I really enjoyed watching this movie. There were many great scenes, many great lines, and development in relationships. Somethings were a little cliche, but when looking at everything I actually liked about the movie, they become less of a problem, and not that noticable to me. There are parts I wished I could get to know more about, some of the relationships which were ended too quickly, so that I didn't get real closure as a viewer, but overall this is a movie I would recommend to any girl, or for that matter, boy, who wants to think a little about the gender roles in our society, how far it as come. And also, to do some evaluation while watching or after, if these gender roles still apply in some cases, and how we're still obsessed with fitting into what society wants us to be. No matter what gender, there's more equality between sexes now, but both men and women (and those who are genderfluid/or don't conform to any gender) still have a role that we play, maybe more subconsciously than we'd like to admit. But when given the chance, like after watching this movie, we can look closer at our own society today, and see if there are changes we need to make. This is truly an inspirational art, if you're just open to finding out what the movie can mean to you. Of course critics will slaughter it, because it both has cliches and can be rather odd(not too hollywood) at times, but these are the ones who don't have the time, or give their time, to find out what something might mean to them. Everything that we experience has the chance to educate us in some way, to expand our thinking, if we just let it. I pity those who don't give things a chance, and judge without thinking something through, no matter it be a movie or a person. Overall, just watch it if you're an openminded spirit like me, if you're someone who don't like to think for themselves however, this movie will bore you, because it tries to make YOU think.

_Mona Lisa Smile_ is a smart and provocative period drama that’s especially well-crafted. The story follows an art instructor who comes to the elite women’s college Wellesley during the 1950s and upsets the establishment with her unconventional teaching methods. With an all-star cast that includes Julia Roberts, Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles, and Maggie Gyllenhaal, the performances are excellent. The writing is also quite good, particularly in how it explores the role of women in the ‘50s, and the expectations of upper society. Yet there are some weaknesses in the plot, and a few of the characters are underdeveloped. Compelling and inspired, _Mona Lisa Smile_ is an impressive film.

This movie is crammed packed with talent. Freeze frame on any group of young women in the auditorium and you will see women who went on to to make a mark in their profession. This movie was set a year before I was born and I couldn’t help but think of all that has changed in my lifetime, the biggest change, perhaps, was the idea that norms could (and maybe should) be challenged. It took a world war to shatter the assumptions about women’s roles as their men went off to war leaving behind jobs that needed to be done. Following that, the education of women opened horizons that society had previously left unexplored. Although nominated for multiple awards, I think this film suffered from the same fear that it depicted, the fear that ideas would be dangerous to the status quo. Even 2003 was uneasy with this message. The writing is good. The performances are great. I give this film a 9 (a mile marker) out of 10.

Maybe I can never be satisfied, but though I enjoyed this movie, it left me feeling disappointed and frustrated. The first half of _Mona Lisa Smile_ - though not without its flaws (the only living lesbian character mentioned is fired a few minutes in after only a few lines; the only non-white character, I think, was the black worker at the very beginning) - was thrilling. It felt like one of those academia movies about boys and men. I liked it enough, at least, to overlook how unrealistically awful all the students were to each other - of course women are catty, that's a given. The high point of the movie, for me, was the scene in which Katherine Watson gives a lecture based on the way ads represent women and what the point of women's education is, and then blow up at her colleagues, calling the college a finishing school in disguise. That was wonderful. Unfortunately, that's also where it all went downhill. After the brilliance of that scene, the movie suddenly stopped attempting anything close to critical thinking. Every choice is valid, and discussing how much of a "choice" it really is if everything in your life pushes you to it... well, who cares about that? The girls all get married or will get married or let the biggest part of their lives revolve around men; Katherine Watson disappear in far-off Europe; all is as it should be. Ultimately, this movie about women is still very much about men. The only one of her colleagues that Katherine really gets to know is the male Italian teacher who abuses his students (cute). Her female colleagues are either nameless, fired, or depicted as pathetic. The students all "freely" "choose" to prioritise men. Even in the best moments, when Katherine strives for some kind of liberation for women, it's always turned toward men, and not toward being with other women, putting women first. It's significant that not one female artist is named, in a movie about women who study art. All in all, it's a braver movie than many, but unsurprisingly drops the ball. We wouldn't want to be extremists, right?

As close to perfect as a movie can get. Funny, sad, heartwarming, empowering. Wonderful female cast.