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Eat Pray Love (2010)

Average user rating

32 reviews

Synopsis

While trying to get pregnant, a happily married woman (Julia Roberts) realises her life needs to go in a different direction and embarks on an around-the-world jaunt.

Movie review

From Time Out New York

No one is going into the breezy movie version of Elizabeth Gilbert’s globe-trotting empowerment memoir expecting it to be ‘Siddhartha’ – and if they are, they’re being unfair. This is expertly wrought pop-psychology; perfect plates of pasta will be consumed in Rome (to nourish a wounded heart), then the soul will be tended in an Indian ashram, and finally romance will flourish in sultry Bali. Compared to a lot of cinema’s lunk-headed fantasies, is that really so offensive?

So, like a bad nutritionist, I’m less concerned with what goes into ‘Eat Pray Love’ than what comes out of it. First and foremost is Julia Roberts, who, even though she never seems to gain weight, flatters Gilbert’s divorcée with a complex performance – to these eyes, her best. Roberts has a star’s presence, which she underplays, curling into balls of insecurity and lifting her wine glass in tear-rimmed ruefulness. Even if you know where this story is going, it’s rare when Hollywood indulges such a robust woman’s picture, neither a glossy ‘Sex and the City 2’ nor a cryptic, Indiewood ‘Winter’s Bone’. Rather, here’s a vehicle that could have been driven by Faye Dunaway or Gena Rowlands.

The performances are knockouts, especially Richard Jenkins as a damaged Texas spiritualist who steeps the movie in intimacy. Oh, to have Julia’s choices: crushed ex-husband Billy Crudup, cute yogi James Franco, the Bali-dwelling Javier Bardem. The movie is aware of its own riches; it fills up your plate and dares you not to eat.

Author: Joshua Rothkopf

Time Out New York Issue 2092: 23–29 September, 2010

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User reviews of this film

Cazzieann said...

Posted on Aug 14 2011 10:27 Sat up in bed to watch this dreary boring film going on and on and on about Julia Roberts finding herself. At the end just wished she would get lost!

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Cala said...

Posted on Aug 13 2011 08:17 I liked this film -yes Roberts like Zellwegger [Bridget Jones] should have put on weight -she has the money to lose it!! but if you can off load the Hollywood[there in most movies anyway-the script and message is strong and the acting good. It left me wanting to eat meditate and love myself ! The negative comments above just show how cynical we are today and how none of us even want to find ourselves! still it is a free world and you can eat what you want when it comes to movie choice!

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Lulinha said...

Posted on May 23 2011 22:37 Honestly, it was very very bad. Julia Roberts is lost, after the 100th cosmetic surgery on her formerly beautiful mouth. The story doesn't make sense: a group of really worn out stereotypes sounding almost racist. The actor portraying a Brazilian just mumbled a few words in pure Spanish accent, even "JUNG" for "YOUNG" and the music was pure C..P. I wasted my time and my money.

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Karl said...

Posted on Mar 21 2011 11:19 Just watched the movie last night, and it goes down in my film history as worst film ever. It is an over indulgent self pitiful load of crap and has no depth to it and is badly acted directed and written. The countries and people that she meets are as shallow and 1d as she is. This was Terrrrrrrrrrrrrrrible.

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Deec said...

Posted on Feb 21 2011 20:40 This film was awful. The close up of Julia Roberts eating spaghetti was dire. It took 2 attempts to watch this film and still did not see it all.

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Graham Fairclough said...

Posted on Feb 12 2011 00:26 I've now seen this film four times, mostly due to American AIrlines' lack of choice and rotation. I can vouch that it doesn't become more meaningful or interesting with each repeat viewing. I like Julia Roberts, but this is a dreary, pointless and seemingly mostly plotless film. Do something else with your time and money instead.

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Mike said...

Posted on Nov 25 2010 02:27 Finally, they made a movie that lets women know what a guy feels like having to endure a chick flick.

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Anne said...

Posted on Oct 19 2010 13:50 This is the worst film I can ever remember seeing - and felt like the longest. Please let me feel my time wasn't wasted - spare yourself from seeing it! Wish someone had said that to me.

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christine said...

Posted on Oct 12 2010 22:19 Sorry I had to mention "While trying to get pregnant,..." - Has this reviewer actually seen the film? There is no mention of that in the plot at all? I didnt think it was a good movie by at least be accurate. Or is this perhaps in the book?

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Jenny said...

Posted on Oct 12 2010 19:17 Please ignore Tigger's review. I love a feel good film, but this was beyond dire. Just appalling. Agree with Richard L and virtually all others - this is a film to be avoided at all costs. Alfredo is spot on.

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tigger said...

Posted on Oct 11 2010 21:40 At last a film which is just FUN without gratuitous violence and/or sex. Four of us went and all agreed it was just a good night out full of cheerfulness. we do not want to go out to be depressed. More good fun films please

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scrumpyjack said...

Posted on Oct 09 2010 03:10 Cheers, Mike. I was not implying YOU had personally, but I can see how you may have thought that. I'll rephrase, if anyone reported my post of 30/9 please tell me what offended you about it, or, if TO removed it, why? I HONESTLY do not know what I said in it that could be considered inappropriate.
Many genuine thanks.

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ALFREDO said...

Posted on Oct 08 2010 22:13 WHOEVER HAS READ ANTHONY'S COMMENT IS PROBABLY STILL IN SHOCK. WE ALL THANK GOD THAT THERE ARE NAIVE AND SIMPLE SOULS LIKE ANTHONY'S AROUND BUT THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MOVIE BUSINESS. I GREW UP IN THE MOVIE INDUSTRY, ANTHONY, AND BECAME A FILM-BUFF MYSELF . SO, BELIEVE ME, THIS IS A VERY BAD MOVIE AND THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BRITISH MORALS OR ENGLISH ZEITGEIST. IT'S JUST BAD SCREENWRITING AND ASSUMING THAT STEREOTYPES ARE GOING TO WORK ONE MORE TIME. OK?.

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Anthony said...

Posted on Oct 08 2010 18:52 This is a very beautful, well-made film full of emotion and things to enjoy and above all it is a film about a real story of a remarkable and wise woman,
The stupid comments here make me sick and says enough about the sorry state our society is in. This would have been considered a masterpiece 40 years
ago but in present society there is only interest for
fast action and vulgarity, as these reviews show, at least in Britain.

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Mike said...

Posted on Oct 08 2010 18:39 No, Scrumpyjack, I didn't report you. I noticed you were very direct, but I don't think that's wrong, particularly when a TO review was so wide of the audience reviews.

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