juneebuggy This was okay, I can't fault any of the performances and the 5 (loosely) interconnected stories are well written, imaginative (in a creative writing type way) and interesting however it still failed to grab me on any level or leave a lasting impression.The vignettes all deal with dramatic developments in the lives of a diverse group of women, most of whom are lonely and or unhappy. All the performances are fantastic and at times raw opening with Glenn Close as a doctor looking after her invalid mother, Holly Hunter as a bank manager dealing with an unplanned pregnancy and an observant street woman, Kathy Baker as a single mother debating a romance with a new neighbour, Calista Flockhart is a tarot reader whose girlfriend is dying of cancer and police detective Amy Brenneman examines her loneliness when her blind sister Cameron Diaz begins dating.There are some beautifully shot scenes here especially the outdoor ones although I was distracted by the random black cloudiness that appeared at the top of the screen from time to time. Like most people I thought there was something wrong with my copy of the movie. Not sure what that was supposed to signify.I also think this could have benefited from more of an arc tying all the stories together (like the suicide woman) as it was I failed to see any connection. 5/31/15

d.rust A funny thing happened in the grocery store last Sunday as we shopped for the usual things, lentils, some coffee, some items of little interest. This particular chain of supermarkets has everything in it from apples to zucchini. It also has a small section that sells audio and video products. There was a bin of movies, with some real gems in it: The Usual Suspects, The Ring, and of course, Things You Can Tell Just By Looking at Her. My wife said, I'd like to buy that one. Well, considering it was only four bucks (the equivalent in US$), I said, well, why not? So, it was thrown into the basket as well.All I can say is, wow. I was so moved by the first viewing, laughing and cheering and crying at times. It was worth the price and more, much more. This was a movie that deserves to be seen more than once, and so we let a day go by... and watched it again.From this point on, there be spoilers!It has been said that there are some very loose links between all the characters... ah but that is not the case! The links are very, very strong and reveal themselves after a second viewing.Opening the movie shows Police Detective Fabor investigating a suicide of a young lady in a red dress.First, we are introduced to Dr. Keener. At home, she is caring for her mother and rushes to answer every telephone call, obviously expecting an important call. One call, she says in the conversation, ah yes, Debbie's friend. It turns out Debbie's friend is a Tarot reader, who is Christine. The reading is performed as Christine reveals everything to Dr Keener that is happening in her life. Watch carefully as Glenn Close slowly changes her expression in a single take from bemusement to a saddened realization of what really is happening in her life. The reading ends, Christine leaves, and Dr Keener sits in her chair pondering the reading. The telephone rings, and unlike before, she sits and sits while it rings and rings.This interwoven theme continues, as we find that Rebecca is also friends with Debbie, and that Rebecca winds up seeing Dr Keener for a procedure. After an emotional exit from the medical complex, we see her stop to cross a street, as a young woman in a flowered shift, crosses with her carrying a red dress.Later, in a very tender episode concerning Rose and Albert, we see the young woman in the flowered shift buying some cosmetics in the supermarket.Christine and Lilly say their goodbyes to each other as Lilly lays dying. Christine, during a sleepless last night with her partner, goes to the balcony, and watches an unhappy woman in a red dress cross the street clutching herself. We also see later in the morning, a pretty young blonde child feeding her canaries on the balcony of the apartment next door.There is so much more, it would be unfair to reveal all of it, so I will finish it here.End of the spoiler portion.See this movie, rent it, buy it. You will love it. You will cry for joy, for sadness, for the unfairness of life, for all of its elements. It will not disappoint you. There are no explosions, no gun battles, no car chases. There is real life, up on the screen for you to see.I rate this a 9 out of 10 for only one reason. The Spanish subtitles in the version I purchased are sometimes way off base. And at times, I had to explain the difference in dialogue to my wife, who speaks no English, and the subtitles, with some key points mistranslated that come out later as essential plot points.

thladikjr-1 I really wish that the "lack" of in your face drama that everyone acknowledges, highlights, and finds to be so refreshing could be understated, as it's obvious to anyone who finds this film. We have to look past that and into frankly, well, why was that refreshing; don't tell me it's because well, "you really don't see that often?" So then: the scenes for me are Glenn Close and her professional attempts to reach her lover; and all the unprofessional waiting, crying, and looking to tarot cards for fun/help. Now I find the subtlety here: in her facial changes as Calista Flockheart slowly begins to ID her too accurately. She has such easy, confident, and sincerely a little arrogant, disbelief in the first few expected "insights", e.g. she tells her, "You're not happy." But slowly her slight grin becomes forced and then gone as she is there, more and more exposed; to an eventual moment of real quiet desperation as she tries to convince Flockhearts character that she may be "unsure" that the predicted "man that is about to enter her life" isn't the one she's been trying to reach at work. It was only a few lines: she tries to link the prediction with the situation by explaining the man at work is also younger... "(By) a few years." And after she literally closes the door on her fortune teller, she sits internalizing, seeing for that moment, her fear. Of her approaching age in the tiny steps taken by her withered and helpless mother, her desperation in who's calling as the phone rings; but she does not answer that call, she sits, and in realization of the emotional plane crash that is herself, and that she is so lost at, and in, that moment: the things you can tell by looking at her. And I love the fact that there are no answers for her or for us as the scene ends, very "too real." And man, very "in your face."

mrouge40 Opening scene of the film sets you up to this title perfectly. A female detective looks at a dead woman with a wondering eyes.cut to title `Things you can tell just by looking at her' so much is said.yet so much is left for you to explore.indeed.as the story unfolds the title makes more sense to you.There are 5 stories. A variety of women facing different issues in their lives. You only get to see a portion of it.but you can tell by just looking at her.the rest of her story... You can feel her sorrow, her misery, her dilemma, her battling, her triumph, her set back her strengths & her weaknesses.there are just too much you ca get out of it.if you look hard enough. It's a very powerful piece of work. Wonder did the director realize it? It gives a lot of space for people to look at others life & at the same time pause to take a closer look at themselves. Interestingly, there is always a character within each story that tells the protagonist about themselves.things that they oversee.perhaps.however, you may realize such analysis of oneself is often obvious.but you need a 3rd party to vocalize it. A highly recommended piece of film. A clever use of 5 large pieces of montage (5 loose story) that binds your emotions together.