With a superb cast and an outstanding novel on which to base this marvelous film how could anything possibly go wrong?
All Girl Productions, Bette Midler's production company, doesn't exactly have an stupendous track record with films like `For the Boys,' `That Old Feeling' and `Man of the House.' The one lone big winner was `Beaches.' AGP also produced Ms Midler's short-lived television show, Bette' which really never took off. But they have another great film in `Divine Secrets...'
Casting was the key to making this film work on the level that the novel achieved. Sandra Bullock and James Garner look like they belong together; their onscreen chemistry was incredible. It was easy to believe they were father and daughter.
Ellen Burstyn as Sidilee's (Sandra Bullock) mother was a study in elegant, insane alcoholism with Ashley Judd playing her younger self. Both were incredible.
Maggie Smith was splendid as the oxygen tank-toting Caro. She had some of the funniest and most incisive lines.
The soundtrack (for the most part) added to the Southern ambience with one Zydeco number being particularly exceptional at evoking the entire Southern Experience.
The photography was excellent -- the settings and locales were used to the utmost.
Since the supporting story is told in a series of flashbacks there are times that people in the audience were a bit confused at to exactly what was going on... Maybe they should go back and see it again.
This is a true ensemble film and the Four Sisters of the Ya-Ya were completely believable as being friends from childhood. They were all great together and individually.
This may not be a film for everyone -- but it is for anyone that has ever had a mother that they didn't really understand.
All Girl Productions, Bette Midler's production company, doesn't exactly have an stupendous track record with films like `For the Boys,' `That Old Feeling' and `Man of the House.' The one lone big winner was `Beaches.' AGP also produced Ms Midler's short-lived television show, Bette' which really never took off. But they have another great film in `Divine Secrets...'
Casting was the key to making this film work on the level that the novel achieved. Sandra Bullock and James Garner look like they belong together; their onscreen chemistry was incredible. It was easy to believe they were father and daughter.
Ellen Burstyn as Sidilee's (Sandra Bullock) mother was a study in elegant, insane alcoholism with Ashley Judd playing her younger self. Both were incredible.
Maggie Smith was splendid as the oxygen tank-toting Caro. She had some of the funniest and most incisive lines.
The soundtrack (for the most part) added to the Southern ambience with one Zydeco number being particularly exceptional at evoking the entire Southern Experience.
The photography was excellent -- the settings and locales were used to the utmost.
Since the supporting story is told in a series of flashbacks there are times that people in the audience were a bit confused at to exactly what was going on... Maybe they should go back and see it again.
This is a true ensemble film and the Four Sisters of the Ya-Ya were completely believable as being friends from childhood. They were all great together and individually.
This may not be a film for everyone -- but it is for anyone that has ever had a mother that they didn't really understand.