yes, we all noticed Meg's fishmouth several years ago ... when she started getting "more interesting" roles ... "in the cut" for instance after "signs of life" ... but the question has always been "can she act?"

I have never detected any body heat from Ryan (or Julia Roberts). Predictably cute, attractive, well coiffed and well dressed, but with the soul of a paper doll. The sort of blank sex-less women that, I guess, some men fantesize over, but who I think appeal moreover to other women. No muss, no fuss. Women who neither sweat nor smell. Women who don't get blotchy when they cry.

Ryan's "French Kiss" is on heavy cable rotation -- the lack of chemistry between her and Kevin Kline is stunning ... and it's not for lack of effort on his part.

Anyway. fwiw, I've been actually "rooting" for Ryan for some reason I don't understand, but likely because I've generally found her more interesting Roberts who I find vapid.

Oh, that hiatus? I've heard that sometimes women take time off when they adopt a child ... (after they've changed its name).

Okay, I understand and even empathize with Zacharek's dismay at a reasonably talented middle-aged actor's obvious dalliance with plastic surgery. I agree--it's a little jarring to see a familiar face that has obviously been tinkered with--particularly when that tinkering seems unnecessary. And certainly this prompts one to think about the intense pressures of the Hollywood image machine that seem to result in actors resorting to surgical modification.

That said, what did Zacharek really focus on in terms of Meg Ryan's performance in this film, other than that her surgically plumped lips are somewhat dismaying? We're told that she "works hard" and displays some "sharp edges". The rest of the paragraph is devoted to a diatribe against plastic surgery in Hollywood. I'd rather hear about the movie and the performance, thanks. Hyper-focusing on Ryan's appearance instead of on her effectiveness in the role plays right into the entertainment industry's preoccupation with beauty.

to mdwilliams, bullshit.

When an actor undertakes a procedure that inhibits his or her expressiveness -- and what worse thing to be inhibited for an actor than facial mobility? -- you can't pretend it's not noticeable, and you can't pretend it doesn't affect a performance. The grotesque sight of Jessica Lange in "Dead Flowers" having mutilated her face throws you right out of the movie. Zacharek made it perfectly clear she understands the pressures that *especially* women are under in Hollywood. But you play far, far more into the beauty industry by seeing actors fuck up their instruments and pretending that nothing is amiss.

He's a soft porn writer? He looks like he's 13.

I find it unbelievably sad that a woman as attractive as Meg Ryan disfigured herself by choice. And she IS now disfigured. I don´t think there can be any question about that. She has a face that isn´t quite human. And certainly not beautiful.

Why couldn´t she face ageing I wonder? What was it about ageing in Hollywood that was worth what she risked, her own beautiful wrinkling up face?

Frances McDormand looks great AND she looks her age. I wish Meg had chosen to go down that path.