film review: eat, pray, love
The residual good vibes associated with Elizabeth Gilbert’s heart-warming and hilarious story about personal triumph – Eat, Pray, Love – still has women radiating the sisterhood vibe that ultimately comes from watching uplifting chick flicks. Yes, I did say chick flick, but it’s a chick flick with a massive following thanks to the book’s worldwide success and of course, the woman who endears herself to female fans from every cultural background. Ladies and gentlemen (or maybe not) give it up for Julia Roberts.
I was excited to see this movie; not only because of the aforementioned ladies but because of the man behind the film, Ryan Murphy – who Glee fans will know, because he’s the guy that created that musical goodness. Down to the movie: it’s a good movie, but at about two and a half hours, it is incredibly long. What can I compare it to? An English essay: you’ve belted out what you had to say but you need to fill the word quota, and what better way than to waffle? Waffling has saved many of us from getting a fail, and – oh wait, I’m sort of doing it now. Murphy sticks to the book’s formula, but goes into too much of Gilbert’s life before her year-long adventure. Yes, it had to be done to show us why Gilbert was so bereft of spirit, but it’s so long-winded that I very nearly went to the bathroom during a movie (something I never do).
As most women know, the movie is a non-fiction account of stressed-out New Yorker Elizabeth Gilbert. Going through a nasty divorce and needing some time out, Gilbert decides to concentrate on herself – taking a year off to travel to Italy, India and Indonesia (the three I’s – get it?) and getting her mojo back. In Italy, she eats; in India, she prays and in Indonesia, she finds love again – a perfect resolution for a book and a Hollywood movie. Along the way she rediscovers life’s finer qualities, whilst trying to balance her somewhat contradictory longing for both independence and a man. I have to say, when picturing the men in Gilbert’s life, I had never thought they’d be this tantalising. Roberts is in good company with Vicky Cristina Barcelona star Jarvier Bardem and former Freaks and Geeks kid, James Franco who’s carving himself quite the indie niche – upcoming Allen Ginsberg flick anyone?
Beautifully shot, performed by Hollywood’s finest and sporting some of the delicious places we’d love to go (but can’t afford), EPL is a wonderfully uplifting tale. It doesn’t just resurrect the Pretty Woman star back to Hollywood’s red carpet, but shows that not all chick flicks have to be weepy feminine pieces that make you feel like you just got your period. Ultimately, EPL is easy on the eyes, and will deliver a captivating story about a woman who finds happiness again. It just goes to show that karma really does exist.
By Danielle Hanrahan
