| Stop, Look, Listen | ||
| Eat, Pray, Love | ||
|
||
| Review by Ross Anthony | ||
|
It's been a long time since a film's been so aptly named. Not only has the picture been summed up in just three words, but they're prioritized in order of emphasis. While Julia does "flirt" with prayer and love, she most spectacularly indulges in the culinary. It's a pleasure to watch her enjoy Italian dishes. "Travel" is also a word that would have fit well among the other three. Filmmakers do a grand job of capturing the crisp mind-opening aspects of diving headlong into three unique and vibrant cultures. The picture is not perfect. Sadly, I wasn't all that excited about the wind up which felt more soap than spirit. Nor did I buy the chemistry between Roberts and Bardem. That said, and despite its sometimes preachy swagger, I greatly appreciate any film/book that breaks through the superficial, on such a popular level, and talks about, perhaps the most honorable (certainly the most personal) of human quests - the intimate search for meaning and fulfillment. EPL depicts this via one person's beautifully painful endeavor in an imperfect, yet straight forward and sincere manner. Quite watchable for the most part, but with a waning ending that (at least on the cinematic level) slips a bit into the superficial. Gradewise, locked between B and B+ -- I'll round up. (Shameless Plug: If you enjoy "search for meaning" integrated in true-life world travel adventure, check out my book "Circle Earth.") |
||
|
||
|
Grade..........................B+ (2.5/4) |
||
|
|
||
|
||
|
Copyright © 1998-2023 Ross Anthony, Author - Speaker - Solo World Circumnavigator In addition to reviewing films and interviewing celebs at HollywoodReportCard.com, traveling the world, composing great music, motivational speaking, Mr. Anthony also runs his own publishing company in the Los Angeles area. While traversing the circumference of the planet writing books and shooting documentaries, Mr. Anthony has taught, presented for, worked &/or played with locals in over 30 countries & 100 cities (Nairobi to Nagasaki). He's bungee-jumped from a bridge near Victoria Falls, wrestled with lions in Zimbabwe, crashed a Vespa off a high mountain road in Taiwan, and ridden a dirt bike across the States (Washington State to Washington DC). To get signed books ("Rodney Appleseed" to "Jinshirou") or schedule Ross to speak check out: www.RossAnthony.com or call 1-800-767-7186.
Go into the world and inspire the people you meet with your love, kindness, and whatever it is you're really good at. Check out books by Ross Anthony. Rand() functions, Pho chicken soup, rollerblading, and frozen yogurt (w/ blueberries) also rock! (Btw, rand is short for random. It can also stand for "Really Awkward Nutty Dinosaurs" -- which is quite rand, isn't it?) Being alive is the miracle. Special thanks to Ken Kocanda, HAL, Jodie Keszek, Don Haderlein, Mom and Pops, my family, R. Foss, and many others by Ross Anthony. Galati-FE also deserves a shout out. And thanks to all of you for your interest and optimism. Enjoy great films, read stirring novels, grow. |
