AGW Entertainment reporter Lynn B. saw a 1950's drama film

Mona Lisa Smile

Columbia Pictures and Revolution Studios

Take some of the hottest young actresses today and stir them into a melting pot of femme angst in 1950's Wellesley College and you might get a cat fight. What we noticed when interviewing Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles and Ginnifer Goodwin was more like a purr-fest. These gals did some serious bonding on the set of their film.

It's 1953 and Professor Katherine Watson (Julia Roberts) is a brainy bohemian Californian from Berkeley. She transfers to upper-crusty, snooty Wellesley to teach art-history. She knows her stuff but, after settling into an apartment in the home of the school's unhappy spinsterish, elocution and poise teacher (Marcia Gay Harden), she hits campus where she finds she's unprepared and outclassed by her snobby undergrad students (Kirsten Dunst, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Julia Stiles and Ginnifer Goodwin) who can't wait to show her that they know far more about art and life than she.

Katherine one-ups them by thinking outside the box or book. Thinking for themselves is a whole new game for these girls who are expected to marry well and have never been encouraged by a teacher to exercise their imaginations and stretch their minds beyond what is in a textbook. The girls start to blossom and make waves and choices.

Katherine has to fight the crusty women's dean who hates any idea even vaguely feminist. She is labeled a subversive to be watched carefully. When she starts seeing a notorious womanizing Italian professor (Dominic West), she's dangerously on the edge of dismissal. By this time, Katherine's students love her, have started to think and change their life paths and want her back next year. Will Katherine accept severe restrictions on her teaching style or leave? Will the girls marry, have careers or both? Will it be ironing boards or a seat on the board?

The buzz is that Mona Lisa Smile (which refers to the Mona Lisa painting. She's smiling on the outside but..is she happy?) is Dead Poet's Society for girls. Not always that intensely dramatic, the film does deserve that comparison. The ensemble cast of young actresses is excellent. Kirsten Dunst gets to get out of chicky-in-distress mode and play the stylish, unhappy cruel girl. Maggie Gyllenhaal is great as the campus tramp with heart. Julia Stiles is regal and convincing as an ultra-bright student who could go to law school. Ginnifer Goodwyn (you might have seen her in t.v.'s "Ed") is glowing as a hopeful girl who is afraid her guy is dumping her. Oddly, the most uninteresting character is Julia Roberts' teacher who starts out feminist and independent and stays that way. Marsha Gay Harden plays kind of a caricature but she does it sooo well.

The 1950's are recreated with total perfection from the stiff clothes to make-up and hair to music and customs. If you've ever looked through your grandma's 1950's college or high school photo albums, you'll see that this film totally matches the "look".

Yes, there is a certain soap-opera-ish feel throughout the film but this doesn't have to be bad. This movie is about choices and realizing that you have them. Girls today can completely relate. Yes, they certainly don't have to choose between marriage and career but many feel that they have no choice but to diet and starve when they see the supermodels thrown in their faces by the media. The message that Katherine Watson is conveying to the young, post-war women of Wellesley is just as important today. Think for yourself, pick your path and shine!!

Rated: PG-13

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