MONTE CARLO - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from Monte Carlo

Although it might go over the heads of Selena Gomez's main demographic of young Fans, The Family Stone Director Thomas Bezucha delivers a genuinely fun Girls' Night Out with Monte Carlo. Upon graduating from High School, Best Friends Grace (Gomez) and Emma (Katie Cassidy) at last set out for their long-awaited trip to Paris, when at the last moment Grace's Stepsister Maggie (Leighton Meester) is to join along. Matters are complicated when we learn of Grace and Maggie's strained past.

Soon after arriving in Paris, the Girls find themselves disappointed. One rainy night however, they cross paths with an Heiress named Cordelia Winthrop Scott (Gomez) who bears a striking resemblance to Grace. In a case of mistaken identity, Grace, Emma and Maggie find themselves swept-off to Monte Carlo on a glamorous adventure they never had bargained for with Grace being forced to fill the shoes of a spoiled and demanding Cordelia.

While pretending to be Cordelia, Grace is finds herself in possession of a magnificent Bulgari Necklace worth millions of dollars, to be auctioned-off in the name of under-privileged children. She finds herself falling for Theo (Pierre Boulanger) who works for the Charity, and he too falls for her thinking that she in fact is the Heiress. Meanwhile, Emma finds herself contemplating her relationship with impulsive Boyfriend Owen (Cory Monteith) who proposes to her before her trip without a ring. Also, Maggie loses herself in a passionate romance with Australian Tourist Riley (Luke Bracey) who she meets in a chance encounter on the trip.  How will love unfold for each of these three young ladies? And more pressingly, what will become of the three Girls when Cordelia uncovers that Grace has been impersonating her?

JULIANNE MOORE FOR BVLGARI

Although Julianne Moore's Oscar campaign this year for her fantastic work in Tom Ford's A Single Man has ended, she perhaps got the best one-up of all on those other nominated actresses - looking amazing.  She was selected as the face for Bvlgari's 2010 spring line as announced late 2009 and her ads for the fashion house have finally surfaced.  Combing through my Tweets today, I see that supermodel/media mogul Tyra Banks is a huge fan of the ad seen to the left, describing it "DIVINE!".  I'd call it tastefully provocative.  At 49 years old, Moore is still the epitome of ageless beauty and grace and showing no signs of stopping.

But above being gorgeous, she is actually wonderful in-person also.  I had the pleasure of meeting Moore back in September 2006 while she was in town promoting husband Bart Freundlich's Trust The Man at TIFF.   After the screening had ended, I actually got to chat with her at good length about acting and how much her performance in Far From Heaven, for which she actually received an Oscar nomination, had touched me.  She gave me a big hug and even remembered my name as she waved goodbye to me.  I will never forget that moment.