Jan Wahl Movie Review: 'Mozart's Sister'
(KCBS) - Jan Wahl reviews René Féret's 'Mozart's Sister' and 'I Don't Know How She Does It' starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Pierce Brosnan and Christina Hendricks.
MOZART'S SISTER (not rated)
Mozart had an older sibling. Together the family of four traveled around Europe demonstrating the genius of the boy wonder. History and diaries of the time show us that Mozart's ambitious father took his two children and wife through hardships, rough roads and surroundings...but got the gifted child noticed… and the rest is musical history. What is not known is that Mozart's older sister often helped the boy genius compose and always was an equally important part of their success. She had the huge disadvantage of being a female at a time women could not be educated, play violin, write music, everything she longed for and her immense talent demanded. The movie is too long, not bright and vibrant like Amadeus, but still a solid look at the times and the people. In French with English subtitles. Three hats.
I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT (PG-13)
She does it very badly. If I was making an expensive commercial recommending that women do not work out of the house, this would be it. Except it as entertainment, it is as messy as Sarah Jessica Parker's dirty hair and odorous home. Even two really fine actors like Greg Kinnear and Pierce Brosnan cannot save this. Parker is a working mother of two who wants to be the perfect mother, wife and worker. Everyone props up her life as she makes lists, misses childhood moments, wows a sexy new colleague and lives a life of offensive fiction. If I'm watching this, I'm thinking, hire a man, no problems. Christina Hendricks of Mad Men was at first terrific and then sunk into cliche. Shockingly bad and a real disappointment for Parker fans, there is no reason to see this film. Not a hat, not a visor, not anything.
SEE RIGHT NOW:
THE HELP, THE DEBT, MY IDIOT BROTHER, SARAH'S KEY, THE WHISTLEBLOWER, CHASING MADOFF
DVD/HOME VIDEO:
X MEN: FIRST CLASS, POM PRESENTS: THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER SOLD
You can hear KCBS Entertainment Editor Jan Wahl's movie reviews on KCBS All News 740AM and 106.9FM Fridays at 8:53am & 4:53pm.
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