] Academy Award nominee Diane Lane stars as Frances Mayes,
] a 35-year-old San Francisco writer whose perfect life has
] just taken an unexpected detour. Her recent divorce has
] left her with terminal writer's block . . .
 . . .
] Frances decides to take a break and she buys a villa in
] the beautiful Tuscan countryside and decides to begin anew.

I just saw an advance screening of this movie, and give it a 5 out of 5 rating. Breathtaking (and I mean that literally) cinematography, exquisitely drawn characters, a light touch that can poke fun at things while still pointing out profound truths, tons of literary and historical references without clubbing you over the head with them, and perfectly cast. This movie wasn't just made, it was crafted. The kind where an entire scene can take place without a single word. There were multiple scenes in this movie where all the popcorn-munching stopped, and the entire audience was held momentarily breathless, being carried along wordlessly by the story.

This movie is now on my "Best movies of the year" list (along with "Whale Rider").

If you've got a galloping allergy to anything that might be perceived as a "chick flick," you *might* not care for it, but I still think that this movie is well worth seeing for a wide demographic, and is going to land on many people's lists of "all time favorite movies". Recommended.