I actually watched this movie twice. It wasn't on purpose I just forgot what I was watching until about 20 minutes in and then I didn't mind watching it again. The film isn't great but was a good movie. The plot was kind of out there and you kept wanting more of the sex but that is not what this film was actually about. This is more of a drama and the end is kind of sweet really. The acting is not bad either. Most of the actors are not well known but I knew two of them. If you have some time check this film out but don't expect a comdey.
38 Reviews
unknowable nature
SnoopyStyle8 June 2017
Gabriella D'Arc (Jennifer Connelly) left the semester for her sick granny and hasn't returned. Michael (Patrick Dempsey) is overjoyed to be invited to meet her family in Quebec City for her birthday over Christmas. Her eccentric atheist father writes in the nude. There are her sisters Simone and Irenka. Irenka's boyfriend is handyman Nick. They're joined by Father Walter, Gabby's religious mother's former love. Michael is discombobulated after quickly insulting Gabby's mom by expressing sympathy and Gabby telling him that, "I'm not in love with you anymore." It's a week of strange family drama. Granny is delusional and thinks that he is her husband Michael.
This is a cold movie and I don't mean the snowy Quebec City. Jennifer Connelly is an enchanting mercurial presence. I don't like her character in this movie. Patrick Dempsey is a pathetic puppy chasing after her. While I don't like his character either, I certainly understand him. Damn, the girl is hot, but most of this movie leaves me cold. It's definitely not actually funny. It's the unknowable nature of women and it leaves me unsatisfied.
This is a cold movie and I don't mean the snowy Quebec City. Jennifer Connelly is an enchanting mercurial presence. I don't like her character in this movie. Patrick Dempsey is a pathetic puppy chasing after her. While I don't like his character either, I certainly understand him. Damn, the girl is hot, but most of this movie leaves me cold. It's definitely not actually funny. It's the unknowable nature of women and it leaves me unsatisfied.
Not quite as eccentric or meaningful as it wants to be
jimcheva24 January 2021
In struggling to decide what this film wants to be but never quite is, the best I could come up with was a Noah Baumbach film. Quirky but not quiet quirky enough to feel original. Tracing what is basically an internal personal journey only to where exactly or why is never clear. Dealing with eccentric characters who might be colorful and entertaining but in fact seem self-involved and annoying. Probably the most interesting thing about the movie is seeing Patrick Dempsey looking way more like Jesse Eisenberg than anyone resembling the (apparently) dreamy lead he is today. Which prompts me to think that the film has hints of "Adventureland" as well, but without that film's clarity.
The film is fiction, the family is real!
ajkandy16 February 2000
The family in Some Girls are the Taylors of Montreal...the screenwriter actually dated one of the Taylor sisters and fictionalized them into this movie...The father is actually world-famous philosopher and McGill U. professor Charles Taylor. Their late mother *was* very Catholic...and the legendary house is real- an old wooden Metcalfe Avenue mansion, in Westmount- since sold, but still there. Of course, this film annoys them to no end - so don't mention it if you're invited to
Pretty light story.
Emerenciano11 November 2002
It's difficult to define "Some Girls" genre because it's a mix of romance, drama and comedy. The story may seem dull in the beginning, but it gets interesting and beautiful as the scenes go by. Patrick Dempsey, who could be working more nowadays, plays Michael, a young boy who travels to Europe to see his girlfriend Gab (Jennifer Connelly). Once he's there, he meets her eccentric father, weird mother and her two beautiful and sexy sisters Irenka (Sheila Kelley) and Simone (Ashley Greenfield).
Though Gab is the girlfriend, she's always away, what leaves the way clean for Simone and Irenka to seduce Michael.
Everything is told in a light way, but sexuality and seduction are always present in this movie.
My Rate 7/10
Though Gab is the girlfriend, she's always away, what leaves the way clean for Simone and Irenka to seduce Michael.
Everything is told in a light way, but sexuality and seduction are always present in this movie.
My Rate 7/10
Good movie, surprised at all the very negative reviews
unionjack-4190922 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I found this to be a solidly enjoyable, if not great film, and I'm surprised at the very negative reviews and also the relative obscurity of this movie. Michael, a college student, travels to Quebec City to spend the Christmas season with his maybe yes, maybe no girlfriend Gabby. There he stays with her quirky, wealthy family. Well, maybe quirky isn't the right word so much as semi-incestuous.
Michael does make both an emotional connection and a sexual connection during his visit, but neither with Gabby. The emotional connection comes with the grandmother and the sexual connection comes with Gabby's older sister. I found Michael to be a likeable, relatable character and I enjoyed seeing his journey over the course of the movie and shared in his frustrations.
The film is gorgeously set in a snow-covered Quebec City during outdoor scenes and the home that the family lives in is decorated like a medieval church. Kudos to them for choosing such memorable and unique visual images.
Where my rating goes down is with the ultimate message and meaning of the film. I came away not quite sure what the film was trying to say. There is a scene towards the end between the father of the family and Michael where they are basically shrugging their shoulders and saying "hey...women...just can't figure them out, am I right?" which I found to be disappointing. The three sisters are clearly meant to be associated with the Three Graces of classic myth, but again, I'm not sure why or what they were trying to say. Perhaps the three sisters (and perhaps the mother and grandmother) were all so intermingled and connected that it was impossible to love just one of them? That's the best I've got.
I do recommend that people track this one down as I did ultimately enjoy watching it. And I do mean track it down because it's not easy to find. I only found out the film existed because I'm doing a deep dive into Jennifer Connelly's filmography, and yes, she is quite lovely in this one.
