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Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her

PG-13 Released Jan 22, 2000 1h 46m Drama LGBTQ+ List
76% Tomatometer 21 Reviews 64% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
In California, a group of women struggle with personal problems as their paths intertwine in unexpected ways. Dr. Elaine Keener (Glenn Close), the sole caretaker for her aging mother, turns to tarot card reader Christine (Cameron Diaz) for spiritual aid. Christine grapples with her own angst due to her lover's debilitating illness. Meanwhile, a bank manager (Holly Hunter) deals with an unwanted pregnancy, two sisters pursue romantic interests and a housewife gets back into the dating game.
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Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her

Critics Reviews

View All (21) Critics Reviews
TIME Magazine If the stories sometimes use Creative Writing 101 devices (like a quasi-prophetic homeless woman), the total effect is as spare and haunting as the film's arid, beautifully shot setting. Jun 13, 2010 Full Review Todd McCarthy Variety A collection of five femme-oriented vignettes that are not intricately linked dramatically but overlap characters, this observant, emotionally acute drama is distinguished by a pronounced poetic sensibility in its writing and visual style. Aug 5, 2008 Full Review Geoff Andrew Time Out Garcia excels at eliciting strong performances throughout and maintaining a consistent mood poised delicately between wry comedy and more serious contemplation of contemporary American female lives. Feb 9, 2006 Full Review Michael Cuby them. Centered on a layered performance by Glenn Close as a doctor... Sep 29, 2022 Full Review Robert Pardi TV Guide An imaginatively constructed soap-opera with a high-powered cast, this film follows several narrative threads, all involving unfulfilled Los Angeles women who find inner peace after learning there are worse things than loneliness. Rated: 3/4 Jun 13, 2010 Full Review Betsy Bozdech DVDJournal.com The film has its weak points -- most notably the cartoonish character of Nancy ... -- but as a showcase for quiet, nuanced acting, it can't be beat. Rated: 3/4 Oct 21, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Guiseppa P Small stories that constitute a world of lived lives. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/03/24 Full Review Jeff M If ever there was a cinematic example of the old saying "too many cooks spoil the broth" - this is it! Directors like Robert Altman and Paul Thomas Anderson have made careers making films with overlapping storylines that feel epic and almost breathtaking (NASHVILLE and MAGNOLIA come immediately to mind). The filmmakers here seem like they're trying to take the same approach, but it's just not jiving. An assemblage of actresses at the top of their game should be cause for celebration; however, this is a passionless experience that feels almost experimental in its approach. And truth be told, I was bored to tears. To be honest, I nodded off twice while watching this and the 109 minute running time probably amounted to more like 135 minutes as I had to rewind and try to figure out where I left off with things. There isn't a standout performance or storyline here - everyone seems on the same page but it just held no interest for me whatsoever. And I'm not sure what the whole point of the movie is supposed to be. The efforts to link some of the storylines felt a bit forced, and I can't say there was a character here for which I felt anything other than ennui. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/26/24 Full Review Audience Member Straight to the heart Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Things you can tell by looking at her. Strange title that didn't work for me. After watching what seemed like a slow torturous journey into these womens lives, I was left wondering what in the world you could tell by looking at them. It was odd. A tarrot card reader who wouldn't answer a question about her girlfriend's dream. A sister who says, hey go nail my sister, you'd be doing her a favor. Ew. A clearly mentally ill and abusive homeless person verbally attacking someone. So many parts of the movie didn't read as normal responses. Bizzare. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Audience Member Good cast, bad movie. I kept waiting for something to happen. It's very slow and a little confusing. Who was the woman that killed herself? Was there a man involved and why was her house cleaned out— (no photos), etc.? What mother sniffs her son while he's sleeping (creepy)? Why does the Cameron Diaz character care about her lipstick color if she's blind? Is she blind because of illness or an accident? Unclear. Why did her lover pass her in the elevator and keep walking? And why did this same man get around so much, sleeping with three of the characters? Was he also a lover of the dead woman? Why the mini-investigation into her life to discover she had lost a baby many years ago? The movie is quite depressing and is a very dim view of middle-aged women. While it's nice to see a movie cast with middle-aged women, it would have been nice if it could have been a storyline that showed them to be vibrant and thriving instead of pale and waning. For me, this movie was a waste of time. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review adam b Usually not my particular taste but the fluidity of the film works so well, it's hard to not like this film Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis In California, a group of women struggle with personal problems as their paths intertwine in unexpected ways. Dr. Elaine Keener (Glenn Close), the sole caretaker for her aging mother, turns to tarot card reader Christine (Cameron Diaz) for spiritual aid. Christine grapples with her own angst due to her lover's debilitating illness. Meanwhile, a bank manager (Holly Hunter) deals with an unwanted pregnancy, two sisters pursue romantic interests and a housewife gets back into the dating game.
Director
Rodrigo Garcia
Producer
Jon Avnet, Lisa Lindstrom, Marsha Oglesby
Screenwriter
Rodrigo Garcia
Distributor
United Artists
Production Co
Franchise Pictures, LTZ II, Inc., Avnet/Kerner Productions
Rating
PG-13 (Sexual Content|Mature Themes|Language)
Genre
Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 22, 2000, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 30, 2016
Runtime
1h 46m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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