Eat Pray Love

Directed by Ryan Murphy

Written by Ryan Murphy and Jennifer Salt

Based on the memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert

Rating: 🔥 that’s hot

Liz Gilbert is divorced, confused, and on a quest for inner peace. After realizing that she has always been in a relationship or overcoming a breakup she decides that she needs to get to know herself independently. Despite the concerns raised by friends and family, Liz decides to leave her home in New York City for one whole year to find herself in Rome, India, and Bali. Throughout this year she challenges herself and seeks to cultivate a stronger and more enlightened self.

This movie is relatable on many levels. I think everyone, regardless of age, has had a life crisis that has left you wondering, who am I? Everyone is going to answer that question in different ways, not all involving traveling the world, but I am a fan of Liz’s style and would probably opt for a similar post-divorce experience. The film is structured chronologically which works well for telling the story because she learns such vastly different lessons in each place that she visits.   

Because of the stunning filming locations, the movie is visually gorgeous. The filmmakers did a great job of capturing the essence of each location; the grandeur of Rome, the chaos of India, and the natural beauty of Bali. There were some abrupt moments in the editing choices that I didn’t care for when a song would end immediately, and the next shot would be coupled with silence. This didn’t fit with the vibe of the film and that would be my biggest critique. Another critique I have is that the film fell on the cheesy side. Every life lesson was wrapped up tidily with a bow on top, and I don’t feel like that necessarily reflects the complexity of our world. But overall, I really enjoyed this movie and will be booking a trip to Bali ASAP. Eat Pray Love is now streaming on Netflix.

Review written by Zianna Weston