Some questions remain without a plausible answer: why did THINGS YOU CAN TELL JUST BY LOOKING AT HER go direct to cable TV in the US? I don't know and I'm still angry about that, since it has a great cast and was very well received in Cannes. Fortunately, it was received a limited release here in Brazil, where it was a kind of art-house hit during the time of the year when only blockbusters have their place in the sun. The secret of its success here is not hard to understand: audiences who were tired of Hollywood crap found a small, quiet dramatic comedy with a good story, some heart-breaking moments (and some very funny ones, too) and terrific performances. This is the kind of film that touches everyone, even the coldest and most serious person, making them laugh and feel deep emotions. Despite its division in five stories, all of them excellent (except the part with the lesbian, which was too small),this film is carefully paced, helping us to understand each character's emotions. And each story has an interesting link to the other.
If I had to choose my favorite part, I would have to think. The Dr. Keener story is sad and quiet, the one with Rebecca is the most thought-provoking, while the dwarf story is touching and funny, and the sister-sister story brilliantly closes the film.
If you haven't seen this yet, watch it now. There are not many good films with "women" as the main subject, but this one is one of the best I've seen. It has an eye for detail, it makes us think with its reflection about what women are nowadays (I loved Cameron Diaz guessing about what made her sister's friend committing suicide). And there are great actresses which seem to fit the role perfectly: Glenn Close, Cameron Diaz, Amy Brennemann, Kathy Baker, Holly Hunter, Calista Flockhart and Valeria Golino. I hope Rodrigo Garcia, son of famed writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez, makes other great films like this.
Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her
2000
Action / Drama / Romance
Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her
2000
Action / Drama / Romance
Plot summary
Five loosely-intertwined stories of the emotional issues facing individual middle-aged Angelenas are presented. In "This Is Dr. Keener", physician Elaine Keener is spending the day taking care of her invalid mother at home on the nurse's day off. Elaine, a scientist, seeks confirmation on a possible turning point in her life by an unconventional means, namely a tarot card reading. Although the news she receives through the reading is a largely-accurate assessment of her current life, it is the news about that crossroads issue that takes her somewhat aback. In "Fantasies About Rebecca", 39-year-old Rebecca Waynon is outwardly in control of her life, from her job as a bank manager to her personal long-term relationship with older Robert. A homeless woman named Nancy who hangs around outside the bank seems to have a clearer picture of what is truly happening with Rebecca than Rebecca herself, as is witnessed by Rebecca's ultimate reaction to an action in dealing with a personal issue. In "Someone for Rose", divorced mother Rose's life is focused on making sure her 15-year-old son Jay is becoming a respectable young man. Between that and her new work as a writer of children's books, Rose doesn't seem to have time to look for love, which changes when Albert, a diminutive, moves in across the street. In "Goodnight Lilly, Goodnight Christine", lesbian couple Christine and Lilly discuss their relationship--past, present and future--as they deal with Lilly's terminal illness. And in "Love Waits For Kathy", police detective Kathy Faber lives with her blind sister Carol Faber. Although Carol has an active life--social and professional--and is more than capable of managing on her own as she is highly perceptive, Kathy, under the surface, treats Carol with kid gloves to make sure she's all right in dealing with life considering her physical disability. As such, Kathy has let her personal life largely slip by her. But is it too late for Kathy?
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Touching and funny- the perfect fit to talk about women and how time is mean to them
Happy 60th, Glenn!
Since today is Glenn Close's 60th birthday, I wanted to talk about one of her lesser known movies. Directed by Gabriel Garcia Marquez's son Rodrigo, "Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her" interweaves the stories of several women. Close plays a doctor having to care for her mother. Kathy Baker, Cameron Diaz, Calista Flockhart, Valeria Golino, Holly Hunter and Elpidia Carrillo play some of the other women.
At times, the movie gets confusing, what with the various plots crossing paths, but I still found it worthy. Some people might compare "TYCTJBLAH" to "Short Cuts" and "The Hours", but I beg to differ. This one never gets cynical like "Short Cuts" (although the latter was still worth seeing) and isn't a downer like "The Hours" (although the latter was still worth seeing). Despite having a bunch of stars, this movie never feels like the sort of movie that collects a bunch of stars to show them off; the looks at the women's relationships ensure that the film has a more realistic feeling.
Anyway, I recommend it, but don't expect a religious experience.
Examining the female heart...but with a rather cold touch
A look at the lives of several different women in five separate stories. Writer-director Rodrigo García isn't indifferent to the characters he's depicting--one can sense that he wants to dig to the very core of a woman's emotional being with these portraits--but his chapters are handled oddly, in clinical fashion. Garcia also fails show off his star-actresses to their full advantages, particularly in the cases of Calista Flockhart and Holly Hunter--both weakly used. Of the group, Cameron Diaz is the most surprising, delivering a focused, balanced portrayal of a blind woman (her crying scene, shot in close-up, is quite stunning); however, these ladies aren't the living, breathing, suffering people they're meant to be. This unreleased theatrical feature, facile though it may be, was certainly a step forward in showcasing great femme talent, but the end result is a mixed-bag. ** from ****