This was one of the more critically acclaimed movies of 1993, even finding a place on Roger Ebert's Top Ten list. And while I appreciated Judd's performance, in her film debut, I found the movie itself quite talky and slow, and it was ultimately an unsatisfying experience. I normally appreciate it when a film is willing to take its time and let us marinate in the sights and sounds of its characters and their surroundings, but as the ending credits rolled, I didn't feel I knew Ruby any better than her first appearance. That being said, I don't think this is any fault of Judd's. She is an actress who has always projected a certain intelligence onscreen, and it's apparent here in her first movie. But I don't find Ruby a particularly intelligent character, although the filmmakers certainly perceive her to be so. I did appreciate the appearances of Lyman, who I remember fondly from MAMA'S FAMILY, and Field, who would go on to direct IN THE BEDROOM, LITTLE CHILDREN and TAR. This is in no way, shape or form a bad movie - but I was expecting a bit more.

We can find our own paradise Ashley Judd's first film role and director Victor Nunez Ruby is trying to reel from her mother's death So she packs to go to Florida leaving Tennessee behind She gets a job at a souvenir store and meets Mildred who owns the shop Then Ruby starts juggling the affections of Mildred's son Ricky and good-natured Mike It's a tricky love triangle next to her coming to terms with her past This is a long movie but Judd makes an impressive debut thanks to Nunez working on a minimalist level She's a woman struggling to start over even when it's not the easiest The quiet Florida beachside is comforting giving a dream like quality A good journey of self-discovery being a romantic fable We can take charge of our own destinies Even a young woman's inner life can still be enough to take charge to live again

Thank God, it's not loud.

A thoughtful film about a 20-something who's left home in search of who she is and what she wants for her life. Slow but well paced for the story. Ashley Judd is natural in this role.

Cute enough but I don't see the Northanger Abby parallels.

Victor Nuñez establishes his film, Ruby in Paradise, to be a great feministic piece with a main character that young women can relate to. During the off-beach season of Panama City, a young girl named Ruby, played by Ashley Judd, finds herself on a road of discovery and independence. Judd is absolutely amazing in the role, taking her time to reflect on all the emotions going through this character. She doesn't feel accomplished in her life yet and she is trying to figure out what she wants out of life. The audience is able to follow her choices as she discovers who she wants to become. Many women can associate themselves in certain scenes, especially the ones with the first love interest Ricky. This whole film follows the coming of age story of Ruby as powers through her struggles and learns what it means to finally be self-reliant.

Ruby in Paradise is an enthralling coming-of-age movie about a young woman named Ruby Lee Gissing who seeks to start a new life in Florida's Panama City Beach. Directed by Victor Nuñez, the film retains the strong feminist themes found in Northanger Abbey, the Jane Austen novel that inspired it. Featuring Ashley Judd as the female lead, Ruby in Paradise follows as Ruby handles challenges like dodging the repeated sexual advances and eventual rape attempt by her boss' son Ricky Chambers. The film also places emphasis on Ruby's relationships with the women in her life, including her boss Mildred as well as her co-workers, and how she learns and grows from each of them. The film tells a very compelling, interesting story which, along with Judd's and her co-stars' superb acting and beautiful cinematography, makes Ruby in Paradise a timeless classic that's as relevant today as it was when it was released.

With relatable characters, a familiar setting, and direct access to Ruby Lee Gissing's thoughts, it is easy to get immersed into Victor Nunez's Ruby in Paradise. Ruby is the kind of protagonist you can't help but like. She's stubborn at times, but she holds herself with pride and strives for independence, even when life kicks her down. The trials she faces after moving to Panama City, Florida during the off-season are harsh reminders that life isn't always paradise. Life can throw you curveballs, but it's important to remain strong and never forget your values. With so many great elements in this film, it is easy to see why it won the 1993 Grand Jury Prize for Drama at the Sundance Film Festival.

Ruby in Paradise is a story centered around a young woman who leaves her toxic home to live on her own in Panama City Beach in an act of resilience and self-preservation. Ruby, the story's protagonist, encounters complex characters that push along her personal development and help her discover who she wants to be. The film is filled with complex emotions, making the characters come alive— each with their own dreams, hopes, and aspirations. Although the movie was made in the 90s, the themes are timeless and relevant to this day.

Ashley Judd delivers an incredible performance as Ruby Lee Gissing in director Victor Nunez's Ruby in Paradise. Judd gives Ruby a strong, yet shy and sensitive aura that gives the character depth and keeps the audience guessing what actions she will take next. Ruby is a 20-something-year-old young woman who hopes to find solace from her past in the white sand beaches of Panama City Beach, Florida, where she remembers vacationing when she was younger. Ruby quickly discovers that life is much of the same regardless of location, and she begins journaling to reflect on her relationships and past. Director Victor Nunez exhibits his careful understanding of patience and including the beautiful beaches and atmosphere around the characters. Ruby in Paradise is a beautiful and very personal look at a young woman struggling to come to grips with her past and future, all while in a brand new place.

Too simple, a bit slow, unhappy with the ending. Ashley Judd keeps it alive, but barely.