Michael does make both an emotional connection and a sexual connection during his visit, but neither with Gabby. The emotional connection comes with the grandmother and the sexual connection comes with Gabby's older sister. I found Michael to be a likeable, relatable character and I enjoyed seeing his journey over the course of the movie and shared in his frustrations.
The film is gorgeously set in a snow-covered Quebec City during outdoor scenes and the home that the family lives in is decorated like a medieval church. Kudos to them for choosing such memorable and unique visual images.
Where my rating goes down is with the ultimate message and meaning of the film. I came away not quite sure what the film was trying to say. There is a scene towards the end between the father of the family and Michael where they are basically shrugging their shoulders and saying "hey...women...just can't figure them out, am I right?" which I found to be disappointing. The three sisters are clearly meant to be associated with the Three Graces of classic myth, but again, I'm not sure why or what they were trying to say. Perhaps the three sisters (and perhaps the mother and grandmother) were all so intermingled and connected that it was impossible to love just one of them? That's the best I've got.
I do recommend that people track this one down as I did ultimately enjoy watching it. And I do mean track it down because it's not easy to find. I only found out the film existed because I'm doing a deep dive into Jennifer Connelly's filmography, and yes, she is quite lovely in this one.
Strangely quirky and yet irritating.
mark.waltz11 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Okay, perhaps the writers of this story of a fictionalized version of a real family who lived in Montreal meant well, but the bizarre set of sisters, mother, father, grandmother and selected friends will not be for everyone's taste. Patrick Dempsey is a high school student in love with the somewhat fickle Jennifer Connelly, dumped by her yet invited to her big estate, and later meeting with her aging grandmother played by the Academy award and Tony winning Lila Kedrova ("Zorba the Greek" and the Broadway revival, "Zorba"), sharing a bond with her because of his resemblance to her late husband. She keeps disappearing and showing up in the oddest of places. The relationship with her sisters and parents is strange and maker me wonder if they were all nuts.
I can understand this having somewhat of a cult following, but that won't be everyone's feeling about the film. Well meaning and often ambitious but that makes the film seem pretentious and even eye rolling at times. The family is often cold to Dempsey, and he's complete putty in their hands. The mother is rather cold, the father an eccentric nudist, the two other sisters rather undefined and granny sweet but lost somewhere else rather than on planet earth. I barely even felt a plot, just a bunch of bizarre vignettes and nothing to even warrant telling this story. A funny moment has a catholic priest shutting the door on Dempsey after finding out that he's not even catholic. So as cute as the film strives to be, it only succeeds in being too offbeat to truly enjoy.
I can understand this having somewhat of a cult following, but that won't be everyone's feeling about the film. Well meaning and often ambitious but that makes the film seem pretentious and even eye rolling at times. The family is often cold to Dempsey, and he's complete putty in their hands. The mother is rather cold, the father an eccentric nudist, the two other sisters rather undefined and granny sweet but lost somewhere else rather than on planet earth. I barely even felt a plot, just a bunch of bizarre vignettes and nothing to even warrant telling this story. A funny moment has a catholic priest shutting the door on Dempsey after finding out that he's not even catholic. So as cute as the film strives to be, it only succeeds in being too offbeat to truly enjoy.
Had Potential to Make a Statement
Snowgo1 August 2015
I would have done some things differently: I would have given Michael a more dynamic character. He seems flagellated and neutralized by the social forces around him, never coming to a dynamic stance.
I would have made the relationship between Michael and "Granny" the prime and motivating focus for the second half of the film. What should have happened was that Michael falls head-over-heels in love with "Granny", in a way that obliterates any desire he had for "Gabby" and her two sisters. At the end of the movie, Michael comments that his theories about women had all been bunk (I cleaned up the language). This was not convincingly demonstrated in the movie, even with his sparse, though sometimes intense interaction with "Granny".
Together, they could have inhabited a world of both fantasy and true caring. Their secret world would have proved a vital contrast to the frenetic eccentricism around them.
The relationship between Michael and "Granny" should have remained a secret between the two, as Michael is forced to pretend that everything is normal and that he still cares about schizophrenic "Gabby". In the end, Michael and "Granny" (does she have a name?) should have left, together. She should not have died, and the inclusion of her being committed to a (psychiatric?) hospital was in bad taste.
If I were her, I would have escaped multiple times and risked freezing to death in the woods, too: There are different ways to freeze to death. One way is to continue associating with a family (or friends) who do not care about you, nor respect your dreams and fantasies.
Michael is so clueless and impotent throughout most of the movie, however, that his feelings of love for "Granny" fall short of the transformation that could have been displayed. Dempsey's character actually reminded me, somewhat, of Shemp Howard.
Michael's passive character and the missed opportunity to focus on his and "Granny's" relationship meant the difference, for me, between issuing this film a 7 score, rather than an 8 or 9.
I would have made the relationship between Michael and "Granny" the prime and motivating focus for the second half of the film. What should have happened was that Michael falls head-over-heels in love with "Granny", in a way that obliterates any desire he had for "Gabby" and her two sisters. At the end of the movie, Michael comments that his theories about women had all been bunk (I cleaned up the language). This was not convincingly demonstrated in the movie, even with his sparse, though sometimes intense interaction with "Granny".
Together, they could have inhabited a world of both fantasy and true caring. Their secret world would have proved a vital contrast to the frenetic eccentricism around them.
The relationship between Michael and "Granny" should have remained a secret between the two, as Michael is forced to pretend that everything is normal and that he still cares about schizophrenic "Gabby". In the end, Michael and "Granny" (does she have a name?) should have left, together. She should not have died, and the inclusion of her being committed to a (psychiatric?) hospital was in bad taste.
