Lettres à Juliette

Vanessa Redgrave plays fast and loose with the math. So much that she has to claim to have met the Franco Nero character when she was fifteen. Was it a relationship with Franco Nero or Roman Polanski? Amanda Seyfried is easy to watch. Again she plays a Sophie, this time she doesn't sing. Redgrave is reunited with Franco Nero, this time they don't sing. ("Camelot") Christopher Egan is the weak link in the acting department. He comes across as a stand in for Ryan Phillippe. The balcony scene at the end is too contrived and the set looked fake. The movie is harmless. A pleasant enough travel log of Italy, the kind they don't show in theaters anymore. If you dragged your girl friend to "Iron Man 2" consider this the make-up movie.

The big names here are vanessa redgrave and gael bernal. In our story, sophie (amanda seyfried) travels to verona, italy, land of romeo and juliette, with her boyfriend. When she sees girls taking the letters off the wall, she meets the ladies who respond to all the letters with addresses left there. The secretaries of juliet. When she finds a very old letter, she responds, and actually meets the writer. And the writer's grandson, who is skeptical of the whole thing. And they try to find the lover from years back for the grandmother. Interesting note... redgraves's actual husband also appears in this; and they had a similar story. They had met, were separated, and married years later. Very well done. Directed by gary winick; the last film he directed. Sadly, he died the next year from cancer and pneumonia. Story by Jose Rivera, Tim Sullivan.

The scenery from Verona to Sienna to the Italian country side to the hotels and vineyards is really beautiful. This alone is worth watching the movie for. The main problem is the cast. Vanessa Redgrave is supposed to be 65 in the movie but she is and looks years older than that. Her hair style isn't right for an older lady. Amanda Seyfried acts sweet but her eyes are too bulgy and contrast with Chris Egan's small beady eyes. Could they have chosen a more unromantic lead as Chris Egan? He is not good looking enough. Gael Garcia looked like a gnome. There is no chemistry between Amanda and either man. The story is enjoyable and brings us in search of Vanessa's old love through the Italian countryside. It's just the cast isn't watchable.

This movie is a cute and heart warming film, and a guilty pleasure of mine. The scenery is beautiful and Christopher Egan and Amanda Seyfried are exceptional. I love the beginning, where different art representing Romeo and Juliet is displayed; I think it's clever and a wonderful setup for the film. You can't help feeling a little frustrated with Victor at times, but come to the conclusion that he is not a bad person; he is very passionate, but blind, and just not right for Sophie. Sophie is a charming and caring woman, and this whole movie just warms my heart. All in all, this movie is great for watching on a relaxing day.