Eat,Pray,Love

In each segment,Liz is given role-models. In Rome,a Scandinavian and local language coach shows Liz how to embrace life through cuisine. The girls even nip off to Naples for a mouthwatering pizza sequence! Her Roman lesson: Dont be afraid to attack life.

In the Indian ashram,Liz meets a Texan struggling to forgive himself for his alcoholic past. A young Indian girl dreads her arranged marriage,which reminds Liz of her own unarranged marriage and its failure. Her Indian lesson: God dwells within me.

In Bali,two healers provide Liz with medicine for her ailing soul and help her find her balance. Her Bali lesson: You mustnt stop loving.

Eat Pray Love is beset with a long-winded unspooling of the story. Director Ryan Murphy has indulged in prolonged sequences that leave the listless audience looking at their watches. The India segment particularly leaves one exhausted. Jennifer Salt and Murphy collaborated on adapting Elizabeth Gilberts book for the film and even if they selected the more telling sequences,the execution needed more prudence and fast editing,instead of the languid pace.

The film can be watched all because of Julia Roberts; her admirers are legion across the world. The actress creditably carries the film on her shoulders. Undoubtedly,Roberts has thrown herself wholeheartedly into the role of the inner-truth seeker. It is her sterling performance that takes Eat Pray Love the distance.

Ryan Murphy wisely chooses the rest of the cast; an ensemble that complements the lead actress. Indonesian screen legend Christine Hakim and newcomer Hadi Subiyanto make the Bali segment alive with their presence. Each male actor excels in Roberts presence: Javier Bardem as Felipe is a wonderful combination of enigmatic screen presence and talent. Richard Jenkins the Texan in the ashram could well be a frontrunner for the Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars. Roberts two co-actresses Tuva Novotny and Viola Davis both deserve a good look at their performances.

Dario Marianelli picks up his challenge for music with the right sounds but the soundtrack gets blaringly loud and in-the- face as the location shifts to India. Robert Richardsons lens work added to the films endurability,zooming in on the pizzas and pasta with as much alacrity as focussing on the picturesque Balinese sights.

If it hadnt been for Julia Roberts and the technical elements,Eat Pray Love would have lost itself on the screens thanks to boredom.

RATING:

One star for Julia Roberts supported by her co-actors. One star for cinematography and sound.