FREE ESSAY ON PRETTY WOMEN

PRETTY WOMEN

Carolyn O'Connor
"Pretty Women"
10/18/00
"Pretty Women", directed by Garry Marshall, is a light, bubbly, romantic comedy. On a
scale from 1-5 (five being the best), I rate this movie a five. The story plot of this
film appeals to the emotion of the audience. Between the romance, greed, lust, and power
of this film, the audience can relate with these typical issues. Also, I thought the
acting was phenomenal by both Gere and Roberts. There was intense passion between them
throughout the film, very convincing. "Pretty Women", portrays the bad end of the stick
life dishes out normally, and the knight in shining armor that possibly may come rescue
you. 
"Pretty Women", reminds me of the famous fairy tale of "Cinderella", the theme of both
films relate. Both share the story line of a confident women working hard on every
challenge life threw at her. Finally her day comes when a handsom man will rescue her
form her pit of despair, and take her in his arms. Cinderella's life hadn't gone exactly
as she planned, she found herself in rags her whole life. "Pretty Women", is a nineties
version with a little less fiction and a little more harsh reality. Julia Roberts plays a
carefree prostitute named Vivian Ward. Her co-star Richard Gere is a successful corporate
terminator named Edward Lewis. Their lives are worlds apart until they meet on the corner
one night. In a matter of days Vivian goes from rags to riches, her new sweetie Edward
opens her eyes to the finer things in life. Vivian's energetic spirit challenges Edward's
no non- sense, business minded approach to life. Vivian had a blast "working" for Edward,
so much she accidentally fell in love with him. When it came time for Vivian to leave,
Edward offered her an apartment, clothes, happiness, all paid for if she stayed. Vivian
refused and was disappointed in Edward's poor decision to buy her the way he had everyone
else. Eventually, Edward understands what Vivian wanted, and goes to rescue his love, not
with his money, but with his heart. Vivian teaches him that love is the best investment
he ever made. 
The camera crew and director use personal shots to convey intimacy between the two
characters. Vivian and Edward have a few love scenes, and in order to convince the
audience of the passion and heat between them, personal shots are used. When the two
lovers kiss on the mouth for the first time, a personal shot is used, the audience is
more susceptible in feeling the passion of their first kiss. The personal shot angle is
used to convey a more comfortable vibe for the audience. In "Cinderella", in the closing
scene, Cinderella and her prince are wed. They hop into a carriage and proceed to ride
away into the sunset. The two characters lean in for a kiss and the camera focuses in on
a personal shot. This final shot includes both of their faces puzzled together in a kiss.
Although, the age of the audience may vary, this personal shot is successful in
convincing the audience. In the opening scene of "Pretty Women
Bibliography
Marshall, Gary. Pretty women (1994)