Mona Lisa Smile (2003)

At Wellesley College in 1953, the all-female student population may constitute the smartest and the best, but they’re still measured by how well they marry. In comes professor Katherine Watson (Julia Roberts) to challenge the status quo, which raises the ire of many administrators, some of the teachers and even a few of the students she dares to inspire. Co-stars Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles, Marcia Gay Harden and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Overall, this did not do it for me. I actually saw this in the theater, which is unusual for my preference to watch at home on DVD. Roberts brings her lust for PC to almost every film she makes. I did wake up at two moments in the film, however, that make it worth “being on the list.”

First, when she first enters the classroom, prepared to the hilt with all her knowledge, she is met by teens who already know all the answers. The vertigo she encounters at this moment is priceless, but so is her recovery – throwing them the curve ball. Christian educators should be prepared to have students, at least in the humanities and theology, who have all the pre-packaged answers right in front of them. Have your curve ball ready.

Secondly, I loved most of all the moment at the docks, when the Pollock piece was unveiled. The “wham” of the crate falling away was perfect for the “wow” of the students when they first came face to face with primary source material. This was the actual painting, not a printed little 3″ X 5″ picture in an art book, or a slide on the wall of the school. It was “it” and they were taken away into the world of experience. Powerful stuff for us teachers to contemplate. Does it make the whole picture worth it for these two moments? I will leave that to your own scheduling considerations.

~ by u2isgr8 on November 28, 2005.