Great cast of actors who are called on to make any number of unbelievable lines and actions believable. You so want this to work with the production values and the cast but the script is just impossible. Yes, of course the intelligent art professor is going to have an affair with the ladies man Italian professor who is notorious for sleeping with students, including one in her own class. High-minded student mouths off at her professor and the professor takes it as a matter of course with no repercussions. Lover of professor from California drops in and assumes they are engaged even though she says she's not sure. Professor is invited to an inner-sanctum sorority event and she not only goes but also proceeds to reveal the details of her private life to the girls. Mouthy student writes searing editorial attacking the professor and when professor delivers heartfelt feminist lecture, the students suddenly gets sad and contrite.and they are best friends forever. And what is Marcia Gay Harden doing playing a one level stereotypical pathetic-ditzy-spinster teacher? What a waste.

Women deserve better movies than this. Vapid, superficial. Some moments play out like a Julia Roberts' photo-op: teeth, smile, pout, tears. Emoting is not enough. One never gains a sense that Katherine Watson experiences any personal connection or passion for the subject she teaches. Characters are more like advertisement than three dimensional. Lacking depth. As if stereotypes could replace meaningfulness. Could have been a compelling movie that captured an era and expressed real stories of real women. Ginnifer Goodwin is the better part of this disaster. Would love to see an authentic treatment of the subject, which would require inquiry with actual people of the period. Disappointing. Missed opportunity.

This film tells the story of a young teacher of art history who teaches in an ultraconservative female private school. Through their ideas, she will discuss the school's rigid moral and the rules of the society of fifties, managing to earn the respect of his colleagues and the affection of the students. Directed by Mike Newell, this movie features Julia Roberts as the protagonist and Kirsten Dunst in the role of a conservative student, who will lead the opposition to the modern ideas concerning women.This film could be just another film about the private schools of American rich kids if it were three important factors that make the difference: the first is the good performance of Julia Roberts, even better than in other more acclaimed films; the second is the song "The Heart of Every Girl" composed by Sir Elton John purposely for the film and winner of a Golden Globe; the third is the screenplay, very well written and directed, focusing not only in the change of mind of the students but also in the drastic change of the role of women during the twentieth century.Despite the positive notes, this movie has two serious defects. The first is that it is too similar to the movie "Dead Poets Society". So similar that all those who watch this film without paying attention will think it is just a female version of the film starring Robin Williams. The second flaw in this movie is too much focus on the fights between girls, which only served to lighten the film and remove maturity to the plot. Maybe it was because of these small defects that the film never reached a higher level of recognition and reputation: contrary to "The Dead Poets Club" (comparisons are inevitable), this film didn't received major awards or nominations. Nevertheless, it's truly remarkable and deserves place in the living room of any lover of good cinema.

In 1953, free spirited and non-orthodox art history teacher Katherine Ann Watson (Julia Roberts) accepts the challenge of teaching in the conservative Wellesley College. She leaves her boy-friend Paul Moore (John Slattery) in California and share a house with the teacher Nancy Abbey (Marcia Gay Harden) and the nurse Amanda (Juliet Stevenson). On the first day, her class fails under the leadership of the arrogant Betty Warren (Kirsten Dunst) and her friends Joan Brandwyn (Julia Stiles) and Giselle Levy (Maggie Gyllenhaal), but Katherine is advised by her mates and the Italian teacher Bill Dunbar (Dominic West) to not fear the students. Soon Katherine learns that the girls are only waiting to catch Mr. Nice Guy and get married and she fights against the status- quo of Wellesley and to keep her independence."Mona Lisa Smile" is an entertaining movie about a woman living ahead of time in a conservative environment. The performances are top-notch, highlighting Julia Roberts, Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles and Maggie Gyllenhaal. I bought this DVD many years ago and only today I have seen this movie recommended by a friend of mine. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): "O Sorriso de Mona Lisa" ("The Smile of Mona Lisa")