If I were her, I would have escaped multiple times and risked freezing to death in the woods, too: There are different ways to freeze to death. One way is to continue associating with a family (or friends) who do not care about you, nor respect your dreams and fantasies.
Michael is so clueless and impotent throughout most of the movie, however, that his feelings of love for "Granny" fall short of the transformation that could have been displayed. Dempsey's character actually reminded me, somewhat, of Shemp Howard.
Michael's passive character and the missed opportunity to focus on his and "Granny's" relationship meant the difference, for me, between issuing this film a 7 score, rather than an 8 or 9.
Zorba (The Greek)
jcjccaz11 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Got here because I wanted to see Lila Kedrova. She was in Zorba the Greek and won the academy award for Zorba.
She is, again the best, by far a heavy weight compared to all in the movie. The anorexic daughter and the 17/18 year old Connelly making out and half naked like a 30 year old woman that has been around the block (disgusting) that no one should see. They are terrible actors and always have been. The movie made 80 dollars, for a reason.
What do you say about a hap hazard movie with children acting lines adults write for them. There is no feeling or passion in their acting.
Look at Kedrova and see the huge difference in acting. Even when she says nothing she far, far outweighs the other actors even when they were her age. They are typical actors born after 1959 and before 1980, give or take a couple years.
Don't watch unless you fast forward through it.
Example of why things are like they are in the world. The boyfriend (Dempsey) is seduced by his girlfriends sister and they are supposed to be a "close" family and she tells her sister about it before hand, really.
We, as a society, delved into a anti religious, anti-strong, anti-patriotic society into Europe, well, we can't do that because we are not an homogeneous society.
AND AS A SIDE AS A MAN we see an ugly Dempsey "being with" what most men would deem beautiful women and other men can't figure out women because of it.
Lastly, the asinine father walking around naked, really and him coming out asking Dempsey how many daughters he slept with, really and Dempsey character stays in the house, not happening.
I wrote much because you have to on this site.
God Bless!
P. S. The 2 stars are only for Lila Kedrova!!
She is, again the best, by far a heavy weight compared to all in the movie. The anorexic daughter and the 17/18 year old Connelly making out and half naked like a 30 year old woman that has been around the block (disgusting) that no one should see. They are terrible actors and always have been. The movie made 80 dollars, for a reason.
What do you say about a hap hazard movie with children acting lines adults write for them. There is no feeling or passion in their acting.
Look at Kedrova and see the huge difference in acting. Even when she says nothing she far, far outweighs the other actors even when they were her age. They are typical actors born after 1959 and before 1980, give or take a couple years.
Don't watch unless you fast forward through it.
Example of why things are like they are in the world. The boyfriend (Dempsey) is seduced by his girlfriends sister and they are supposed to be a "close" family and she tells her sister about it before hand, really.
We, as a society, delved into a anti religious, anti-strong, anti-patriotic society into Europe, well, we can't do that because we are not an homogeneous society.
AND AS A SIDE AS A MAN we see an ugly Dempsey "being with" what most men would deem beautiful women and other men can't figure out women because of it.
Lastly, the asinine father walking around naked, really and him coming out asking Dempsey how many daughters he slept with, really and Dempsey character stays in the house, not happening.
I wrote much because you have to on this site.
God Bless!
P. S. The 2 stars are only for Lila Kedrova!!
Could be perfect but turned to a mess
Saltyskid16 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
If you expecting a coming of age with Patrick Dempsey and jennifer connelly,this isn't for you
Everything was good.could be 10/10 with a comedy movie,but the Characters were messy.
Sex and kissing every where ,even they just met like 20 mins ?
Michael (Patrick Dempsey) started with his girl,then her sister then her granny and then her other sister for no reason at all ?
Gabby(jennifer Connelly) turned out to be super mercurial ?
But the jokes actually made me laugh. Worth some of your time.
Patrick Dempsey was brilliant in this movie,jennifer was hot but her Character was really unlikable I feel poor and empathetic with Michael in this movie.
Sex and kissing every where ,even they just met like 20 mins ?
Michael (Patrick Dempsey) started with his girl,then her sister then her granny and then her other sister for no reason at all ?
Gabby(jennifer Connelly) turned out to be super mercurial ?
But the jokes actually made me laugh. Worth some of your time.
Patrick Dempsey was brilliant in this movie,jennifer was hot but her Character was really unlikable I feel poor and empathetic with Michael in this movie.
What Happened Here Then.
johnnyhbtvs2712 January 2022
What did i just watch? I didn't understand 85% of this movie. Honestly one of the strangest films i've watched, the supernatural turn at the end was the straw that broke the camel's back, totally bizarre. Highlight of the movie? Patrick Dempsey running about in pyjamas that would make wee willy winkie blush. A waste of 94 minutes, pure tripe.
One of the sexiest and smartest American sex comedies of recent years.
NeelyO29 September 1998
American college student Patrick Dempsey travels to beautiful Quebec City to spend Christmas with girlfriend Jennifer Connelly, who informs him upon arrival that she's no longer in love with him. Spending the vacation with her eccentric family -- including nudist/Pascal expert Andre Gregory, staunch Catholic Florinda Balkan and the luscious Sheila Kelley -- teach him a thing or two about the mysteries of life, love and women.
Cleverly written and gorgeously mounted -- wait til you see that house -- "Some Girls" is the kind of offbeat and eccentric comedy that the French often do so well but Americans rarely attempt. Little-seen upon its initial release, the film has developed a well-deserved cult following.
