Georgia Rule (2007)

Talent with Attitude!

When the movie first came out on the big screen, critics weren't too friendly with the ratings. Being a fan of Jane Fonda, Lindsay Lohan, and Felicity Huffman I really wanted to see the movie, but kept putting it off with each bad review I heard. Finally getting the chance to view it in the comfort of my own home, I didn't have high hopes.

In my opinion the acting was magnificent, and the storyline successfully portrayed each of the women's characters in an entertaining and chaotic way. I must admit as I watched the movie, I really couldn't see a male getting to excited about it. In fact I could see all of my male family members just hating this type of movie. For me, though, I think I could relate more. I didn't relate to Rachel's (Lindsay Lohan) distinct problems (I don't want to give the story away), but instead the relationships between mother and daughter, and grandmother and granddaughter, etc. Each of the characters, the Grandmother Georgia (Jane Fonda), Rachel's mother Lilly (Felicity Huffman), and Rachel had their own problems and each had their problems with each other. They work through them in their own distinct family way (lots of attitude!) and eventually come to an understanding with one another.

I enjoyed this movie greatly, and I think the next time I may pop the movie in when I am home with my own mother, because it is just that kind of movie. Like I said, I am not sure I would watch it with a male crowd, I am sure they would not take to it!
August 8, 2008

Actually, Quite Good

Sometimes it's very hard to put your negative personal feelings for an actress (in this case, Lindsay Lohan) aside but she is so good in Georgia Rule that you can't help but admire her performance. So, I loved her in this movie along with Felicity Huffman and Jane Fonda who were excellent in their own right. This was so much better than I expected. It's definitely a drama but also has some humor. Yes, it deals with the very serious subject of sexual abuse with a minor but it handles it well and honestly. Was this the greatest movie ever? No. But it certainly was good to very good. June 30, 2008

Lindsay Lohan Rules (Georgia too)

As many have noticed, Jane Fonda is basically playing Henry Fonda in ON GOLDEN POND, but she's doing it backwards and in high heels, for she is also channeling Katharine Hepburn from the same film, as her hair gets piled up on her head like a giant pincushion pinned down with sheer will power. The script also gives Georgia babysitting duties so she can hang out with two little boys rather like the boy in ON GOLDEN POND, except doubled of course, two of them instead of the one from the 1979 Oscar winner. I thoroughly enjoyed this journey into the past, and I hope that the critical drubbing GEORGIA RULE got won't prevent Jane from once again retiring from the screen. We need her there, maybe just not in this part. She was excellent, but the script had her in the movie more than she needed to be, I suppose to give fairly even weight to all three of its big name actresses.

Felicity Huffman, whom I don't like in general, impressed me with her turn as the alcoholic mother clinging to a loser husband (Cary Elwes) in order to live in expensive, glittering San Francisco. She has one scene that took my breath away, when she gets some shocking news and tries to descend a staircase, she lifts a foot and misses the step entirely, in a brave, physical gesture that convinced me she was totally inside her character's mind.

Perhaps due to the off camera antics of Lindsay Lohan, the movie is noticeably choppy and doesn't make sense from scene to scene. One has the feeling that big parts of the script were either not filmed or cut. Why for example does Georgia send Rachel to live with Simon--the vet slash doctor--and not act like it's strange for a young teen to be living with a middle aged man she has just met last week? I didn't get it, and sure enough, before you can say, Samantha Ronson, there's Lindsay creeping into his bed and telling him that she wants him. But he teaches her the difference between appropriate love and the slut love of someone ruined by interference during childhood.

However even though her bad behavior earned her the reputation of being horrible to work with, Lohan is captivating in a difficult part. Director Garry Marshall who made PRETTY WOMAN knows how to shine a steady, and indeed flattering light, on a sexually promiscuous and beautiful young woman. These are different times, he seems to say, and it's all for the good. June 30, 2008

Give the movie its credit

I really do not think that people are giving this movie the credit it deserves. Granted....humor should not surround the subject of sexual abuse, however, the movie was not about comedy. If you watch it close you will find that Rachel (linsey lohan) had to become a parent when her mother (lily) was drunk all the time. It is calld Parentification, when the child tries to fill the role of a unavailable parent. Whether she seduced the step father or not, does not diminsh the scuzzbucket that he is. If anyone kenw anything about the topic, it is easy to realize that her behavior is of a child that had to be an adult and was abused by a parental figure (who bought her a car to keep sleeping with him).

You must then consider the grandmother whose life became all about structure. And the tradidion of not telling her child "I love you", and how that impacted thier relationship. Also, how Rachel was willing to have everyone believe that she was lying about being abuse so that her mother can be happy and stop drinking.

I think the most clever thing about the movie is the strenght these women have that took them forever to embrace. Rachel and her mother were stronger than they gave themself credit for. The grandmother in turn weaker than she pretended to be.

I think people should watch the movie with a open mind and realize what it is really about. June 21, 2008

Torturous to Watch, Simplifies Serious Issues

If you wish to inflict torture on yourself, watch "Georgia Rule." The abiding contempt Hollywood has for homespun values shines through. Childhood incest is anything but simple and leaves lasting, deep scars. A girl in actress Lindsay Lohan's situation will either go "hypo" (almost asexual) or "hyper" (overly sexual). Lohan's character goes the hyper route (why is that a surprise, given Hollywood's fascination with bad girls). Instead of being sympathetic, she prostitutes herself to practical strangers... and is so hostile... it shows her "reading" but there is no indication this girl has any motive other than to have sex with any man who has a pulse. Her mother is equally despicable and unlikable. For that town's sake, I kept hoping they'd hop in their luxury cars and head back to California. There's always this creepy element about such films... that somehow Hollywood will "set us hicks straight." Example: Lohan works for the local vet (who is also a medical doctor) and is able to make a guy pay his bill, finally, after the other inept hayseeds couldn't. Wow! Lohan's going to straighten up this hick town, just like Hollywood will.

The only real or genuine feeling in the film, is when Georgia, played by Jane Fonda (why did she go from "The China Syndrome" and "Klute" to this?), threatened to pound the sexual offender's Ferrari (the stepfather's car). Man, I was going to join her, but instead, head over to the camera and director! Who created this dreck?

It is so contrived, so horrible. What is wrong with this mother and Lohan's character? They can't follow "rules" or feel any kind of restrictions on them is suffocating? Give me a break. Honoring laws and rules makes us mature adults. Being a responsible adult takes guts and courage, being a spoiled temperamental brat takes only one thing -- a mirror. If the mom / daughter of this story want to live in anarchy, let them. There's a reason for laws and civilized society.

Equally infuriating was the superficial treatment of childhood incest. It was almost "cute" when the mom finally tried to beat up the icky stepfather in the final confrontation. I'd have a bazooka and be aiming it... June 9, 2008

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