This movie is more surprising than most--- Sally Field, a great and wonderful actor, and lady, directed it. Minnie Driver and Joey Lauren Adams--- two great actors themselves, performed their butts off for their roles in this thing. But dang! This movie simply isn't good at all. The ideas and themes could probably have been fashioned into something interesting and touching, but as it is, "Beautiful" comes off as half-baked, amateurish, and stupid.
One odd thing that I couldn't help but notice over and over throughout the movie--- the main characters all seemed to be doing impressions of Sally Field characters from Field's long history of otherwise marvelous performances. That was weird--- very, very often each character was speaking, acting, and energetically "being" Sally Field. That might have been an accident; perhaps they were unconsciously trying to please Field, who was the director? Or perhaps Field's vibe, subtly, was just transferred somehow into the performances? Dunno...
Overall, maybe 10 and 12 year old girls might find this "solid" entertainment. After all, the sentiment and themes appear decent, even if they ultimately came to the screen only partially, and in a clumsy manner. I gave this a 4 out of 10.
One odd thing that I couldn't help but notice over and over throughout the movie--- the main characters all seemed to be doing impressions of Sally Field characters from Field's long history of otherwise marvelous performances. That was weird--- very, very often each character was speaking, acting, and energetically "being" Sally Field. That might have been an accident; perhaps they were unconsciously trying to please Field, who was the director? Or perhaps Field's vibe, subtly, was just transferred somehow into the performances? Dunno...
Overall, maybe 10 and 12 year old girls might find this "solid" entertainment. After all, the sentiment and themes appear decent, even if they ultimately came to the screen only partially, and in a clumsy manner. I gave this a 4 out of 10.