A Good Woman
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Movie Reviews of A Good Woman
Movie Review: An Oscar Wildely Witty, Intelligent, Entertaining Film!
Summary: 5 Stars
When it comes to playwrights who can manipulate the English language with a flair, endless double entendres, and clever dialogue, few can match Oscar Wilde. In this wholly entertaining and luxurious adaptation of his fine play 'Lady Windemere's Fan' screen writer Howard Himelstein and director Mike Barker have created a bright confection of film that is bubbling with sex, scandal, seduction, secrets, and all manner of romantic subterfuge. It is a winner all around.
Mrs. Erlynne (Helen Hunt) is a lady of desires who has just fled the USA with debtors breathing down her voluptuous décolletage: she has always made her way by courting and conquering married men and their bank accounts. She flees to Amalfi where she encounters the Windemeres - dashing Robert (Mark Umbers) and his gorgeous but somewhat naive wife of one year Meg (Scarlett Johansson). Mrs. Erlynne and Robert share a secret that is mistaken by all to be an affair: Meg the pure is simultaneously being seduced by Lord Darlington (Stephen Campbell Moore). The townsfolk of Amalfi gossip and spy and plan at every occasion to bring light to the goings on of the naughty Mrs. Erlynne - with the exception of a twice divorced older gent Tuppy (Tom Wilkinson) who instead has his eye on Mrs. Erlynne as his perfect new mate. The trail of cookie crumbs is left when Mrs. Erlynne advises Robert to buy his wife a fan - with all the history of seductive uses that holds. That fan travels around the circles and is eventually the means by which the secrets are made clear and the misrepresented scandals are solved.
The setting of Wilde's comedy has been updated very successfully to the 1930s and the costumes and extraordinary views of the insides and vistas of Amalfi are a fine marriage. The actors are to the person excellent with Helen Hunt giving a fine portrayal of a character at first difficult to like (but she is a good woman!). Scarlett Johansson once again proves that her dramatic skills are equal to her beauty and Tom Wilkinson, Milena Vukotic, and the entire cast toss Wilde's wonderful lines into the air like butterflies. This is a very special film, one that touches the brain, the heart and the sense of humor in a most delectable manner. One wonders why on earth the critics panned it during the theatrical release. I'm sure Wilde would have a fitting answer for that! Highly recommended. Grady Harp, June 06
Movie Review: Gorgeous outfits, breathtaking scenery, great performances
Summary: 5 Stars
Helen Hunt plays the role of Mrs. Erlynne, who lives off of other women's husbands. The movie opens in New York City during the 30's and we see this gorgeous and self assured femme fatale no longer welcomed by society because of the danger she represents. The credit she once had, provided by the rich and famous is no longer available but she wants to move to new territory and is forced to sell her jewelry to have enough money to buy passage to travel to the Amalfi Coast, the region of Italy's coastline located south of Naples.
The beautiful settings of Amalfi, Positano and Ravello make this movie a cinematographic wonder. The shots of this world renowned stretch of mountainous coastline are breathtaking and we could not help but want to visit the picturesque villages, the beautiful villas that cling to the cliffs as if designed to become part of a portrait.
We get to walk with the actors through the streets of these fishing villages and we join them as they purchase their lunch from the fresh catch of the day. Mrs. Eflynne has apparently set her sight on a newly married Robert Windermere, played by Mark Umbers.
Meg Windermere, played by Scarlett Johansson is portrayed as naïve, completely in love with her husband and incapable of doing anything to jeopardize her marriage. But when her husband starts to visit Mrs. Eflynne at her villa the local gossips become convinced that they are involved in a torrid affair and they become the talk of the town.
John Standing delivers an outstanding performance as Dumby, the high society wealthy Lord Darlington, twice-divorced and reluctant to ever marry again, and yet, he is so smitten by Mrs. Eflynne that he proposes matrimony to the "American" woman that every woman despises and every man admires.
This is one of those few movies that took us by surprise as the plot twists and turns, and rather than revealing it to you, we simply recommend seeing it. If you have ever traveled through Italy, this movie will remind you of the great natural beauty of Amalfi, Ravello, Sorrento and Rome. Gorgeous attire, elegant settings, delightful performances and delicious give and take by the men... Don't miss it!