Ruby in Paradise takes a new approach on Hollywood romance and drama films and dodges all the stereotypes. Victor Nuñez gives the spotlight to Ashley Judd as Ruby Lee Gissling, a young woman trying to discover a new fulfilled life to support herself. Ruby's determination is inspiring, as she is the kind of person to not surrender to the invitations of simplicity. Nuñez's cleverness complimented the plot with its real and organic elements, like natural lighting, no extravagant clothing or makeup. The story really speaks for itself since everything it was purposely made to be just at the average level to be vulnerable to the audience. The power this movie holds, compels you to feel a deep affinity and tenderness for the main character, Ruby. I wouldn't change a thing about this film, it was truly a journey of healing.

Ruby in Paradise has to be one of my favorite coming-of-age movies that are from the 90s. Instead of making her character face unrealistic dramatic problems, this film portrays what it is actually like for a young girl attempting to start a new life. Ruby's character is almost like its own setting. You can see her character shifting into an independent woman from beginning to end. No matter where she goes in the film you feel this sort of nostalgic feeling. I felt so at ease watching this movie because I could see myself responding to situations that she was in similarly. This is truly a hidden gem that everyone needs to watch at least once, or twice like me.

Ruby in Paradise is not just any dime-a-dozen coming of age story. It isn't the cliched and bombastic experience most movies in Hollywood today aim to be. Instead, Ruby in Paradise provides a much needed change of pace, focusing on the day to day challenges of becoming independent and growing into your own skin. Ashley Judd really shines in her breakout role, playing the intelligent and strong-willed Ruby Lee Gissing with nuance and elegance; she upstages every other character she shares the screen with. But the world doesn't revolve entirely around her either; her interactions with her environment and the people around her all contribute to the progression of the story. This, along with the careful cinematography and direction, make Ruby in Paradise a breath of fresh air in a genre that is over-saturated. There is simply no movie like it.

In his film Ruby in Paradise, director Victor Nunez is able to perfectly capture the rawness and intensity of the human experience. This story chronicles the coming of age of newly independent Ruby Lee Gissing, played by Ashley Judd, and the struggles she goes through following her move to Panama City, Florida. The 1993 film is still very relevant in today's society, highlighting issues of feminism and growth that many young women undergo everyday. Overall, the film is extremely powerful and heart-warming, showing audiences a true portrayal of the hard work it takes to redefine your life.

As a young woman myself, I often wonder what it would be like to embark on my own personal journey. Throughout the film, Ruby in Paradise, I am able to get a glimpse of what self-discovery looks like. Director and writer Victor Nunez does an amazing job at capturing the audience with beautiful visuals while also touching on darker themes like financial insecurity and misogyny. The introspection Ruby has allows the audience to immerse themselves into Ruby and root for her realistic ending. The viewers are not subjected to fantasy but the highs and lows of being an independent woman figuring things out as you go.

Ashley Judd performs excellently in her breakout role as Ruby Lee Gissing in this phenomenal coming-of-age film. Ruby's journey as a young adult learning to be independent reflects the authenticity and social commentary that is still prevalent today. Writer and director Victor Nuñez strays away from typical Hollywood tropes and superbly demonstrates how Ruby's character and women, in general, do not need the assistance of men to have a happy ending, rather it can be found within oneself. Ruby in Paradise also fantastically approaches day-to-day life in a real and engaging way that makes this film truly unique in its portrayal of womanhood in the '90s. I recommend this fantastic movie to anyone who wants the nostalgia of the '90s, a strong female lead, and excellent story-telling.

Ashley Judd's impressive break-out performance as Ruby Lee Gissing compliments a film that offers an intimate perspective on life's difficulties. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 1993 Sundance Film Festival, Ruby In Paradise shows how the challenges a woman faces by herself can be daunting, and how finding others for support is just as important as individuality. The notion of sisterhood is constantly at work in Victor Nunez's excellent film, and it is more important than ever in the downcast beach town of Panama City during the winter. The bleak cinematography creates an atmosphere that feels hopeless and embodies the world of a woman on the brink of destitution. Ruby's perseverance is triumphant, and the film's resolution is like a sigh of relief as its protagonist forges her own destiny as the small tourist town settles back into summer. Ruby In Paradise is a slice of life film that successfully strikes at the heart of living life intentionally.

"Ruby In Paradise" is a quiet, moving picture that perfectly captures the crisis of a newfound identity from a small-town past. Where the film remains simple and realistic- set in the mute off-season of Panama City, Florida, with its sights set on a retail-store clerk-it finds a captivating story moved by life. Director Victor Nunez illustrates the seasons of life through Ruby Lee Gissing, as played by Ashley Judd, in a beautiful synchronicity with the changing seasons of the small resort city, masterfully setting a relaxed tempo for the inevitable shortcomings that define everyday life. Ashley Judd strongly depicts the resilience of a small-town woman, and fills every frame with her strength and brave intuition as a storyteller, allowing timing and subtlety to bring nuance to the character and a newfound depth to finding one's identity. Both Nunez and Judd have a comforting tenderness and self-awareness to the coming-of-age genre that brings the kind of charm and triumph "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" did for us 28 years ago.

Ruby in Paradise serves as an interesting outlook on life but aside from the title shows that paradise may not be what it seems. Ashley Judd portrays Ruby Lee Gissing in the film in which preaches independence and turning a new page in life. Taken place in Panama City, Florida it presents a location in which opportunities are hard to come by and shows that decisions must be made swiftly. Ruby in Paradise serves as an inspirational film in which shows that life can ultimately put you to the test.