Cleverly written and gorgeously mounted -- wait til you see that house -- "Some Girls" is the kind of offbeat and eccentric comedy that the French often do so well but Americans rarely attempt. Little-seen upon its initial release, the film has developed a well-deserved cult following.
Some Boy in Quebec
dflynch21510 April 2021
Watching Some Girls makes one wonder why more movies aren't filmed in Quebec. It's beautiful there! Young Patrick Dempsey has an adventurous time in Quebec where he's the guest of his girlfriend and her eccentric family. He's a fish out of water and clothing is optional. Some Girls is a pleasant film with impressive scenery and very colorful characters.
Outdated comedy for 20th Century
thilagaraj-9612123 May 2020
Truly A Work of Art...
grimes202025 April 2000
From its inception, the cinema has always attempted to identify itself as a form of art. While there can be little doubt that many movies over the years have indeed earned this claim, most films released in recent years would cause the viewer to wonder whether the images on the screen were indeed the work of an artistic director and cast, or simply bombardments of entertaining images aimed at mindless audiences eating stale popcorn. For those seeking to renew a confidence in the fading notion of the artistic motion picture, `Some Girls' (1988) is a must-see masterpiece.
`Some Girls' is the bizarre yet thoughtful comedy which centers in on the experiences of a young and naïve character named Michael, one of Patrick Dempsey's first roles. Michael is thrust into a whirlwind of confusion and emotion from the minute he arrives in Quebec to visit his girlfriend, Gabriella D'Arc, played by Jennifer Connelly, during Christmas break. He is immediately confronted with a dizzying array of bizarre events, beginning with an abrupt statement by Gabriella informing him that she is no longer in love with him, but nevertheless wishes for him to stay at the at the D'Arc's home (a chateau which is an architectural delight).
At dinner the first night, Michael is introduced to the rest of the D'Arc family, one of the most unusual and dysfunctional and families one could ever dream up. Michael's eyebrows are first raised when he meets Mr. D'Arc, a hilarious part played by Andre Gregory, Gabriella's perpetually naked father, who is an eccentric philosopher obsessed with the works of Pascal. He also meets Gabriella's strict Catholic mother, the family's priest, and Gabriella's two sisters, Simone and Irenka, played by Ashley Greenfield and Sheila Kelley, respectively.
The comedy develops as the sexually frustrated Michael continues to pursue Gabriella in a desperate attempt to regain her love, while unsuccessfully trying to fend off the constant advances of her two sisters seem to be more than willing to engage his appetite. More often than not, Michael finds himself in compromising (yet unfulfilled) situations with one or more of the three sisters, only to be caught, usually in the nude, by Mr. Or Mrs. D'Arc (or even worse, the dog, Beowulf). The story sharpens with an unexpected twist as Gabriella's maternal grandmother, played brilliantly by Lila Kedrova, is introduced. Granny, mentally and physically decrepit, escapes from her hospital into the wintry wilderness north of Montreal, which leads to an all out search and rescue operation undertaken by the family, with Michael tagging along for the ride.
In the end, it is Michael who finds Granny (or rather, Granny finds Michael), who confuses him with her late husband. In a series of scenes that are uncomfortable and yet compelling, Michael gains a new perspective on both nudity and love. Even though Granny seems confused about who Michael is, there is no mistaking the both the depth and simplicity of her words. While Michael's romantic mishaps and the D'Arc family's antics are enough to make the movie funny, the scenes with Granny are the ones that dominate the film and give it meaning.
Directed by Michael Hoffman, Mark Bentley, and Robert Redford, `Some Girls' is filled with more symbolism than any other movie in recent memory. The rich and profound imagery is a currency which is well spent throughout the entire film, all the way from the names in the film, (Beowulf, Lumiere, etc.) to the displays of classic works of art such as Unicorn tapestries. The most dominant symbol in the movie is Botticelli's `Three Graces,' a painting which graces the cover of the movie. The symbol is fully revealed in the last scene of the movie, where the camera pans up to the painting, which has served as the backdrop in the airport as Michael says goodbye. In that instant, the three D'Arc sisters are enveloped in the lore of the Three Graces of mythology, innocent goddesses of revelry and love; the personifications of feminine charm and beauty. Greek mythology ascribed to the Three Graces (or Charities) the creative power to inspire works of poetry and art. How fitting for a movie which is truly a work of art in and of itself.
`Some Girls' is not only rich in character and symbolism, however. It is also the canvas for a brilliantly woven set of themes, including love, sex, nudity, life, and death. Each of these themes, most notably nudity, is explored in great detail during the course of the film. Michael's quest for love brings him to a new understanding of the fine line between lust and true love, as is evidenced in the awkward scenes with Granny. Similarly, the prolific amount of scenes suggesting nudity address the many forms of nudity, from the intellectual and natural nudity of Mr. D'Arc, to the innocent yet meaningful undressing of Granny, to the hot and steamy revelations of each of the D'Arc sisters. One of the most powerful themes, however, is that of life and death, which is expressed in one of the most moving and unique death scenes ever filmed. As Granny closes the curtains, Michael, and the audience, learn what life, death, and love are truly all about. Similarly, Sanna Vraa gives a short but stunning performance as the young Granny, in a mysterious return at the grave which solidifies the story's lessons on life, death, and love.
As wonderfully compelling as this movie is, it should be viewed with a great deal of discretion. Young viewers, especially young teenagers, should be discouraged from seeing `Some Girls.' Also, those viewers whose standards are offended by constant references to sexuality and nudity would be wise to refrain from seeing `Some Girls.' The movie is rated `R' for a reason; the sexual content and themes are very provocative.
