Page 22 THE VILLADOM TIMES I & III • August 25, 2010 ‘Eat Pray Love’ is woman’s journey of self-discovery by Dennis Seuling “Eat Pray Love,” based on the best-selling memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert, stars Julia Roberts as Liz, a recently divorced young woman who finds herself rudderless after not being in a relationship with a man for the first time since she was 15. The movie follows her attempts to find inner peace over the course of one year with extended stays in three countries. The viewer meets Liz pre-divorce in Bali, where ninthgeneration medicine man Ketut (Hadi Subiyonto), a charming, toothless fellow who picks up on Liz’s sadness, tells her things will get bad before getting better. He predicts she will return to Bali. Liz discovers that she wants out of her marriage to Stephen (Billy Crudup), even though he is a nice guy who is devoted to her. Her dissatisfaction strikes an odd note. She never says, “I don’t love you anymore,” and Stephen is not a philanderer, drug addict, murderer, or abuser. All she says is, “I don’t want to be married anymore.” That is the root of the problem with “Eat Pray Love.” Because the breathtaking Julia Roberts is on screen, it’s easy to go along for the ride, but Liz’s motivations are never clear, and one wonders why she would go to the extreme of divorce without solid reasons. What there is of Liz’s rationale is brought out in dialogue with best pal Delia (Viola Davis), whose thoughtful, no-nonsense reasoning is the exact dramatic opposite of Liz’s dreamy, head-in-the-clouds malaise. After her divorce, Liz quickly enters into a relationship with actor David (James Franco) and is happy for a while, but ultimately starts to feel that old restlessness. This time, the man in her life is pretty cool, so again the viewer is left wondering why she can’t find happiness. Liz decides to travel the world, making extended stops in Italy, India, and Indonesia. In Italy, she casts aside calorie counting and indulges in pasta, pizza, and gelato, while meeting and enjoying a new circle of friends. In India, she goes to an ashram and attempts to find balance and inner tranquility through spirituality. Fellow ashram attendee Richard (Richard Jenkins) is initially judgmental, but eventually becomes a friend to Liz and shares his own tale of heartache in an Oscar-worthy performance. Finally, having indeed returned to Indonesia, she meets Felipe (Javier Bardem), a Brazilian whose exporting/ importing business is headquartered in Bali. Based on her Julia Roberts as Liz Gilbert and Javier Bardem as Felipe in a scene from ‘Eat Pray Love.’ divorce and failed post-divorce affair, Liz is reluctant to enter into a commitment, though she is strongly attracted to Felipe Roberts flashes that wonderful smile enough to make the viewer happy, and her robust, full-throated laugh is absolutely disarming. These are qualities that endear Liz, who is on the surface not a terribly sympathetic character. Because it’s Julia Roberts, the viewer can set aside a lot of misgivings about Liz, particularly her unaccounted-for failure to be happy in a life many would admire. However, the script is weakened by inadequate character motivation. Bardem is a scruffy, unconventional leading man. Not handsome in the traditional sense, he brings a good deal of passion to his performance, and his Felipe is far more grounded than Liz. He really shines in a scene in which he has to bid farewell to his 19-year-old son (TJ Power) who has come to visit him. Though his son is full-grown, Felipe sheds tears and hugs and kisses him without shame. Felipe is clearly decent and goodhearted. Viewers know he is the man for Liz well before she does. My only criti- cism of Bardem is that he often mumbles his lines. This, in combination with his accent, makes his dialogue tough to understand. “Eat Pray Love” is too well made to be dismissed as a mere chick flick, though I’m sure women will comprise its major audience. The film is well directed by Ryan Murphy. Roberts is radiant as usual, and her star power elevates a story about the imperfection of rich woman’s life to a grown-up version of “The Wizard of Oz.” Like Dorothy, Liz visits new lands and encounters new friends, but longs for more. 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