So I saw "Eat, Pray, Love" recently and I was a bit underwhelmed. Please don't get me wrong. I love the idea of a woman going off to find herself. I just found the casting a bit "off" per se.
The film follows a writer named Liz played by Julia Roberts who is unhappy in her life and marriage. Leaves her husband and goes on a world win trip to Italy, India, and ending in Bali. I found the first half of the film to lag. I got the fact that she was unhappy but I found myself saying "get to Italy already!" Not a good thing when watching a film.
The scenery was breathtaking. I love Italy and how ancient it is but found myself laughing when Julia Roberts is having trouble fitting into a pair of jeans. Really? Julia is like a size 0. I can't see her having to buy "fat jeans." Like ever.
We arrive in India and for a second was fearful for her safety as she rode in the taxi to her destination. My favorite part is the speech by Richard from Texas, played by Richard Jenkins. This part made me cry and I see an Oscar in Jenkin's future for this performance.
The other standout in the film is Javier Bardem as Filipe. Although I loved his character I found this part of the film to turn from Liz's struggles to Filipe. As a screenwriter myself your lense should always be on your protagonist. This half of the film turned to Filipe and his struggles. The main character flipped from Liz to Felipe.
Over all the film was enjoyable but I'm not going to be adding this one to my library of films. It did make me question my relationship with others as well as with God and isn't that what a good film does? Make us think?
-A-
