A Map of the World (2000)

Blistering performances.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

The acting in this movie is really good.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

Infuriating story of a small town nurse (Sigourney Weaver) who is accused of sexual abuse on a child right on the heels of a toddler's accidental drowning on her property. Tepid film of Jane Hamilton's book, directed by Scott Elliott as if he were doing a movie-of-the-week. Weaver's central performance is iffy, and overall the film is hampered by her character's screwy behavior which is never in her own best interest. Isolated sequences have a feeling of truth, but the depth of emotion just isn't there. Supporting players David Strathairn and Julianne Moore do what they can, but the film is strictly one-dimensional. ** from ****

"A Map of the World" (1999): Everything this film wants to do, and everyone in it, is of the highest quality. Julianne Moore (one of my all-time favorite actresses), David Strathhairn (also good), and Sigourney Weaver (also very good) join up with other quality artists to create a profound, unflinching look into the real and complex nature of Life as a Human. Its one problem is it suffers from "Wim Wenderism". By that I mean it has MANY goals, MANY important subjects, and WANTS to cover them all, IN DEPTH, for as long as it takes – IN ONE FILM - but cannot. Because of time constraints, and an occasional unwillingness to narrow down/focus upon ONE major philosophic issue depicted through one story line, it skips-about faster and faster, as a polished stone travels on top of still, deep waters, trying to touch down on as many places as possible before it sinks. This is a STRONG film, and I own it, but I do think there are, like most of Wender's films, two or three films jammed into one. (And do I think Wender's HAS ever hit it right? Yes. My favorite film of ALL time - the "desert island" film - is his masterpiece "Wings of Desire".)

kudos to Sigourney Weaver for yet another outstanding and sympathetic performance. David Straithairn also is effective as the husband, caught in a web of chaos; Weaver as a school nurse is accused of child abuse in a small Wisconsin town; this after a child she is babysitting accidentally drowns. (The mother of the drowned child is portrayed by Julianne Moore).Look for an excellent part with Arliss Howard as the defense attorney; it is a shocking surprise that 5 other children come forward accusing Weaver; it develops into a sort of witch hunt- and the actress playing the prosecutor is quite odious."A Map of the World" is not an easy story to take to; there are many complicated and also malicious sides of several characters; The character Weaver portrays is complex; guilty, and angry about a child accidentally dying, she accepts prison as an appropriate sentence, and even injures herself; She remains sympathetic however, throughout this film, and that is a rare talent that many actors could NEVER carry off. A must see. 9/10.

This film could terrify some. It is certainly gripping, but it's carried by superb performances by Sigourney Weaver and Julianne Moore. The only film I can think of that is quite as moving is another Sigourney Weaver film, Death and the Maiden.The tone of the two is very similar, but there is more hope in this outing. It still isn't something for the kids. But if you love acting, if you love to see real emotions rather than concocted attempts to feel, then watch it. And remember to keep your own Map of the World.