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Movie Description
Sidda Walker (Sandra Bullock), who is high on life--about to marry Connor (Angus MacFadyen) and flushed with success because her new play is about to open on Broadway--gives an unguarded interview to TIME Magazine. After reading the interview, Sidda's mother, Vivi (Ellen Burnstein), is so livid that she disowns Sidda, takes down her pictures, and refuses to attend her daughter's wedding. Trying to heal the rift between mother and daughter, Vivi's best friends, Caro (Maggie Smith), Teensy (Fionnula Flanagan), and Necie (Shirley Knight), go to New York, take Sidda to dinner, slip her a Mickey Finn, and spirit her off to Louisiana.
First-time director Callie Khouri (writer of THELMA AND LOUISE) uses an intricate series of flashbacks to slowly reveal the DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA-YA SISTERHOOD, which is based on the book by Rebecca Wells. The flashbacks are triggered by a scrapbook that Caro, Teensy, and Necie show Sidda. The scrapbook chronicles the hopes, dreams and disappointments that they shared with Vivi. Standouts in the great cast are Ashley Judd, as the younger Vivi, and Maggie Smith as the feisty Caro.
Industry Reviews
"...Sweet and gently wise-ass....Burstyn, Flanagan, Smith and Knight are delightful screen presences..."
Box Office - p.61 - Sheri Linden (08/01/2002)
"...[Burstyn] radiates energy....[Sidda Lee] gives the most touching performance in the film..."
Sight and Sound - p.43 - Gilda Williams (11/01/2002)
"...Ms. Burstyn turns in the most focused performance....The actress has always had a sure instinct for locating her characters' humanity, and what she finds in Vivi is a luminous, aching fragility..."
New York Times - p.E1 - Stephen Holden (06/07/2002)
"...The movie is entertaining....Ellen Burstyn is right on the mark..."
USA Today - p.1E - Claudia Puig (06/07/2002)
"...The revelations come in carefully apportioned morsels....Flanagan is the picture's real scene-stealer..."
Variety - p.27 - Todd McCarthy (05/13/2002)
"...Always warm, accessible and rich in emotional life....This film is strong when and where it needs to be, in its ability to convey heartfelt sentiments and portray the power of a very particular kind of sisterhood..."
Los Angeles Times - p.C1 - Kenneth Turan (06/07/2002)
"...[Judd] shows true grit..."
Rolling Stone - p.115 - Peter Travers (07/04/2002)
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