Product: Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)
Rating: 4.0
Can you star69 Italy?
Frances (Lane) is a writter who makes a living as a book critic. She finds out the hard way that her husband is having an affair and gets a divorce, although she ends up losing her house to her ex (he 'pays' her for about half of it), so she decides to follow a friend Patti's advice (Oh) and travel to Tuscany. While visiting the little town of Cortona, Frances has a "terrible idea" and decides to buy a Villa.The Villa needs a lot of repairs and Francesca (as the locals start calling her) hires a band of misfit Polish workers. As time passes and work on her Villa goes on, Frances' life changes completely. She gets absorbed by the "Italian" way of life - not worrying so much about everything, enjoying life and not lingering on sad memories.This is a fine romantic comedy. Perhaps one of the best of the last couple of years. It's a shame that it wasn't noticed by more people (it's box office was barely over 43MM). Diane Lane shines in her role and Sandra Oh is really funny in the few moments she gets (she is the scene stealer of the film). The rest of the characters are perfectly cast with what I'm assuming to be European actors.But the one thing that makes this movie worth watching (I could go so far as to say owning, but nah!) are the gorgeous Tuscan landscapes. The beautiful little towns, the fabulous Villas, the pebble paved streets, the beautiful flower covered fields. There's also the little town by the sea where Marcello (Frances' love interest) lives. Unfortunately I didn't catch the name, otherwise I'd be taking a plane there right this moment. Keep an eye of cinematographer Geoffrey Simpson (Shine, Little women), because he shot a gorgeous looking movie.The only downside I found is that there's a couple of scenes in which the movies turns to magical realism. I didn't feel those scenes fit with the rest of the movie. Maybe it's just me.