I absolutely loved this movie. Julia Roberts was wonderful in it. I’m surprised I had never seen this one before. It was an enjoyable movie about a very talented and gifted art teacher, and about the relationships and norms of the 1950s. Highly recommended!

It isn't the story that drives us, but the characters and their journies do. We grow to love, hate, and sympathize with them. We yearn, cheer, and wished we'd listened to Miss Watson to become the kind of strong and mature people we opt to be. This challenges us to view life differently than we normally do.

No suelo redactar opiniones, pero viendo las que hay me he visto obligada! Siento que las opiniones negativas están condicionadas por la sensación de que falta algo si no hay un personaje principal masculino que cargue con la trama y no sea simplemente el interés amoroso de la protagonista femenina. Es una buena película, la temática es muy interesante y las actuaciones son muy decentes a la altura de las actrices que las realizan. Lo siento mucho por toda esa gente que no le va a parecer buena por ser tan feminizada, pero eso no lo hace peor película, estaría bien que todos pudieramos apreciar esta narrativa. Si no es así, podeis volver a películas como "El club de los poetas muertos", "El club de la lucha", Ocean's eleven", o "los odiosos ocho".

Stands the test of time, unfortunately with the MAGA America……………

The plot line contradicts itself and not in a planned way. It's almost gross how stupid this movie is, and don't get me wrong. I love a rom com that is just a rom com and doesn't pretend to be more. This movie pretends to be more while being less valuable than most rom coms I've seen? I'm mad that it tries to be something it is not, it's just so fake? Despite all the star actresses it's just bad. Like someone tried so hard to be intellectual but couldn't.

The acting, the lines, the plot.

I probably wouldn’t normally give it full 5 stars as it is not in the league of godfather or aliens. but it deserves way better than average given on RT so I feel a need to help compensate. So yes - good will hunting which has that similar drama / follow your dreams / feel good vibe might be a bit better but mona Lisa is still a damn good film. Well written and acted and making for an enjoyable evening. Also good to encourage young teenage daughters to watch if you have em like I do :) go girls!

Writing is bad. The whole ordeal fails to capture the 1950s atmosphere. The way formulaic prediction that Roberts portrayed as Watson is so weak, its like watching her play pretty woman in a pearl harbor era set up. It just doesnt work! The other women in this picture outshine her in all scenes they share. The score is so underthought, it hearts my mind to think.

It was enjoyable imo, theres alot of uncomfortable dynamic within the movie, but i think the message of the movie is quite clear.

Hurdles and Challenges of Teaching

i really LOVED this movie-shows what was happening not that long ago but 1 star off because i can't stand Dominic West in anything he does, he overacts and thinks he's cool but he's not

Acting was okish. Story was awful and way out of date. Could have been good but the message is so very mixed and watered down.

Contrary to rotten tomatoes, I thought that this movie was very good. I enjoyed and I recommend it to you

It was probably a little bit too old-fashioned for a modern audience but me and my wife really enjoyed this movie.

The critic consensus for this one is a real mind blunder for me. The premise and subject matter is handled fairly thoughtfully here. Great casting also.

Viewed from the social lighthouse of 2023, this movie stands as a thoughtful essay to the 1950s. It shines a clear light on the mores and stifling pretences of an era perched on top of the disruptive WW2. Critics knocked it for the cliche script and predicability, but ironically, that exactly how society expected you to live. Cancelled today has nothing on the banishment if you used the wrong fork. This brutal mirror is horrific to watch as it reflects the broken lives and careers of its tragic characters. Everything looks pastel and dreamy, while the clever script digs in deep. Just great!

Everything is predictable. Everything is a means to an end. The paint does not become illusion.

La sociedad de los poetas muertos girls version

My overall impression of the movie is positive. However, upon closer examination of the characters, particularly Katherine Watson, certain issues become apparent. The film's endeavor to depict her as a progressive woman, especially considering the historical context, falls somewhat short. One aspect that the film seems to lack is the complete development of Katherine's character into a mature individual, one who comprehends that not everyone should necessarily adhere to her ideals. While it's commendable that her character strives to influence women's self-perception during that era, it occasionally appears as if she seeks to exert control over them and make decisions on their behalf. This undermines the intended purpose of empowering women to make their own choices.

