Sony Pictures | 2003 | 117 mins. | Rated PG-13
Mona Lisa Smile is one of those movies you can’t help but watch and wonder what might have been. When I was tempted to refer to the film as Dead Poets Society light, but that would do a real injustice to the 1989 Robin Williams film that had moments of genuine emotional power; a trait that is sorely lacking in this film, directed by Mike Newell. While the story does raise a number of interesting questions, it brushes them aside in favor of taking the “safe” path. In the process, it undermines the films overall message of female empowerment and under utilizes an incredibly talented cast.
It’s 1953, and Berkeley-educated art history teacher Katharine Watson (Julia Roberts) has just landed her dream job—a slot on the faculty of Wellesley. From the minute the rookie instructor arrives on campus, she finds herself confronted with a faculty made up of stodgy, old-school, stiffs. What excitement she had about the job, begins to turn into serious misgivings. However, being the plucky gal she is, Miss Watson resolves to rescue her students from what she’s sore are terrible fates.
One of these students, named Betty (Kirsten Dunst), ostensibly narrates Katherine’s story from her first day to her last (“She made up in brains what she lacked in pedigree”): initially unimpressed with the new professor, Betty subscribes to her mother’s belief that she must marry and keep a proper house to be happy. The other students harbor similar beliefs. Joanie (Julia Stiles) has a Harvard fiancée (Topher Grace), though she does admit to dreaming of going to law school. Joanie’s life gets unexpectedly complicated when, on her first try, and at Katherine’s urging, she gets accepted into Yale Law School. Ordinary looking Connie (Ginnifer Goodwin) just wants a boyfriend to call her own. Lastly, there’s free-thinking Giselle Levy (Maggie Gyllenhaal); having an affair with her Italian professor, Bill, (Dominic West) who has his sights set on Katherine. We know our Berkeley educated Katherine will get involved with Bill, even though she’s clearly to good for him.
In the midst of all this, Katherine is rooming with fellow professors at Wellesley. One, the home economics guru named Nancy (Marcia Gay Harden), is a tightly wound, television loving homebody. The other, school nurse Amanda (Juliet Stevenson); a lesbian who recently lost her long-term partner, is eventually fired for distributing birth control to the students on campus.
When Betty writes an editorial in the school newspaper labeling Katherine “subversive,” the battle between old and new values is on. Betty intends to bring down her nemesis, while Katherine will teach her students the value of independent thinking. It takes some time, but Katherine’s persistence does eventually reach the girls. Yet, the main problem with Mona Lisa Smile is that Katherine refuses to accept any choices made that are contrary to hers. When Joan changes her mind about law school, and chooses instead to get married and move to Philadelphia, Katherine shows up with applications to law schools in Philadelphia. Unwilling to accept her choice, Katherine gives Joan a half-hearted hug. How can we fully support Katherine’s belief in free thinking when she herself can’t accept the choices that others make?
Mona Lisa Smile makes its American Blu-ray debut with a richly saturated MPEG-4 AVC transfer that suits the film’s colorful cinematography. Color reproduction (particularly the lush green foliage and bright costumes of the opening scenes) is sharp, skin tones are natural, black levels are rich. Grain, however, is somewhat heavy in spots, casting a slight haze over some of the darker shots. Overall, it’s a solid video presentation.
The supplied English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track is crisp and well-modulated, though somewhat front-heavy. Dialogue, is clear and audible, while music cues and Rachel Portman’s score arenicely distributed to the front surrounds.
French and Portuguese Dolby TrueHD 5.1 and Spanish and Thai 5.1 audio options are also offered, as are English, English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Thai, Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, Indonesian, and Korean subtitles.
Mona Lisa Smile offers a limited selection of special features:
• Art Forum (6:33) features clips and behind-the-scenes footage, interspersed with cast interviews on art, both in, and outside of the film.
• College Then and Now (14:39) examines the film’s social themes, particularly the role of women in society and the expectations placed upon them during and after college.
• What Women Wanted: 1953 (10:43) offers more historical context, with commentary by cast and crew.
• Music Video (3:56) for “In the Heart of Every Girl,” by Elton John.
• BD-Live is enabled, though there are no real features of note related to the film.
[xrrgroup][xrr label=”Video:” rating=”4.0/5″ group=”s1″ ] [xrr label=”Audio:” rating=”4.0/5″ group=”s1″] [xrr label=”Extras:” rating=”1.0/5″ group=”s1″] [xrr label=”Film Value:” rating=”2.5/5″ group=”s1″] [/xrrgroup]
