Strong and Moving!

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

I really wish that the "lack" of in your face drama that everyone acknowledges, highlights, and finds to be so refreshing could be understated, as it's obvious to anyone who finds this film. We have to look past that and into frankly, well, why was that refreshing; don't tell me it's because well, "you really don't see that often?" So then: the scenes for me are Glenn Close and her professional attempts to reach her lover; and all the unprofessional waiting, crying, and looking to tarot cards for fun/help. Now I find the subtlety here: in her facial changes as Calista Flockheart slowly begins to ID her too accurately. She has such easy, confident, and sincerely a little arrogant, disbelief in the first few expected "insights", e.g. she tells her, "You're not happy." But slowly her slight grin becomes forced and then gone as she is there, more and more exposed; to an eventual moment of real quiet desperation as she tries to convince Flockhearts character that she may be "unsure" that the predicted "man that is about to enter her life" isn't the one she's been trying to reach at work. It was only a few lines: she tries to link the prediction with the situation by explaining the man at work is also younger... "(By) a few years." And after she literally closes the door on her fortune teller, she sits internalizing, seeing for that moment, her fear. Of her approaching age in the tiny steps taken by her withered and helpless mother, her desperation in who's calling as the phone rings; but she does not answer that call, she sits, and in realization of the emotional plane crash that is herself, and that she is so lost at, and in, that moment: the things you can tell by looking at her. And I love the fact that there are no answers for her or for us as the scene ends, very "too real." And man, very "in your face."

...with the other user. On the contrary, I find Things You Can Tell... to be a very intense drama. Even I, being male, could easily identify with all the characters. The title says it all, you know what these characters feel and think just by looking at them, and it's done in a very subtle and under-acted way. I must agree, though, that I, too, was surprised by Cameron Díaz; I knew all the other actresses to be first rate, but up until this movie, I'd always thought of Díaz as a dumb blonde; I'm glad she proved me wrong. I know a lot of Americans (and I'm NOT saying ALL) want big emotions, larger-than-life drama, and a lot of FX...but life isn't that way, life is like this movie: funny, touching, sad, lonely, full of love and, yes, even repressed. 10/10

Things You Can Tell Just By Looking At Her spins a beautiful and compelling tale of interwoven stories about six different and extraordinary women who have reach an emotional crossroads and each must weigh the choices so to embrace their futures.The simplicity of the tale is engaging. The way the characters read each other, either by tarot cards, an encounter with a bag person, or their interpretation of a situation, showing the two sides of the coin - the 'looker' and the 'lookee' Each story segment brings its own magic. Holly Hunter exceeds herself (those who have seen it will know when) and personal Calista Flockhart and Valeria Golino create and portray the most meaningful and moving section.This is a must watch, writer-director Garcia brings this no frills story to life with steady pacing and unpredictable turns. The cast is perfectly chosen and bring their own elements to make the characters that little bit more believable.

This is a wonderful film. A surprise that I found in a corner of the video shop. Is is well acted and directed, with good rythm, and with characters that are very well sketched. It shows how difficult it is to love, to show love, to keep it going, for women that live in the present world. Responsible, intelligent, working women, that try to find an answer to their crave for love and understanding.