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Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)
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Reviews Counted:141
Fresh:87
Rotten:54
Average Rating:6.2/10
Consensus: Though formulaic and superficial, Under the Tuscan Sun is redeemed by Lane's vibrant performance.
Theatrical Release:Sep 26, 2003 Wide
Box Office: $43,452,354
Synopsis: Who hasn't dreamed at least once of running off to a foreign country and starting a new life? That's exactly what Frances (Diane Lane) does in UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN, directed by Audrey Wells... Who hasn't dreamed at least once of running off to a foreign country and starting a new life? That's exactly what Frances (Diane Lane) does in UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN, directed by Audrey Wells (GUINEVERE). Traveling in Tuscany after a heart-wrenching divorce, Frances surprises herself by making an offer on a rundown villa--the biggest impulse purchase of her life. With the help of a warmhearted, smitten real estate agent and a local contractor with a team of Polish workers, her 300-year-old house is slowly transformed into a home. Along the way, she encounters a larger-than-life British ex-patriot, kind and generous neighbors, and a charming Italian man or two. Essentially, the film is an affirmation that good things can happen if one lets them--and that sometimes what seems like a terrible mistake or a crazy idea is a really a blessing. Lane is completely engaging as Frances, second-guessing her speedy purchase, looking for love, and rediscovering herself. Based on the book by Frances Mayes, the film was shot on location in Rome, Florence, Positano, and Cortona in Italy. The breathtaking scenery is sure to have viewers saving their pennies for next year's vacation--or their Tuscan dream house. [More]
Starring: Diane Lane, Lindsay Duncan, Sandra Oh, Raoul Bova
Starring: Diane Lane, Lindsay Duncan, Sandra Oh, Raoul Bova, Vincent Riotta
Director: Audrey Wells
Director: Audrey Wells
Screenwriter: Audrey Wells
Producer: Tom Sternberg, Audrey Wells
Composer: Christophe Beck
Studio: Touchstone Pictures
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Release:
Feb 3, 2004
Reviews for Under the Tuscan Sun
It's as scattered as a painting by Jackson Pollock, as forgettable as a mid-season replacement sitcom on UPN, as moving as a boulder, and as predictable as a self-flushing toilet. It's The Lizzie McGuire Movie for middle-aged folk.
You won't learn anything about Italian culture that hasn't already reverberated throughout the west
A virtual case study of Hollywood's irrepressible urge to lower the bar in the hopes of upping the take.
a romantic abomination wherein the main character's best friend is a pregnant Asian lesbian who comes to Italy to visit and ends up ruining the story's only semi-romantic aspect, and extends its painful length for an extra half-hour in the process.
The lesson? No matter what you think, you will never be happy without a hunk.
Under the Tuscan Sun goes for the picture postcard look-and-feel and it succeeds admirably, a flighty contrivance that's thin, lightweight, and instantly disposable.
Has about as much in common with Frances Mayes as it does with Willie Mays, but it does have the marvelous Diane Lane.
Latest News for Under the Tuscan Sun
July 28, 2005:
RT Critical Consensus: "Sky High" Soars, "Stealth" Crashes, and Diane Lane and John Cusack Go Dateless
The willing suspension of disbelief is often essential to the moviegoing experience. This week's wide releases provide no such relief. We will be asked to believe that a fighter... More...
March 11, 2005:
Audrey Wells to do Some Rearranging Over at Touchstone
More...
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 15% 15% | The Ugly Truth |
| 98% 98% | Up |
| 36% 36% | G.I. Joe: The Rise of … |
| 52% 52% | The Taking of Pelham 1… |
| 45% 45% | Ice Age: Dawn of the D… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 68% 68% | Funny People |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| 45% 45% | Shorts |
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