Movie:
things you can tell just by looking at her originally premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in early 2000 and premiered on TV in March of 2001. The film was written and directed by Rodrigo García. Starring in the film, are: Glenn Close (Elaine), Cameron Diaz (Carol), Calista Flockhart (Christine), Kathy Baker (Rose), Amy Brenneman (Kathy), Holly Hunter (Rebecca), Valeria Golino (Lily), Matt Craven (Walter), and Gregory Hines (Robert).

The film presents a series of interwoven vignettes about six women in L.A. There's Kathy, a police detective who struggles with being alone; Carol, Kathy's sister, who is blind and searching for love; Elaine, a doctor who feels empty inside and is also looking for Mr. Right; Christine, a gifted fortune teller who is grieving for her dying lover; Rebecca, a bank manager who is considering both motherhood and her relationship with a married man; and Rose, a middle aged author of children's books, who grapples with prejudice. Each woman is at a crossroads of some sort, and must make a decision that will affect their future.

things you can tell just by looking at her is filled with an incredible array of talent: each of the main actresses involved really does a great job with their performance. But I found the story to be hit or miss: some of the vignettes were interesting, while others were drawn out and slightly dull. And this is the film's main weakness: the movie just seems overly long. People that stick with the film will find a decent movie that explores the lives and choices of six women, but getting through the slow areas is difficult.

Picture:
things you can tell just by looking at her is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and 1.33:1 full frame; each is on opposite sides of the disc. The transfer is sharp throughout, with vibrant colors and rich blacks. Flesh tones seem a bit too pale in some scenes, however. There are quite a few marks and specks in the print, though most are easily overlooked.

Sound:
things you can tell just by looking at her is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 in both English and Spanish and Dolby 2.0 Stereo Surround in French. The 5.1 track is mostly center channel based, though the surrounds are used for some subtle background noise, ambient effects, and the film's score. Dialogue throughout is crisp and clean with no distortion that I detected. Optional subtitles are available in French and Spanish.

Extras:
The only extra is the film's trailer.

Summary:
things you can tell just by looking at her is a decent film about the lives of six women living in L.A, which is unfortunately marred by some slow areas. Fans of the film should be pleased with MGM's DVD, as it provides a great presentation for the movie. Newcomers and fans of the stars should give the film a look, though I'd recommend a rental over a purchase. Rent it.