It is precisely because of this provocation that the movie is so worth seeing for the intended audience, mature viewers who have an appreciation for art, in all its forms, as well as an awareness and understanding of human nudity and sexuality. For those viewers, `Some Girls' is bound to not only be a delightful experience, but also one which is both challenging and rewarding. To them, a screening of `Some Girls' will seem like more of an evening spent in a truly artistic setting, such as a museum or opera, than just a crowded movie theater full of mindless spectators chomping away at that stale popcorn.
`Some Girls' is the bizarre yet thoughtful comedy which centers in on the experiences of a young and naïve character named Michael, one of Patrick Dempsey's first roles. Michael is thrust into a whirlwind of confusion and emotion from the minute he arrives in Quebec to visit his girlfriend, Gabriella D'Arc, played by Jennifer Connelly, during Christmas break. He is immediately confronted with a dizzying array of bizarre events, beginning with an abrupt statement by Gabriella informing him that she is no longer in love with him, but nevertheless wishes for him to stay at the at the D'Arc's home (a chateau which is an architectural delight).
At dinner the first night, Michael is introduced to the rest of the D'Arc family, one of the most unusual and dysfunctional and families one could ever dream up. Michael's eyebrows are first raised when he meets Mr. D'Arc, a hilarious part played by Andre Gregory, Gabriella's perpetually naked father, who is an eccentric philosopher obsessed with the works of Pascal. He also meets Gabriella's strict Catholic mother, the family's priest, and Gabriella's two sisters, Simone and Irenka, played by Ashley Greenfield and Sheila Kelley, respectively.
The comedy develops as the sexually frustrated Michael continues to pursue Gabriella in a desperate attempt to regain her love, while unsuccessfully trying to fend off the constant advances of her two sisters seem to be more than willing to engage his appetite. More often than not, Michael finds himself in compromising (yet unfulfilled) situations with one or more of the three sisters, only to be caught, usually in the nude, by Mr. Or Mrs. D'Arc (or even worse, the dog, Beowulf). The story sharpens with an unexpected twist as Gabriella's maternal grandmother, played brilliantly by Lila Kedrova, is introduced. Granny, mentally and physically decrepit, escapes from her hospital into the wintry wilderness north of Montreal, which leads to an all out search and rescue operation undertaken by the family, with Michael tagging along for the ride.
In the end, it is Michael who finds Granny (or rather, Granny finds Michael), who confuses him with her late husband. In a series of scenes that are uncomfortable and yet compelling, Michael gains a new perspective on both nudity and love. Even though Granny seems confused about who Michael is, there is no mistaking the both the depth and simplicity of her words. While Michael's romantic mishaps and the D'Arc family's antics are enough to make the movie funny, the scenes with Granny are the ones that dominate the film and give it meaning.
Directed by Michael Hoffman, Mark Bentley, and Robert Redford, `Some Girls' is filled with more symbolism than any other movie in recent memory. The rich and profound imagery is a currency which is well spent throughout the entire film, all the way from the names in the film, (Beowulf, Lumiere, etc.) to the displays of classic works of art such as Unicorn tapestries. The most dominant symbol in the movie is Botticelli's `Three Graces,' a painting which graces the cover of the movie. The symbol is fully revealed in the last scene of the movie, where the camera pans up to the painting, which has served as the backdrop in the airport as Michael says goodbye. In that instant, the three D'Arc sisters are enveloped in the lore of the Three Graces of mythology, innocent goddesses of revelry and love; the personifications of feminine charm and beauty. Greek mythology ascribed to the Three Graces (or Charities) the creative power to inspire works of poetry and art. How fitting for a movie which is truly a work of art in and of itself.
`Some Girls' is not only rich in character and symbolism, however. It is also the canvas for a brilliantly woven set of themes, including love, sex, nudity, life, and death. Each of these themes, most notably nudity, is explored in great detail during the course of the film. Michael's quest for love brings him to a new understanding of the fine line between lust and true love, as is evidenced in the awkward scenes with Granny. Similarly, the prolific amount of scenes suggesting nudity address the many forms of nudity, from the intellectual and natural nudity of Mr. D'Arc, to the innocent yet meaningful undressing of Granny, to the hot and steamy revelations of each of the D'Arc sisters. One of the most powerful themes, however, is that of life and death, which is expressed in one of the most moving and unique death scenes ever filmed. As Granny closes the curtains, Michael, and the audience, learn what life, death, and love are truly all about. Similarly, Sanna Vraa gives a short but stunning performance as the young Granny, in a mysterious return at the grave which solidifies the story's lessons on life, death, and love.
As wonderfully compelling as this movie is, it should be viewed with a great deal of discretion. Young viewers, especially young teenagers, should be discouraged from seeing `Some Girls.' Also, those viewers whose standards are offended by constant references to sexuality and nudity would be wise to refrain from seeing `Some Girls.' The movie is rated `R' for a reason; the sexual content and themes are very provocative.
It is precisely because of this provocation that the movie is so worth seeing for the intended audience, mature viewers who have an appreciation for art, in all its forms, as well as an awareness and understanding of human nudity and sexuality. For those viewers, `Some Girls' is bound to not only be a delightful experience, but also one which is both challenging and rewarding. To them, a screening of `Some Girls' will seem like more of an evening spent in a truly artistic setting, such as a museum or opera, than just a crowded movie theater full of mindless spectators chomping away at that stale popcorn.
