Beautiful

2000 Comedy Drama

Academy Award-winning actress Sally Field makes her debut as a director of a theatrical feature with this gently satiric comedy. Mona Hibbard (Minnie Driver) is a woman from a small town in Illinois who never enjoyed much of a rapport with her parents. Looking for approval and validation, Mona began entering local beauty pageants in her early teens; now in her early 20's, Mona is still grimly determined to one day walk away a winner as she finds herself in the early innings of the Miss American Miss competition, organized by Verna Chickle (Kathleen Turner). Somewhere along the way, Mona became a single mother; determined not to let this stand in the way of a pageant victory, Mona has persuaded her best friend Ruby (Joey Lauren Adams) to raise her daughter Vanessa (Hallie Kate Eisenberg) as her own. However, Vanessa seems to have sensed that something is wrong; she feels a much greater bond with Mona than her "mother," and (like nearly everyone else), she's noticed that she looks a lot more like Mona than Ruby. Beautiful also features Kathleen Robertson, Bridgette Wilson, and Leslie Stefanson. more..

Director: Sally Field

Starring: Minnie Driver, Hallie Kate Eisenberg,Joey Lauren Adams, Kathleen Turner, Leslie Stefanson

Reviews

  • This film's wise and compassionate view is that, for many young women of limited opportunities, winning a beauty contest represents their best hope.

    Kevin Thomas - Los Angeles Times

    29 November 2012

  • Burdened with so many poky scenes that it approaches the level of the distributor's "Drowning Mona" and "Whipped," both candidates for the year's worst.

    Mike Clark - USA Today

    29 November 2012

  • The tame, confused script eventually sinks the film, although Field shows skill directing actors.

    Jay Carr - The Boston Globe

    29 November 2012

  • Not one female character escapes mockery or patronizing.

    Lisa Schwarzbaum - Entertainment Weekly

    29 November 2012

  • It's a movie with so many inconsistencies, improbabilities, unanswered questions and unfinished characters that we have to suspend not only disbelief but also intelligence.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    29 November 2012

Awards

  • Best Performance in a Feature Film - Young Actress Age Ten or Under

    Young Artist Awards (2001)