If you're looking for the perfect movie for your next girls' night, find a copy of Circle of Friends. It's a classic '90s drama and a total chic flick, so don't invite any boys to your party.
Minnie Driver, after a few television credits, makes a splash in her film debut as the interesting, endearing center of a circle of friends in 1950s Ireland. She's overweight and unattractive, but while she's self-deprecating, she isn't fishing for compliments or insecure with who she is. She's mature, responsible, intelligent, sensitive, and also happens to be overweight and unattractive. Even with the Catholic Church frightening her, her parents not understanding her, and an unwelcome suitor trying to take the place of the boy she's falling in love with, she never turns bitter, angry, or ugly. She's a truly wonderful character, and the driving force of the film.
Minnie falls in love with Chris O'Donnell, who puts on an impressive Irish accent, but her parents want her to settle for Alan Cumming. She tells Chris to be careful with her, uttering the heartbreaking line, "I may look like a rhinoceros, but I've got thin skin," and warning the audience that they might want to reach for their handkerchiefs at some point later in the film. Minnie's friend Geraldine Rowe isn't given much to do, but her other friend, Saffron Burrows, is given a very challenging role. She starts the movie innocent, but as she lusts after the older Colin Firth, she changes.
Every actor in this movie gives realistic and powerful performances, and the story will tug on your heart long after you've finished. Certain movies have the feel of a bygone era, and this is one of them. It doesn't quite capture the feeling of the 1950s, but it certainly reminds you of the good old '90s.
Kiddy Warning: In this movie, there may or may not be a rape scene.
Minnie Driver, after a few television credits, makes a splash in her film debut as the interesting, endearing center of a circle of friends in 1950s Ireland. She's overweight and unattractive, but while she's self-deprecating, she isn't fishing for compliments or insecure with who she is. She's mature, responsible, intelligent, sensitive, and also happens to be overweight and unattractive. Even with the Catholic Church frightening her, her parents not understanding her, and an unwelcome suitor trying to take the place of the boy she's falling in love with, she never turns bitter, angry, or ugly. She's a truly wonderful character, and the driving force of the film.
Minnie falls in love with Chris O'Donnell, who puts on an impressive Irish accent, but her parents want her to settle for Alan Cumming. She tells Chris to be careful with her, uttering the heartbreaking line, "I may look like a rhinoceros, but I've got thin skin," and warning the audience that they might want to reach for their handkerchiefs at some point later in the film. Minnie's friend Geraldine Rowe isn't given much to do, but her other friend, Saffron Burrows, is given a very challenging role. She starts the movie innocent, but as she lusts after the older Colin Firth, she changes.
Every actor in this movie gives realistic and powerful performances, and the story will tug on your heart long after you've finished. Certain movies have the feel of a bygone era, and this is one of them. It doesn't quite capture the feeling of the 1950s, but it certainly reminds you of the good old '90s.
Kiddy Warning: In this movie, there may or may not be a rape scene.