Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases

Get 2 for 1 cinema tickets with Orange Click Here

Search cinema listings

Browse cinemas A-Z

Search 20,000 reviews

 

Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)

Director: Audrey Wells

Average user rating
1 review

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

Having lost her San Francisco house in bitter divorce proceedings, book reviewer Frances (Lane) is in dire need of a pick-me-up. Packed off on a coach tour of Tuscany by supportive girlfriends, she has a Damascene moment just outside Cortona, falling for the charms of a tumbledown old villa which she buys on the spot. Supervising a raggle-taggle band of Eastern European builders through the renovation work is one new challenge, but in this loose adaptation of Frances Mayes' bestseller, she's still wondering whether she's about to gain a beautiful new home without much of a life to put in it. Hard to imagine Lane bound for sun-dried spinsterdom just yet, however, since her endlessly sympathetic central performance suggests an inner well of vivacity beneath the surface stresses of cultural difference. Her grounded and credible contribution apart, the movie struggles when called upon to do much more than photograph the inviting Tuscan landscape. Despite obviously promising material, the overwhelming blandness of the execution is dismaying. You just know Lane could bring much more juice to her rejuvenating liaison with a handsome Italian lover than she's ever allowed here.

Author: TJ 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide


  • Print this page
  • Send to a friend
Get 2 for 1 cinema tickets with Orange Click Here

User reviews of this film

  • Nick said...
    Posted on Sep 16 2007 09:57 Personally I think this film is somewhat underrated. Diane Lane is well-supported by a strong cast, the story has enough twists and turns to keep it interesting, and, of course, the scenery is lovely. My wife and I much enjoyed this film and would certainly recommend it to others. It's not a great film, but it's certainly a good one.
    Report as inappropriate

What do you think?
Post your review now

clear rating
Min 1 star. Zero stars will be treated as unrated.

*mandatory fields





Top Stories

Hippies who work for The Man

Hippies who work for The Man

To celebrate George Clooney comedy 'The Men who Stare at Goats', we look back at six memorable onscreen hippies who fought the system from within

Roland Emmerich's guide to disaster movies

Roland Emmerich's guide to disaster movies

Ahead of the release of '2012', Roland Emmerich offers his ten tips on creating the perfect global catastrophe

Grant Heslov: interview

Grant Heslov: interview

Grant Heslov, director of 'The Men who Stare at Goats' talks about his old pal George Clooney, his interest in the paranormal, and his fond memories of working on 'Happy Days'

The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'

The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'

Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’

Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?

Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?

Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer

Michael Jackson's This Is It: review

Michael Jackson's This Is It: review

Kenny Ortega's posthumous concert film is a rousing eulogy for one of pop's great enigmas

Michael Haneke: The man behind the menace

Michael Haneke: The man behind the menace

From Cannes to Munich to London, Dave Calhoun tours Michael Haneke's Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'

Lone Scherfig talks 'An Education'

Lone Scherfig talks 'An Education'

Danish director Lone Scherfig was an unlikely choice for a very English affair like 'An Education'. Cath Clarke meets her

How Jane Campion brought John Keats back to life

How Jane Campion brought John Keats back to life

Time Out gets Romantic with the ‘difficult’ New Zealander about her new film, 'Bright Star'

Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam

Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam

In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations