet to decipher (alot of imagery used I guess could be relating to alot of the perfect dream nuclear family movies of the 50's). At times it feels like another hollywood stick-to-the-structure-of-a-hollywood-film film.

But... with that all aside, I'm afraid I really did enjoy it.