Eat, Pray, Love

Life, Meaning, Adventure, and Passion
Eat Pray Love PG-13, ***1/2, Julia Roberts, Richard Jenkins, Billy Crudup, James Franco Javier Bardem, Viola Davis, Hadi Subiyanto. Columbia Pictures. Director Ryan Murphy. Length 140 minutes.

The film begins in Bali with Elizabeth Gilbert (Julie Roberts) speaking with Ketut Liyer (Hadi Subiyanto) who is reading her palm and giving her advice about the future. As she returns to New York to her husband Stephen (Billy Crudup), it is obvious by her hang dog expressions and depression that she is unhappy with their marriage.
It appears that Stephen is not giving her much attention, and he is focused on his life. Her life with Stephen is just not what she is seeking.
She leaves Stephen and begins her journey for happiness and contentment. The book is based on Elizabeth Gilbert’s book by the same name. Gilbert wrote about her actual experiences in the book. The book has been very successful for a long time in the publishing business.
Now the story has made it to the big screen. Elizabeth wants to marvel at something and enjoy food and life for a change. She has a brief relationship with David (James Franco) who is trying to become a successful actor. She soon realizes this is not what she wants either.
Her best friend and confidant is Delia Shiraz (Viola Davis). She confides with Delia as to what she wants to do. Delia is a little leery of her idea, but as a friend, she supports her.
To develop an adventurous spirit, she decides to travel to Italy to enjoy food, and India to find balance in her life through meditation in a sort of ashram environment, and on to Bali in order to speak with Ketut again.
The scenery and atmosphere in Italy is soothing. As she orders some great pasta, scrumptious looking pizzas, and other Italian food, the scenes will make some viewers hungry. A quote from an Italian gives the audience a moment to think about the meaning of life. To paraphrase the quote, “We do not know pleasure until we enjoy the sweetness of doing nothing.”
While in India meditating in the ashram, she meets Richard (Richard Jenkins). The audience soon finds out why he is there, and he relates to Elizabeth some good advice on life. These small revelations will not spoil the journey this interesting film conveys to the audience.
Some great music is played that coincides with the story such as, Thank You for Letting Me Be Myself Again, by Sly and the Family Stone, and Heart of Gold, by James Taylor and Neil Young.
The screen presence and acting of Julia Roberts is always interesting to watch. The film really picks up speed when Elizabeth travels to Bali and meets Felipe (Javier Bardem). He is a sensitive individual who falls for Elizabeth.
Take the journey, the trip, the quest, and learn a little about life and helping others. When one allows God to dwell inside and live through us, we not only bring happiness to ourselves, but we help others along the journey of life.
Do not run away from all the possibilities that are given us in life. We all have something to give, and we are teachers in this wonderful thing called life.
To paraphrase a favorite commercial of mine, “I do not watch movies all the time, but when I do I prefer one that has interest, depth, intelligence, comedy, love, passion, and excitement. Stay entertained my friends.”