Product: Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)
Rating: 4.0
Sweet, charming movie about transitions and second chances
"Under the Tuscan Sun" is at turns a delightful and sad romantic comedy romp full of a number of clever and unexpected twists and turns. San Francisco writer Frances Mayes ( Diane Lane) discovers her husband's affair and the discovery shatters her life. When he seeks alimony, she's forced to sell him the house that they renovated together with her mother's money. At first she takes residence in an apartment building where it seems everyone is lamenting a lost love or smarting over a divorce. As the first anniversary of her "freedom" looms, a lesbian friend takes her out to dinner and makes her an offer she can't refuse. She gives Frances a ticket to Italy. Frances is afraid of finding new romance. It's not something she's likely to do on the trip however as the tour is for gays and lesbians and her friend is unable to go because she's pregnant.While out and about on her own, she sees a picture of a villa for sale. On the spur of the moment she decides to purchase it. She wants to radically reshape her life and sees this as the opportunity to do so. With the blessing of pigeon poop on her head (evidently a "sign" to the elderly owner that she deserves the old and crumbling villa), Frances earns the right to purchase the place. What ensues is beautiful scenery, a series of comedic and sad events as she remodels her new villa culminating in an unexpected second chance at romance.Based on Frances Mayes' best-selling book, Audrey Wells has fashioned a memorable and unpredictable romantic comedy about second chances. If you're a fan of Mayes' book you may be disappointed. The basic premise is similar but, beyond that, the film has little to do with Mayes book. My advice, get it over it and enjoy the movie for what it is not what it isn't.Filled with memorable character actors from Italy, American and the UK, "Under the Tuscan Sun" eschews the typical formula seen in Nora Epstein's movies in favor of a series of unpredictable and interesting plot twists. Diane Lane gives a marvelous performance as Frances Mayes (which I should note is a fictionalized version of the author as the book has little to do with the novel beyond the setting and basic premises) a soul who has lost her way in the bitter aftermath of divorce. The renewal she finds with the renovation of her new villa and friendships she establishes along the way makes for a rewarding and touching film experience.The widescreen anamorphic transfer looks lovely capturing all the crisp, bright colors of Italy. There's no analog artifacts whatsoever and virtually no edge enhancement problems. "Under the Tuscan Sun" has been lovingly transferred from film to video without any of the usual analog to digital problems. The sound mix is as warm and sunny as the Italian landscape. While the 5.1 sound isn't used as successfully as say, an action picture, there's plenty of subtle detail to be heard and appreciated. The feeling of Italy envelops the listener with this carefully prepared transfer.There are the usual deleted scenes, some of which add a bit of additional character touches. The making of featurette "Tuscany 101" provides a nice glimpse into the production and thought process of the writer/director Audrey Wells and her star. There are also cast and filmmaker interviews and a glimpse into some of the challenges and rewards of shooting in Italy.Writer/director Audrey Wells provides an insightful and informative commentary track. It's a pity that Diane Lane and some of the Italian actors weren't included in the process. It would have been very interesting to get the Italian actors take on an American romantic comedy.A delightful and touching film, "Under the Tuscan Sun" will provide an evening of great entertainment. Diane Lane is, as usual, marvelous in the lead performance. Great care has been taken to preserve the look of the film and the transfer is truly spectacular looking.