One time movie
edblackham12 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Not sure why the love for so many reviews here. Yes, the house was cool. But, what an unbelievable family. No father asks the boyfriend of one of his daughters, how many of my daughters did you do this week? Also, why are the sisters trying to get with a skinny dork, but still a sort of boyfriend of their sister. Throw in the weird granny attraction or whatever you call that, and that is one strange movie.
# 03 : Canada dry (web)
lamegabyte3 June 2019
Warning: Spoilers
My first reaction from this movie was accurate : the teen was indeed a much younger Dempsey who shows that he could be fun. Next, it was cool to discover that the movies happens in Quebec because it's an exotic change of place. After those twenty first minutes, my pleasure just get gone as the movie becomes a real pain : it uses the already seen cliché of the eccentric family and this one is really boring. As Dempsey says it himself, he is the lone intruder in their family territory and it's an situation that I depicts to have live personally this nightmare. As the characters rarely get out of this mansion, the feeling you got is just to be bottled up ! For those expecting that young Jenny would be there to bring warmness and sweetness, the story unbelievably prefers Dempsey to fall in love with the grandmother ! At the end, this movie is a total disappointment and belongs to the stinkers of Jenny's career !
An overlooked gem of a romantic comedy
P Baker21 February 1999
France is famed for its romantics, but Quebec? In the winter? Well, perhaps it should be. A love-struck college student named Michael (Dempsey) has too many naive theories about women. Then he is invited, by his mysterious girlfriend Gabbie (Connelly) to visit her family over Christmas, in Quebec. Ah ha, he thinks; major progress. The first thing Gabbie tells Michael in Quebec, however, is that she no longer loves him. Yet, she wants him to stay for the holidays. The bewildered Michael is then introduced to Gabbie's truly bizarre family, including Gabbie's father (Gregory), a writer who can work effectively only in the nude; a priest (Milette) who is hopelessly in love with Gabbie's over-protective mother (Balkan); Gabbie's sensual sister Irenka (Kelley) and her boorish boyfriend (Edwards); and a clock-stealing sheepdog, among others.
Poor Michael continues to try to woo Gabbie, and almost succeeds, but is mightily distracted by Irenka and her younger sister, Simone (Greenfield). Then he meets Granny (Kedrova), the crazed and dying matriarch, who mistakes Michael for her long-dead husband of the same name. The film shifts tone as Michael discovers that love and sex need not be the same thing. The final lines of the movie sum it up well, as Michael muses that all his theories about women are bulls**t.
The few professional critics who saw this film gave it very low marks, and certainly there were things to criticize. The lead actors (Demsey, Connelly) were sometimes unconvincing, and the plot was erratic and almost non-existent. These were minor flaws, however, in an otherwise fascinating film. For the most part, the acting was enjoyable, the character development was fascinating, and the film filled with unexpected humor. The sexual tension was kept high, with very little actual sex, and the ending was satisfying.
Poor Michael continues to try to woo Gabbie, and almost succeeds, but is mightily distracted by Irenka and her younger sister, Simone (Greenfield). Then he meets Granny (Kedrova), the crazed and dying matriarch, who mistakes Michael for her long-dead husband of the same name. The film shifts tone as Michael discovers that love and sex need not be the same thing. The final lines of the movie sum it up well, as Michael muses that all his theories about women are bulls**t.
The few professional critics who saw this film gave it very low marks, and certainly there were things to criticize. The lead actors (Demsey, Connelly) were sometimes unconvincing, and the plot was erratic and almost non-existent. These were minor flaws, however, in an otherwise fascinating film. For the most part, the acting was enjoyable, the character development was fascinating, and the film filled with unexpected humor. The sexual tension was kept high, with very little actual sex, and the ending was satisfying.
Not what you'd expect.
L_Miller27 July 2002
Jennifer Connelly + "Teen Comedy" = loads of T&A, right? No. This movie is about a thousand times smarter and more reflective than that. This movie made me more interested in seeing her movies for her acting and not just the yards of sweaty flesh. She's made some crapola since then; "Inventing the Abbotts" was a gigantic waste of everyone involved, "Mulholland Falls" made me genuinely wonder if she was about to pull a Bridget Fonda but then "Requiem for a Dream" and "A Beautiful Mind" set the world to right. This is a preview of the kind of career choices she was going to start making, with occasional forays into titillation-land to cover the rent.
It's just a movie, it's not going to reach out and change you or make you see God or anything. You will have to do that yourself. But it does draw you in anticipating a standard farce and instead getting a reflection on desire, wishes and the true definition of a life well lived.
There's plenty of teeny skin-and-blood (both original and new Irony-flavored) flicks out there, rent those if you want to be cool like everyone else. If you want to spend some time musing about a movie after you see it, rent this.
It's just a movie, it's not going to reach out and change you or make you see God or anything. You will have to do that yourself. But it does draw you in anticipating a standard farce and instead getting a reflection on desire, wishes and the true definition of a life well lived.
There's plenty of teeny skin-and-blood (both original and new Irony-flavored) flicks out there, rent those if you want to be cool like everyone else. If you want to spend some time musing about a movie after you see it, rent this.
Amazing love story with subtle beauty as we as the in your face kind!
skallagrimson21 April 2004
This is one of my all-time favorite films. It was too subtle and philosophical to make it in the mainstream. The various 'love' themes between sisters, mothers and daughters, husband and wife are all beautiful. But the love between the boy and old woman - a love that spans lives and time - goes beyond touching; it's eternal and amazing. Other than the Granny's accent being Russian and not French, I found the movie flawless! Wish it came in DVD!