Where does a woman's personal happiness come from? English director Mike Newell's coming of age drama Mona Lisa Smile (2003) is a brilliant and underrated film. This picture has always spoken to me even as a young man just like any great coming of age drama. Mona Lisa Smile is a girl's version of Dead Poets Society. Both are films that changed my life. Mona Lisa Smile sees a free thinking professor who tries to teach a finishing school's classroom of spirited, snobbish girls with traditionally conservative ideals how to think critically and be themselves. I have often wondered why audiences and critics did not understand Mona Lisa Smile. It is not Oscar Bait, nor is it promoting conservative standards for women, but I strongly feel that Mona Lisa Smile has long considered offering girls the progressive chance to choose what they want in life whether that's singularly marriage, balancing work and home, or pursuing a career. Screenwriters Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal write a fiercely feminist and reflective script. It is a thoughtful coming of age drama that wants girls to grow up to have a fulfilling career as well as a loving marriage if they want. Konner and Rosenthal give grace and agency to these girls as complex individuals who can be mean, make mistakes, and ultimately choose their own fate. There are no easy answers or obvious outcomes. The feminist professor splits from her loving boyfriend to pursue a sleazy teacher sleeping with his students. The mean girl, who is cruelly lashing out because her ideal marriage ends in divorce because of her new husband's cheating, winds up alright as a writer because of her art professor's guidance. The troubled girl sleeping with professors and married men pursues a new life in New York. The ugly girl with no suitors winds up with the nice boy who genuinely loves her. Most shockingly, the smartest nice girl with a promising career as a lawyer chooses the married life with a husband and children over balancing a work and home life of fulfillment. That's all fine because it's their choices, even with the audience knowing half of them will wind up miserable. Casting directors Ellen Chenoweth and Susie Farris really cast tremendous actresses for Mona Lisa Smile. I even saw young Krysten Ritter and Lily Rabe cameo as art students. Every talented actress from the late 90's and early 2000's is in Mona Lisa Smile. Tori Amos even appears as the wedding singer at Dunst's wedding sequence. Julia Roberts is amazingly resilient and brave as feminist art professor Katherine Ann Watson. Her defiance in her face as the girls say mean things to her or she's chastised by the school's officials is powerful. Roberts brings a subtle skill to Katherine that makes her such an interesting protagonist. She's clearly horrified by this private finishing school that's masquerading as a Massachusetts liberal arts college as they mold girls into ideal brides and obedient housewives, instead of providing an education and critical thinking skills. Roberts is so beautiful and shows a mature woman picking which man she'd like to pursue, even if it's Dominic West's sleazy professor Bill Dunbar rather than John Slattery's kind and patient Paul Moore. Kirsten Dunst is viciously cruel and heartbreakingly dejected as Betty Warren. She is clearly a brilliant student with a boy who doesn't love her, and even cheats on her immediately after marriage, so she lashes out at everyone in her misery. Dunst is my favorite actress and proves her dramatic skills with this intricate, unlikable, and yet sympathetic mature character. Jordan Bridges is dismissive and snobbish as her creep husband Spencer Jones. Donna Mitchell is so controlling that it's unbelievable how awful Mrs. Warren comes across. She's the evil Republican woman that brings all women down by making excuses for mens' infidelity and blaming women for all the woes in society down to being impolite and improper. Julia Stiles is wonderful and delivers a real gut punch as Joan Brandwyn. Stiles portrays Joan as the smartest girl in her class with ambitions as a lawyer from Yale. Yet we are forced to see her career potential disappear as she chooses to be a wife and mother only rather. It upsets me every time I revisit Mona Lisa Smile, but I get it's her choice and that's the kind of realistic drama Mona Lisa Smile provides. Topher Grace feigns support for Joan as Tommy Donegal, but even his amiable guy is stifling Joan's future into a housewife with no agency. Hopefully, Joan could be happy as a housewife, but Stiles lets her eyes betray Joan, already full of regret for her potential as a lawyer. Maggie Gyllenhaal delivers a mature and upsetting chaotic performance as Giselle Levy, who loves her professor and married men. Gyllenhaal brings empathy for the other girls, while offering Giselle as the kind of troubled girl finding her way in life by way of many mistakes with awful men. Mona Lisa Smile is kind of a tragedy for most of the girls. Ginnifer Goodwin is cute and endearing as the insecure and hopeful Connie Baker. It's interesting to note that although she gets the nicer boy Charlie Stewart, portrayed kindly by Ebon Moss-Bachrach, she is basically doomed to a life as a housewife too with no career. Maybe she gets a cello playing scholarship? Laura Allen is sweet as the polite Susan Delacorte. Marcia Gay Harden is marvelous as friendly, yet deeply lonely war widow Nancy Abbey. She's one of the best characters as she adheres to the conservative poise and etiquette gender norms, yet she's still alone and miserable, left to despair and only be entertained by game shows on late night television. Lisa Roberts Gillan is pleasant as Miss Albini. Marian Seldes shows a brief and phony sympathy towards independent women, but brings her authority hammer down anyways as President Jocelyn Carr, adhering to the patriarchy's sexist traditions with no hope of new progress in her heart. Juliet Stevenson is devastating as the sweet, progressive, lesbian nurse Amanda Armstrong. Editor Mick Audsley makes 117 minutes feel like nothing with swift cuts in passages of time. The conversations can breathe and each classroom discussion with the girls is gripping. Cinematographer Anastas N. Michos uses bright lighting, warm colors, and smooth camera work to enthrall the audience with each lady's predicaments. Composer Rachel Portman's soft orchestral score has a romance and whimsy besides a sincere dramatic flair. The soft alternative soundtrack is awesome and should be sought out afterward viewing Mona Lisa Smile. Costume designer Michael Dennison provides cute preppy clothes and antique 1950's dresses for each actress that are adorable. Makeup artist Margot Boccia's pristine hair and makeup aesthetic brings the 50's to life with a precision and particular waves and curls of that era. In all, I love Mona Lisa Smile and hope it finds its audience one day.