Reviews

I thought the storyline was provocative, and the writing was good but not superlative (Kevin Jarre is a wonderful writer, and I'm willing to bet the script would have been lots better if the director had left it alone.) Tommy Lee Jones was fantastic, as usual- his leading lady was a beautiful woman but a mediocre actress. Liked the Russian Orthodox priest, too; a fun addition. Really liked the lady singer doing 'Where Or When' in a club where the couple met. 'Danny Boy' was lovely, as well, as was the Latin piece the leading lady danced on the roof to. Fun movie to critique and "improve" in your mind as you're watching it. the soap opera crowd would probably love it without reservation. The meticulous might very well cringe. All and all very entertaining.

I adore Jane Austen. The woman could have been a Behaviorist, so far was she ahead of her time. Add to that her keen insight, sharp and witty tongue, and impeccable prose style, and we undoubtedly have one of the top 5 or so authors of the 19th century. While I agree that Bridget Jones's Diary could not possibly compete with Miss Austen, though based on themes and characters from several of her works, I have to say I found it extremely entertaining in it's own right.

Renee Zellweger is a talented comic actress, and anyone who can play a difficult comedic role with such skill and finesse cannot possibly be as clumsy and inept a person as the character she is depicting, however limited she might appear to some. She made me laugh and call out to my roommate to "Come and watch this girl; she's a scream!", something I am not in the habit of doing on a regular basis.

Hugh Grant was equally funny, and a wonderful foil for Colin Firth's character. Bridget's family was hideously but hilariously portrayed. I am normally not an admirer of the getting-older-woman-looking-for-a-husband-before-it's-too-late genre of films, but this was really less tired and superficial than some of these have turned out in the past. The whole film seemed to me to be particularly well done- I enjoyed it, and I recommend it.