A quirky but very endearing film.
psychoticadvisor28 December 2008
One of the best movies I've watched in a long time, Some Girls is spellbinding in many ways. The viewer cannot help empathizing with the young protagonist who seems to run into one problem after another during his holiday. Funny in very subtle ways and even though I didn't have any gut-busting belly laughs I did find myself chuckling at frequent intervals throughout. The scenery evoked a cold landscape in posh surroundings and everyone in the film was delightfully eccentric. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys a ponderous plot full of character studies. It was mildly reminiscent of two other films I've enjoyed, specifically, Being There, and Harold and Maude. No outlandish special effects, very little sex or violence, so the average viewer might hate it, but if you are above average, I'm sure you will enjoy this.
Why watch it?
ND-821 March 2000
Love is in the air. Be it true love or merely puppy love, it is ever-present throughout the film, Some Girls. Starring both Patrick Dempsey, as Michael, and Jennifer Connelly, as Gaby, this movie contains something for everyone, depending on how insightful the viewer chooses to be. It can be taken as simply a hilarious comedy or a genuinely profound portrayal of love and human nature; the viewer is given this choice.
As a comedy, Some Girls plays on Dempsey's vulnerabilities, or in other words, the fact that he is a teenage male that has yet to figure out women. Michael, continually rejected by his quondam love, Gaby, is repeatedly taken advantage of by Connelly's on-screen sisters, Irenka and Simone, and he inadvertently falls in love with Granny. Dempsey's naivety gets him into a countless number of awkward situations with the women of the D'Arc family, such as winding up in bed with them and getting caught in the nude, which adds to the humor of the movie.
The love that Michael and Granny feel for each other is a transition between the comical and the symbolic sides of this film. In the wonderfully set-up scene where Michael undresses Granny, the viewers start to feel uncomfortable when they realize that Granny isn't going to be innocently nude. She enjoys the attention, and because this type of sexual encounter is not socially accepted, it causes unease. Due to the discomfort that this scene causes in the viewer, it becomes humorous that this teenage boy is undressing this old woman who is quickly falling for him. However, it is not humor alone that is at work here. This scene sets up the rest of the movie and allows for true love to blossom.
Although Michael went to Quebec to see his "love", Gaby, he fell in love with the last person that he expected, or even desired to fall in love with: Granny. The two of them became unbelievably close during the film and developed a love deeper than the one that he had only imagined forming between him and Gaby. There love was true love, despite the fact that Dempsey tried to push it aside at the very beginning. However, Michael let up his guard, letting himself fall madly and deeply in love with Granny, the woman he could never have due to both society and mortality.
For the movie aficionado who loves symbolism, Some Girls is a wonderful choice of movies. It is a film that can be watched over and over again and something new will occur to the viewer each and every time that it is watched. The viewer may discover what Botticelli's Three Graces, who appear several times during the film, have to do with the three D'Arc sisters or maybe why Beowulf jumped out of the window with the clock in his mouth. He or she may realize why the unicorn tapestry covers Gaby's bedroom door or why the girls' father feels that he must write in the nude. The viewer may realize that the film both begins and ends with water and why that fact is so important. In order to appreciate these things, however, the movie must be watched and it must be watched more than once.
Some Girls is truly a structural masterpiece. It appears as if in every scene, there is some hidden symbol, or underlying idea, that makes the film multifaceted instead of just straightforward and simple to understand. The details make the film an extraordinary one instead of just an ordinary one. The flashback scene exemplifies the structural merit better than any other scene. It is perfectly choreographed, with the time being split between the car scene and the window-closing scene well enough to keep the viewer on the edge of his or her seat. The flashback went from the peacefulness of the window closing to the frenzied ride to the hospital without falter. Another wonderful scene that demonstrates the film's magnificent structure is the scene in which Michael and Granny are alone in the old abandoned house. Nothing whatsoever prepares the viewer for what is about to come, and it is better left that way. It merely shows love in its purest form.
In the same way that Michael receives something that he didn't expect from going to Quebec, the viewer receives something that he or she probably doesn't expect from the movie. Michael learns what love is all about and the viewer learns what great films are made of. By the end of the movie, Michael has changed for the better. He has matured, learned a little about women, fallen in love, and maybe even gained some religion from his experiences. He left the three women of the D'Arc family, and moved on to the woman of the Lumiere family. By doing this, he moved from the darkness to the light, as their surnames symbolically imply. Hopefully, the viewer can do the same if they take the time to watch this exquisite film.
As a comedy, Some Girls plays on Dempsey's vulnerabilities, or in other words, the fact that he is a teenage male that has yet to figure out women. Michael, continually rejected by his quondam love, Gaby, is repeatedly taken advantage of by Connelly's on-screen sisters, Irenka and Simone, and he inadvertently falls in love with Granny. Dempsey's naivety gets him into a countless number of awkward situations with the women of the D'Arc family, such as winding up in bed with them and getting caught in the nude, which adds to the humor of the movie.
The love that Michael and Granny feel for each other is a transition between the comical and the symbolic sides of this film. In the wonderfully set-up scene where Michael undresses Granny, the viewers start to feel uncomfortable when they realize that Granny isn't going to be innocently nude. She enjoys the attention, and because this type of sexual encounter is not socially accepted, it causes unease. Due to the discomfort that this scene causes in the viewer, it becomes humorous that this teenage boy is undressing this old woman who is quickly falling for him. However, it is not humor alone that is at work here. This scene sets up the rest of the movie and allows for true love to blossom.
