Product: Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)
Rating: 5.0
Great Actress At Work - or - Falling In Love With Diane Lane
Diane Lane has always, even as a child reminded me of Natalie Wood. Both were child stars, both posses a similar beauty and way with a smile that turns up just so on the sides. Each is a multi-layered actress of considerable talent. And above all they have made me fall rapturously in love with them. My ability therefore to give a rational review of this film, "Under The Tuscan Sun" is reduced to that of a love struck thirteen year old boy.From the book of the same name by Frances Mayes the film is an altered and fresh look at the original. The direction and screenplay by Audrey Wells is top notch and she gives an insightful commentary on the DVD of her film. It is in her screenplay is where she really shines. She reshapes Mayes book into something magical and infuses it with the charm and glamour of Italy both in the flesh and in the movies.Vincent Riotta is the quite center to the story and is the romantic realist who gently leads Frances into her adventure in Italy. He commands your attention with a quiet and wise presence. Raoul Bova, one of the hottest stars in Italy brings just the right touch of romance and danger to his role as Marcello. In his final scene he is both honest and fair.Sandra Oh hits all the right notes of comedy and drama as Frances' best friend Patti. Her remark on the steaming toilet is a study in comedy timing. Well, she is a master as anyone who has seen her work on Arliss can attest.The wonderful discovery in this film for me is the British actress, Lindsay Duncan who portrays Katherine, the ex-Fellini star who is trapped like a fly in amber by her film past but lives for today within her celluloid cocoon. Adding her to the mix puts just the right touch of cinema magic into the story. I am looking forward to see what she does on the upcoming HBO series "Rome".Finally there is Miss Lane. Her work here is brilliant and filled with the grit and grime of a true actress at work. Yet it is seamless and so natural without a false move or an unsure moment. She inhabits Frances from frame one and caries her and the audience from her despair to rebirth and rejoicing in a new and unexpected life. Her eyes, her smile, her glowing skin become so real on the screen and we find we are given a gift from this actress of so many gifts. We are given the pure joy of watching her in the here and now inhabit a space in our hearts. With this film and her previous appearance in "Unfaithful" she joins the pantheon of stars that like Spencer Tracy, Ingrid Bergman, or Natalie Wood who make it all look so easy, so real.