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Beautiful Girls [1996]
![Beautiful Girls [1996]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41WHKN3HVQL._SL160_.jpg)
The two wild cards thrown into Beautiful Girls give the film its kick. Uma Thurman enters as the local barman's (Pruitt Taylor Vince) radiant cousin. From the big city, she can flirt with the awestruck guys and still keep her head. Willie's true emotional tug is from Marty, his precocious 13-year-old neighbour. If you didn't see Natalie Portman's sophisticated work in Leon, her performance here will come as a revelation. You deeply believe that Willie and Marty are connected despite their age difference. Their courtship will never come to be, but the way the two talk (and talk some more) about their lives is the most insightful part of Rosenberg's script. Everyone's so comfortable in his or her roles that you may truly feel sad when the film ends. --Doug Thomas, Amazon.com
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Our Price: £3.42 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
This town drama from Ted Demme centres on former classmates coming together for their 10-year reunion. Scott Rosenberg's (Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead) script thoughtfully passes over the usual grumblings of young adults who can't believe they still live in the same snowbound town. They accept--even welcome--their blue-collar jobs, whether ploughing snow or cutting hair. Willie (Timothy Hutton), the lone wanderer, returns to his listless house in a state of flux, the piano-bar circuit wearing thin as is his relationship with Tracy, a well-off attorney (Annabeth Gish). He isn't the only one with problems. Tommy (Matt Dillon) occasionally sleeps with his now-married high school sweetheart Darian (Lauren Holly) while the earnest Sharon (Mira Sorvino) is left to wait. Paul (another thick-headed role for Michael Rapaport) refuses to commit to Jan (Martha Plimpton) until it's too late. Paul is enamoured with the idea of the supermodel (the title's "beautiful girls") that, he believes, can make life perfect. It's a very satisfying comedy, with some forced poignancy (Willie's description of Tracy as a "seven and a half" comes off as a death sentence). Rosie O'Donnell's dissertation on why Playboy and Penthouse have ruined male expectations is much like Meg Ryan's orgasm scene in When Harry Met Sally: it's hilarious, even memorable, but never wholly believable.
It's a wonderful life!
Review date: 2007-05-29 Rating: 10 out of 10
Whilst most of the reviews have said it all I still felt moved to add my 2 cents worth. Starting slowly and gently I was immediately comfortable with this movie but wondering if it was going to go anywhere. Perhaps it might lull you into a false sense of security and then explode into violence. There is humour and wit aplenty but for me it wasn't a comedy, more a tale of love and friendship and a healthy dose of real life. The characters are all immediately recognisable, be they American, British, or from any part of the world. The word comfortable returns again and gradually I was drawn into their small town world and felt like I lived there and wanted to know these people. The stars for me are Timothy Hutton, a real fave of mine and Natalie Portman. Their tenderly drawn blossoming friendship across the picket fence becomes a beautiful glowing "courtship" of sorts that could have led somewhere "in five years time." Natalie, a self described "old soul" is very wise beyond her years, captivating Hutton's days back in his old hometown. His friends have their own relationship difficulties with twists and turns, pain and angst. There is much flirting in the movie with the arrival of Uma Thurman seriously cranking up the heat. How it all turns out is for you to discover and I cannot recommend this movie highly enough. Six stars out of five, immensely and richly enjoyable and rewarding.
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Reviews
Perfect
Review date: 2007-05-02 Rating: 10 out of 10
Having spent the best part of forty years watching hundreds of films on screen, tv and dvd, I`ve come to the slightly surprising conclusion that Beautiful Girls is quite possibly the one I enjoyed the most. It's a film about thwarted ambitions and trying to get the most out of life in small town America and, within this modest remit, it's just about perfect. The dialogue is smart and involving without being patronising or clichéd, and it is matched by some faultless ensemble acting from the cast The direction is so good you don't notice it, and I can't think of any higher praise than that. The only thing I can fault is the banal title, which was probably meant ironically but grates nonetheless. It's one of those priceless films that leaves you with a good feeling inside no matter how many times you watch it.
a slow moving film with poor dialogue
Review date: 2006-08-18 Rating: 6 out of 10
This film moved at a slow pace which I was expecting because it's
about a small group of friends in small town America and as one character says: "The only thing that changes around here are the seasons." However,I expected the lack of action to be compensated for by a lively and involving script with punchy dialogue or even insightful monologue.Sadly this was not the case
in Beautiful Girls.I found much of what the actors were saying pretentious or difficult to understand and I don't think this was because the scriptwriters were trying to emphasise a personality trait! The highlight of the movie is the interaction between Willie and 13 year old Marty who get a crush on each other despite the big age difference between them.Marty makes Willie realise that his girlfriend (played by the lovely Annabeth Gish)isn't as interesting as he thought she was.
Beautiful Girls
Review date: 2005-05-03 Rating: 8 out of 10
This film is hilarious. So enjoyable. Lots of issues being brought to light without making each story line too heavy. Older man liking the very much younger girl, another girl dealing with an eating disorder as her boyfriend is having an affair with a married woman. The lives that have never changed when one man returns home from the city to try to analyse his life, and the breath of fresh air that is (apparantly) Uma Thurman, to a town of men who will never do anything but plough snow in their home town. A touching film with very amusing characters. I recommend a viewing.
Heartwarming drama
Review date: 2004-05-23 Rating: 10 out of 10
A heartwarming drama on the problems you face as you hit your late twenties in a smalltown American town. Top-notch performances from the ensemble cast, touching and funny at the same time. Watch out for the relationship between Timothy Hutton and Natalie Portman it's heartbreaking.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Noah Emmerich
Annabeth Gish
Matt Dillon
Timothy Hutton
Lauren Holly
Creators:
Matt Dillon (Primary Contributor)
Timothy Hutton (Primary Contributor)
Alan C. Blomquist (Producer)
Bob Weinstein (Producer)
Cary Woods (Producer)
Cathy Konrad (Producer)
Harvey Weinstein (Producer)
Joel Stillerman (Producer)
Scott Rosenberg (Writer)
Director(s):
Recording label: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainm
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainm
EAN: 5017188884082
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2002-01-07
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 108 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1996-02-09
Language: English (Original Language)