Although Michael went to Quebec to see his "love", Gaby, he fell in love with the last person that he expected, or even desired to fall in love with: Granny. The two of them became unbelievably close during the film and developed a love deeper than the one that he had only imagined forming between him and Gaby. There love was true love, despite the fact that Dempsey tried to push it aside at the very beginning. However, Michael let up his guard, letting himself fall madly and deeply in love with Granny, the woman he could never have due to both society and mortality.
For the movie aficionado who loves symbolism, Some Girls is a wonderful choice of movies. It is a film that can be watched over and over again and something new will occur to the viewer each and every time that it is watched. The viewer may discover what Botticelli's Three Graces, who appear several times during the film, have to do with the three D'Arc sisters or maybe why Beowulf jumped out of the window with the clock in his mouth. He or she may realize why the unicorn tapestry covers Gaby's bedroom door or why the girls' father feels that he must write in the nude. The viewer may realize that the film both begins and ends with water and why that fact is so important. In order to appreciate these things, however, the movie must be watched and it must be watched more than once.
Some Girls is truly a structural masterpiece. It appears as if in every scene, there is some hidden symbol, or underlying idea, that makes the film multifaceted instead of just straightforward and simple to understand. The details make the film an extraordinary one instead of just an ordinary one. The flashback scene exemplifies the structural merit better than any other scene. It is perfectly choreographed, with the time being split between the car scene and the window-closing scene well enough to keep the viewer on the edge of his or her seat. The flashback went from the peacefulness of the window closing to the frenzied ride to the hospital without falter. Another wonderful scene that demonstrates the film's magnificent structure is the scene in which Michael and Granny are alone in the old abandoned house. Nothing whatsoever prepares the viewer for what is about to come, and it is better left that way. It merely shows love in its purest form.
In the same way that Michael receives something that he didn't expect from going to Quebec, the viewer receives something that he or she probably doesn't expect from the movie. Michael learns what love is all about and the viewer learns what great films are made of. By the end of the movie, Michael has changed for the better. He has matured, learned a little about women, fallen in love, and maybe even gained some religion from his experiences. He left the three women of the D'Arc family, and moved on to the woman of the Lumiere family. By doing this, he moved from the darkness to the light, as their surnames symbolically imply. Hopefully, the viewer can do the same if they take the time to watch this exquisite film.
Teen sex comedy with a touch of magical realism
poehlmann13 August 2002
This film goes beyond the usual boundaries of its genre in
surprising and sensitive ways. While always amusing, it is also
genuinely intelligent and genuinely emotional without ever being
preachy or maudlin, thus placing itself far above 98% of the films
out there. Jennifer Connelly gives a luminous performance and
Patrick Dempsey infuses his character with a flawless combination of frustration, joy and wonder. The story itself is
grounded in the "coming of age" sex comedies of the 70's and
80's, just long enough to set things in motion. Once the film really
has its own legs, however, it delves more deeply into the
complicated and strange family relations that drive the themes and
propel the plot toward a beautiful and somewhat unexpected
conclusion.
"Some Girls" has easily been among my favorite films since the
first time I viewed it as a rental I had not previously heard of. The
only tip-off that it might be something extraordinary was the superb
supporting cast, and I have rarely been so delighted at having
picked a winner.
surprising and sensitive ways. While always amusing, it is also
genuinely intelligent and genuinely emotional without ever being
preachy or maudlin, thus placing itself far above 98% of the films
out there. Jennifer Connelly gives a luminous performance and
Patrick Dempsey infuses his character with a flawless combination of frustration, joy and wonder. The story itself is
grounded in the "coming of age" sex comedies of the 70's and
80's, just long enough to set things in motion. Once the film really
has its own legs, however, it delves more deeply into the
complicated and strange family relations that drive the themes and
propel the plot toward a beautiful and somewhat unexpected
conclusion.
"Some Girls" has easily been among my favorite films since the
first time I viewed it as a rental I had not previously heard of. The
only tip-off that it might be something extraordinary was the superb
supporting cast, and I have rarely been so delighted at having
picked a winner.
A surprisingly touching comedy with unexpected twists
Pr3p2 June 1999
Just when you think you know where this movie is headed, it goes off in an unexpected direction. Michael, played by Patrick Dempsey, visits his former college girlfriend over Christmas in Quebec and quickly becomes entwined in her family's eccentric ways. Michael's quest to rekindle his romance with Gaby pushes him to the limits of total frustration and leads to several hilarious situations involving Gaby, her sisters, her perpetually naked father, and the family dog!
This plot would normally be enough for most movies, but the whole tone of the film changes when Gaby's grandmother is introduced. Granny confuses Michael with her long dead husband and the sheer strength of her performance leads the movie into a whole new and unexpectedly spiritual direction. The scenes between Michael and the Grandmother are touching and make an ordinary movie into a truly special one.
This plot would normally be enough for most movies, but the whole tone of the film changes when Gaby's grandmother is introduced. Granny confuses Michael with her long dead husband and the sheer strength of her performance leads the movie into a whole new and unexpectedly spiritual direction. The scenes between Michael and the Grandmother are touching and make an ordinary movie into a truly special one.
I loved it
peteandem25 April 2005
I hired it originally on VHS when it was called "Sisters" cos there was nothing else. I loved it and it is still one of my most favourite movies of all time. Because it is totally different from most predictable movies, this is so unpredictable and that is its charm. I even bought the ex rental video when the video shop closed. Its funny, romantic and a tear jerker all rolled into one, the granny scene made me cry every time I watched it.. The family in the film are so bizarre that you could happily feel better in the knowledge that your life is so less complicated, I so recommend it if you want a funny and touching movie.. but I would certainly have some hankies nearby, believe me you would need them.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
