FOREST WHITAKER

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BBB.  USA, 1998.  Twentieth Century Fox, Fortis Films.  Screenplay by Steven Rogers.  Cinematography by Caleb Deschanel.  Produced by Lynda Obst.  Music by Dave Grusin.  Production Design by Larry Fulton.  Costume Design by Susie DeSanto.  Film Editing by Richard Chew.  

Nice little drama about a Texan beauty queen (Sandra Bullock) who returns home to her mother after her best friend (Rosanne Arquette) reveals on a talk show that she’s been having an affair with Bullock’s husband. Now she has to rebuild her life from scratch and raise her daughter (Mae Whitman) on her own, all the while putting up with her mother’s criticisms and the persistent attentions of a good ole’ southern boy (an overcooked Harry Connick Jr).  Forest Whitaker directs with the same laziness he seems to mistake for dramatic intensity as he did with Waiting To Exhale, but Bullock’s sincerity and obvious talent, and the spunkiness of Whitman’s character will be enough for you to enjoy it.  Gena Rowlands is her usual excellent self as Bullock’s mother (though she had pretty much the same role in Something To Talk About and that one was better).