Things You Can Tell Just By Looking At Her
"Exquisitely acted...an understated eloquent film." -The New York Times
Touching, compelling and original, Things You Can Tell Just By Looking At Her spins a brilliant tapestry of interwoven vignettes. Starring Oscar® winner Holly Hunter, five time Oscar nominee Glenn Close, Golden Globe winner Calista Flockhart (Ally McBeal) and Golden Globe nominees Cameron Diaz (Charlie's Angels), Amy Brenneman (Judging Amy) and Kathy Baker (Picket Fences), this "really special film" ("Ebert & Roeper and the Movies") is an absolute "triumph" (Mirabella).
In the heart of L.A., six extraordinary women have come to an emotional crossroads: A talented young detective (Brenneman) struggles with loneliness, an ambitious bank manager (Hunter) contemplates motherhood, and a successful doctor (Close) confronts her spiritual emptiness. At the same time, a blind teacher (Diaz) searches for love, a middle-aged writer (Baker) grapples with prejudice, and a gifted fortune-teller (Flockhart) grieves for her dying lover. Poised between fear and hope, each woman must weigh the choices she's made - in order to meet the future unfolding before her.
Member Reviews
Depressing - Bonnie
Like many others I found the acting extremely well done. The people in it are remarkable. Still, I like my entertainment to be entertaining and this was dragging the viewer through a series of very sad circumstances with very few conclusions at the end. There are glimpses of hope in it, but not enough to convince me to recommend the movie. It had an effect on me, but it was frustrating to be left in the middle of stories with no ending.Brilliant and Still - FilmJunkie
There are certainly a lot of complaints people could have about this movie: it is slow, nothing major happens, the characters are all females encountering some kind of emotional revelation, etc. However all these complaints are really what make this film work for me: it is slow because the process of realization is slow in real life and doesn't always come with a lightbulb or a John Williams score, the events that happen are personal and major to each woman at that moment in her life, the characters are females encountering themselves and one another, what other film can say that?
I first saw this film in film school six years ago and we studied the brilliant framing and lighting as well as some of the performances. Looking at it now, I am still amazed and taken aback by the loveliness of this film. Glenn Close, Calista Flockhart, Kathy Baker, Amy Brenneman, Holly Hunter, Valeria Golino and Cameron Diaz give this film their all. I usually can't stand Diaz, but her scene with her character's sister (Brenneman) discussing a lonely woman who killed herself is probably the best performance she has ever given.
Of all these women, by favorite work is done by Hunter as Rebecca, a bank manager who becomes unexpectantly pregnant by her married boyfriend. The scene when she is leaving the clinic is a masterpiece of acting, completely unpredictable and raw. I also love the work by Close as Elaine, the doctor consulting a tarot card reader (Flockhart). As Flockhart's Christine reads the cards, the camera stays perfectly still on Close's face as it remains still and flickers with hints of emotion at the accuracy of the reading. Close is magnificent.
So all the haters can go on and mock this emotionally captivating film and I will remain here in the minority of people who is touched by the rawness of these tales. All I can say is that it affected me.great film - shargot
We showed this film for our regular film group and it was a big success. It is a series of short stories, focusing on relationships. Foru of the five stories work well. Well written, real dialogue, remarkable visual images and some incredible acting.
Member Reviews
Read All...
Depressing - Bonnie
Like many others I found the acting extremely well done. The people in it are remarkable. Still, I like my entertainment to be entertaining and this was dragging the viewer through a series of very sad circumstances with very few conclusions at the end. ...Brilliant and Still - FilmJunkie
There are certainly a lot of complaints people could have about this movie: it is slow, nothing major happens, the characters are all females encountering some kind of emotional revelation, etc. However all these complaints are really what make this film ...great film - shargot
We showed this film for our regular film group and it was a big success. It is a series of short stories, focusing on relationships. Foru of the five stories work well. Well written, real dialogue, remarkable visual images and some incredible acting.