Each December, the movie studios bring out films aimed at adult audiences. Sure, "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" is on the way, but the holiday season is the time in which older audiences are finally given their due. This year, Mike Newell's "Mona Lisa Smile" should be the film that strikes a cord with folks who like their movies driven by story and character as opposed to special effects. "Mona Lisa Smile" should take a place along side "The Way We Were," "Terms of Endearment" and "Beaches" as an entertaining and durable movie destined for big box-office and countless video rentals down the road.

I don't really care for corned beef, sour kraut, rye bread, Swiss cheese or Russian dressing. However, when all of those ingredients are combined into a Rueben Sandwich, I'm in hog heaven. In the same vein, I'm not a big fan of Julia Roberts or Julia Stiles. It was with some trepidation and very low expectations that I went to a screening of "Mona Lisa Smile." To my great relief, I was hooked right away, and enjoyed every minute of the film's two hour running time. "Mona Lisa Smile" isn't a classic film. It is enjoyable, thought provoking, beautifully shot, well acted and just downright entertaining.

Katherine Watson (Julia Roberts) is a freethinking art history teacher from Oakland California. Somehow, she persists and is hired at the prestigious Wellesley College for Women. The year is 1953. Birth control is illegal, Rosie the Riviter has left the work place to return to hearth and home. Miss Watson hopes to mold the minds of the best young women in America. At one point Katherine shouts "I wanted to teach future leaders, not their wives!" Katherine Watson finds herself butting heads with tradition. Although these privileged women are being given the finest education imaginable, it seems most of the students see college as a waiting room for the altar. Into this environment walks Katherine Watson. Her first day in class is an eye opener. The film's other main characters are introduced in a funny scene in which Miss Watson's students show they know it all and run roughshod over the new teacher.

The film follows Miss Watson's perseverance and eventual impact on her students. The story focuses on a group of four very different friends and the effect Watson has on them. Betty Warren (Kirstin Dunst) is the consummate Wellesley student. Betty has bought the party line. She is ruthless and cruel in her defense of the Wellesley tradition. She is a voluntary Stepford Wife. Betty comes from a powerful family. The film pays homage to Senator Joe McCarthy via Betty Watson. One scathing editorial by Betty in the college newspaper and heads roll. Joan Brandwyn (Julia Styles) is Betty's best friend. She too is on the fast track toward marriage, children and homemaking. Unlike Betty, Joan isn't cruel. Giselle Levy (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is the sexually adventurous and rebellious one in the bunch. She had a troubled childhood and thus doesn't buy the good housewife package. Giselle had an affair with Bill Dunbar (Dominic West), her hunky Italian professor. Finally there is Constance Baker (Ginnifer Goodwin) the frumpy, yet not unattractive one of the bunch. Constance is terrified by the fact that graduation is looming and she doesn't have a marital prospect.

"Mona Lisa Smile" avoids becoming a feminist manifesto due to a smart script, which allows for the free exchange of opposing views. To me, this was the saving grace of the film. Like Mr. Cohen once said "You want to send a message, call Western Union." Julia Roberts' character wants to free the minds of a young generation of women. Some may follow her, others may ignore her and still yet others may examine their position, find it sound and argue for their position. The filmmakers never make you hate the characters because they refuse to burn their bras and become feminists. You may very well hate Kirstin Dunst's character at time because she is cruel, but you still care for her. No one is made to be a lessor person because of their agenda. Granted, the characters representing the old guard are shown to be closed minded and dangerous, but again, they are also shown to be dinosaurs on the verge of extinction. Had "Mona Lisa Smile" been an anti-marriage propaganda piece, the film would not have worked. Like college itself, "Mona Lisa Smile" tells a story of people exchanging ideas and mentoring each other. Each viewer, like individual college students will walk away with a different lesson. In these politically correct days, where the once 'tolerant left' has turned toward intolerance, it is nice to see a film that allows for different opinions without condemning those who hold them.

The performances are uniformly fine. Julia Roberts produced this film. She chose the part wisely. Her Katherine Watson is a grown woman. She makes mature choices in her performance. There is only one instance of Miss Robert's "Pretty Woman" laugh. While not of the same Oscar caliber as her work in "Erin Brockovich," her Katherine Watson might be a contender for a nomination. Julia Stiles delivers the best performance in the film. Her part is understated and refined. The part of Joan isn't as bitchy as Betty or sexy as Giselle, and as such could be overlooked at Award time. Like Donald Sutherland's performance in "Ordinary People," Ms. Stiles proves that less is more. Maggie Gyllenhaal can do no wrong in my book. She adds dimension to the stereotypical fun slut. Her character also illustrates the emotional dangers that can occur due to unlimited freedom. Kirstin Dunst plays against type. She is fine in an unlikable, but ultimately sympathetic role. Her All-American beauty is perfect for this Barbi-bitch role. My fellow Memphian, and relatively unknown Ginnifer Goodwin holds her own against her more famous cast and class mates. Her Constance is the Cinderella of the bunch. You pull for her when she is on screen and miss her when she is gone. Marcia Gay Harden is wasted as a repressed spinster teacher.

I've always enjoyed films that show the effect of teachers on their students. Maybe it is because I cherish the memories of those who taught me. Maybe it is because my wife teaches. "Mona Lisa Smile" works as a teacher-student film in the same way that "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie," "Goodbye Mr. Chips," "Mr. Holland's Opus" and "Up the Down Staircase" worked. "Mona Lisa Smile" presents a heroine faced with long odds who perseveres and touches those in her care. It is a heartwarming holiday film that can be enjoyed by young and old alike.

Rusty White

Related links:
IMDB: Mona Lisa Smile (2003)