Georgia Rule
Oct 18, 2007 at 11:55 PM 
Okay, don't lash out at me...
but I just watched Georgia Rule...
and it wasn't that bad.
I mean, something was definitely very off about it, but I can't figure out what it was. The writing was pretty good... so maybe it was the acting. Or it could've just been the timing, which might mean it was directing.
I guess the reason I'm writing this is because I'm learning something about myself. As soon as someone becomes the underdog and has the cards stacked against them, I go soft and begin to root for them. With regards to this movie, I'm talking about Lindsay Lohan. She was pretty much blamed for this flop, but two other actresses were standing right beside her (Academy Award-winning, nonetheless) and they should be held just as responsible. (And let's not forget a director with a great track record.)
I'm not saying Lindsay Lohan's performance was amazing by any means. If you imagine a young Julia Roberts spewing out her lines, with all of her red-headed attitude and genuine vulnerability, you can envision how great it could've been. But I also didn't buy any of Jane Fonda's "Georgia rule-Jesus" crap. It just wasn't believable, not coming from her. As for Felicity Huffman, she had one or two good scenes, but the rest were forgettable. In fact, the cheesiest scene in this movie (in my opinion) was one at the end with her and her husband, a scene in which neither Lindsay Lohan or Jane Fonda appeared.
I don't know... maybe the story is the reason it flopped. It's kinda screwed up. It has to do with incest but it's also kind of a comedy, which is weird.
All I'm saying is that, in all fairness, it's wrong to blame this failure alone on LiLo alone. I mean, you always hear about this movie, and the one thing people seem to say about it is that she's the one who fucked it up. To repeat what I mentioned above, maybe the reason I'm going soft on her is because people are ripping on her now and saying her career is over, but I can see see glimpses of greatness in this movie that were never fully actualized on screen and I don't think it's entirely her fault.
If you've seen this movie, I'm interested to hear your thoughts. If you haven't, spend the $4 to rent it and let me know what you think.
PS - Two favorite lines...
"For a smart girl, you're good at dumb."
"I'm gonna go buy booze, busy budy."
Reader Comments (12)
Karyn, I recently had a "i'm laying on the couch all day and am gonna watch lame chick flicks" kind of day, one of which was Georgia Rule. I automatically expect these movies to pretty ordinary, but i didnt mind it. you are right, the timing was a bit off, but all in all, was better than expected.
Fav. part of the movie:
"Okay, see, I tried to be nice, but let me put this a different way because you're not really getting it right now. If you call me a name, if you throw something at me- ever again!- if I see you talking to Harlan, yelling at Harlan, having anything AT ALL to do with Harlan, I will find all of your boyfriends and I will f*** them stupid. Okay? Get it? Thanks guys."
- I actually believe Lindsay would say this threat in real life...
I only made it half way through the movie. It was just too painful to watch. Did the stepdad really molest her or was she just making it up?
I know it's not all about Lindsay but one of the reasons the movie bothered me was because it felt like I was just watching Lindsay Lohan. I could not get lost in the character because it felt like she was not acting at all.
Also, that incest storyline is fine and all but they should have maybe hinted at that in the ads for the movie. At least I read a review before hand and was prepared, but for the people who didn't it kind of came out of left field. I have more than one friend who was thinking 'what the f$#@!' when the plot turned that way.
"I felt like I was just watching Lindsay Lohan. I could not get lost in the character because it felt like she was not acting at all."
I totally agree . The character was so close the public perception of her that it was hard.
I feel the same way with regards to Jane Fonda though, but for different reasons. She's Jane Fonda and I can't get past that, especially when I see her try to play some Jesus-loving grandma. I don't mean this to be mean, but when I look at her, I can tell she's been nipped and tucked, and that grandma would not have been. Like it doesn't bother me when she's in a movie like Monster-in-law, but her playing this grandma just didn't work for me.
Also, I forgot to mention this: Did it bother anyone else how made up they all were? They had a pound of makeup on even when they were supposed to look natural. I think Lindsay had fake eyelashes on the entire movie. It was so irritating how perfect her hair always was, like on the boat, she looked like she was going to a red-carpet event. I mean, there's "unkempt" and there's "I worked really hard to make my hair look unkempt." She fell into the second category in this movie.
Now I HAVE to see it. I'm v. glad to hear the incest warning, though, cause i had no idea
I JUSt bought this movie last week!
previously viewed of course.
and i was basically on the same boat as you. I found the movie to be entertaining, it had it's laugh out loud moments. BUT the big issue was how the story was formed. The ending was rather confusing with the whole "i lied, no i didn't. yes i did" sorta thing.
And LeLo's character just to me seemed so ... mimicked. after herself of course!
-Karin
I had the chance to watch this movie as an in flight movie from OH to CA! I was excited b/c it's one I was interested in seeing, but would probably never rent! The movie was ok, but I was definitly expecting more comedy, not a dramatic molestation! I was shocked and as previously said: It felt like watching LiLo's real life, not a character! I will agree she was not the only one making this movie a flop!
Wow, lots of strong reactions towards this movie.
I saw it (actually paid for the theater ticket and all!) and all I can remember, is all those cute white dresses LiLo wore... and me thinking, I gotta get me a dress like that!!
Ha ha ha, that's how memorable I thought the movie was.
I agree with everything you're all saying. I quite liked the movie, except for the incest story line. I thought the casting was the problem - the actors didnt really fit the profiles of their characters - I'm not sure the flop of this movie was all to do with Lilo.
I just finished this movie and I was bored to tears! Not worth the $4.00 I paid to see it....
well i have to say i was pleasantly surprised...granted i watched it on a 12 hour flight to Thailand ( we all know how desperate long-haul can get) but it was mildly entertaining. THe thing is, although we all say Lohan is a tragically pathetic bla bla bla; there is something that makes you want to watch/judge her