Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood Full Screen DVD with Kiersten Warren, Angus Macfadyen, David Lee Smith (PG-13) +Movie Reviews +Used DVD available for Swap

Wise, Witty, and Wonderful!

Benjamin J Burgraff | Las Vegas | 10/31/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After all the hype and comparisons to 'Steel Magnolias', 'Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood', sadly, did not do much box office, which was a shame, as it is a more intimate, realistic vision of women and life-long friendships than the glossier 'Magnolias'.Four girl friends in Louisiana create a secret sisterhood in 1937, swearing eternal devotion to each other, and they remain best friends through all the triumphs and tragedies in their lives. When the daughter of one of them (Sandra Bullock), a successful playright, has an interview with Time magazine in which she blasts her mother's impact on her life, the mother (Ellen Burstyn, who is superb!) goes ballistic, cutting the daughter out of her life, totally. Into this maelstrom charges the other members of the Sisterhood, kidnapping Bullock, and attempting to make things right!The film then jumps back and forth in time, with Ashley Judd (who gives an Oscar-worthy performance) playing the younger Burstyn. She has a lot of happy adventures with her Ya-Ya sisters, but also has to deal with racism, a jealous religious zealot of a mother, an overly loving father (David Rasche, breaking free of his usual comic roles), a true love who dies in WWII, and a family with a guy she 'settles' for (played, in present day, by the wonderful James Garner). There is also a dark secret that is the core of the mother/daughter alienation, which must be dealt with in order for the rift between Bullock and Burstyn to heal (No, I will NOT give it away!) If you do the math about the years covered, you realize the present-day story SHOULD be taking place in the early nineties, at the latest, but this doesn't hurt the overall effectiveness of the picture. As the other present-day sisters, Fionnula Flanagan, Shirley Knight, and (especially) Maggie Smith are WONDERFUL, as is Angus MacFadyen, as Bullock's sympathetic and likable fiance.While this is unabashedly a 'chick flick', something I really liked was that they DIDN'T fall back on that old chestnut of somebody dying to serve as a convenient catalyst for change and the healing process. And the dialog is full of wickedly hilarious one-liners about men, alcohol, friendship, and growing old! Don't miss this gem!"

YA YA! Okay, its a chick flick ...

Lisbeth West | Carter Lake, Colorado | 11/19/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"(not that there's anything wrong with that) .....but guys, if you want a hint into the strange world of women's friendships, watch this with your loved one and listen to stories of her own lost youth. You will learn answers to many of the mysteries of women and the world we inhabit (if only in dreams.).Imagine Charo, coochie-cooing the words YA YA! and you'll have an idea of the true meaning and fun of this movie. I will admit, I found it best to have a little knowledge of the book. But don't read the book. Listen to it. The (UNEDITED) audio version of this fine novel really gives life to the words and one can really appreciate the enunciation of the most important words about this group of life-long friends. YaYa! (See my review of the audio tape on Amazon.com under "ISBN: 0060094818" and find out exactly what Charo REALLY has to do with this film.)Rebecca Wells wrote an earlier book based on similar characters and ideas, but the mother was not as likeable nor excusable. She hit the "motherlode" (pardon the pun!) when she penned "The Divine Secrets..." I would love to have these quirky women as caricatures in my life. What a gift to have this kind of lifelong communication and keepers of secrets (even though they all may need a good month at the dreaded "Betty.") Hell, therapy would ruin their antics of these bigger than life characters. I love the southern charm of this story and yes, Steel Magnolias comes to mind. But nothing comes close to this bond, and the film is cast perfectly--unfortunately leaving no room for Shirley MacLaine's character. She couldn't do better than her role in "Magnolias," no matter how far south the story may be set.In a series of stories from an amazing scrapbook (hurrah for the prop team -- the book appeared just as I imagined!) Siddha learns about her mother's past and the reason they both slam the phone against the counter when they finally answer each others' calls. The men in this movie are important characters, but are side men to the women's antics and the amazing charm these great Ya Yas have over all who meet them. The screenplay does the best job possible while cutting out a few characters to keep the story flowing. No elephant available, but what a great view of the world the Ya Yas inhabit! Siddha gets a return visit to the good memories while listening to the answers that mother would never had given her.... this is what the sisterhood is all about. She finds the wonder of being mothered by four deliciously free and feisty women. I wish all women could have the type of friendships these women found and hope that all daughters can find the love and support from such an open, wonderous group. I gave this to my best friend, announcing to her that she was on my YA YA list. I only hope that, after seeing this movie, you will begin the search for those lost YaYa sisters from your own past to find the joy, memories, and love this film exudes. All in all -- what fun, tragedy, enlightenment, discovery and ghosts come out of a simple event: Siddha's interview with a Time magazine writer looking for an edge to interview this up and coming playwrite. A long summer night: friends, family, entoxicating hints of shrimp gumbo, live cajun music, the scent of gardenias keep the viewer inside the world of Ya Ya! While we feel our bare toes (painted with bright red polish, of course) squishing between blades of the wonderous cushion of green green grass; we leave as an honorary member of the Divine Secret Sisiterhood of that summer of the eternal Ya Ya . There are five ***** in this movie!coochie coochie!"

Sandra Bullock is my role model

Benjamin J Burgraff | 04/23/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sandra Bullock is so funny,spunky,and a talented actress.This is my favorite movie of hers.I've seen all her movies.In each she is bubbly and fun-loving and cool.She's a great role model for young girls.I liked 'Miss Congenaitly'and 'Hope Floats.' I'm a 15-year-old girl who adores her.She's my favorite actress and celebrity and she's always making great movies.I loved this movie.It's about a playwright in New York City named Sidda Walker who has a torn realionship with her flaky mother,who gave her a tough upbringing in Lousiana.Sidda tells 'Time' magazine about her unhappy childhood and eccentric mother, causing Vivi Walker to swear she'll never speak her daughter again.However,after her long-time friends the Ya-Yas step in to show Sidda the story behind it all,both learn more about each other and themselves.Ashley Judd plays Vivi as a young woman and in flashbacks it shows Sidda as a little girl,growing up in the South where she both remembers the hard times when her mom's "drunken rages" hurt her and also the good times,when her mom made sure she got to go on a plane ride that she was scared to go on at first but in the end it was her best memory of her mother when Sidda sees in the end her mama really did love her.Sandra Bullock plays Sidda well,and is funny and emotional at the same time.Also Ashley Judd plays Vivi in her teen years,and it shows how by the friendship of her long-time friends that she made it through all it.The Ya-Ya's close bond shows how friendship really can help you through tough times and good times.The main value in this dramatic comedy is that your friends will always be there for you in the end and how your parents may not be perfect,but they always care about you in the end,too.The Ya-Yas are really funny,too.I loved this movie and I liked the book,too.Sandra Bullock is the best actress and role model on the face of the planet and she rocks."

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