Movie Review: Best Wilde Adaptation Since 1952!!
Summary: 5 Stars
While I'm willing to be swayed by a film, I will admit I oft go into a viewing with preconceptions (thus requiring the need for a second viewing so I can be more objective). This time around: 1- I'm not a fan of Ms Johansson; 2- Mr Wilkinson, I feel, has been in altogether far too many films of late and I'm bored with him; 3- Recent adaptations of Wilde's works have suffered greatly by their directors' attempts to 'open up' the claustrophobic parlour parlance with scenic inserts in an attempt to be nominated for a Cinematography Oscar at the cost of crippling the cadence inherent in Mr W's plays; 4- learning that some of the cast were Americans, feared that they'd do a gawdawful job with their English accents; and 5- Lady Windermere's Fan is not among my favourite Wilde plays.
This film did not require a second viewing. At least not for me to thoroughly enjoy it. It may require a second viewing, however, for me to search for all of its pitfalls. And that can be fairly enjoyable in itself, mind.
None of the main actors, including Ms Johansson, appear to be 'acting', if you will. They are their characters, they inhabit them. It feels right and not forced. Mr Wilkinson does a better job here than with the Rev from EARNEST: light with hidden gravitasse as opposed to cartoonish ecumincalism.
The pacing is great AND the director gets to 'open up' the world of his movie. Though with a different setting (Italy) and time (1930s), his transitions and inserts keep up with the tempo of Wilde's words (even if it's a pity many of them are still excised in this abbreviated adaptation) while injecting fresh energy into how and where scenes are played out. And I did like how this tale - or expose - of social scandal played out within the circle of British and American upper-class while surrounded by one of the more passionate and explosive tribes, the Italians.
This was a good, solid movie, even without orcs, explosions and cgi talking cars (though these can be good, too). Gives me lots of hope for further Wilde adaptations... which I know will probably end up being less Wilde and more bewildering in their inane executions. But hey...
Movie Review: Hollywood at its very best
Summary: 5 Stars
During the last few years while Hollywood was immersed in their orgy of films that celebrate violence, death and destruction three small European companies got together and hired a gifted writer to adapt Oscar Wilde's Lady Windermere's Fan, for those who may not be familiar, a much heralded stage drama (a Comedy of manners as it was then called) first presented in the London stage in 1892.
Here is story containing much of the original, brilliant wit of Oscar Wilde. Here is a lovely cast of carefully selected, talented actors and here is a motion picture every bit as filmic as anything yet done, re-set at the 1930 seaside village of Amalfi, Italy, a watering place for the rich in pre-Hitler Europe.
The period is lovingly restored perhaps only in the ways of Italian craftsmen in costume, architecture, ambiance and even camera film tone. This care extended to the performances by actors we all recognize and admire; Helen Hunt, here, surprisingly beautiful, Tom Wilkinson and Scarlett Johansson.
The film was not really seen here although apparently released theatrically. Why not is puzzling and why the critics did not like it while they go bonkers over junk is far beyond my ken.
Fortunately I saw the entire movie on Comcast's On Demand completely free of breaks and commercials on my large Sony Bravia. For two hours I was in heaven with my cup of coffee and a cinnamon-raisin bagel from Brueggers' downstairs. If you want to escape to what surely was a more graceful time of letters and human behavior please get a hold of the DVD which is available at this writing.
Movie Review: A Beautiful Remake of Oscar Wilde's "Lady Windemere's Fan"
Summary: 5 Stars
A beautiful period piece richly packed with authentic costumes from the 1930's, beautiful locations, and great acting.
The title "A Good Woman" comes from a line in Oscar Wilde's play entitled "Lady Windemere's Fan" and it is true to Wilde's play with very small additons or changes that leave the original plot intact. For instance, Wilde's play takes place in the later part of the 19th century while "A Good Woman" takes place in the 1930's. But it is a timeless play and could even have been remade in today's time period.
Helen Hunt plays the part of a scandulous woman who has "been around the block" and who has run out of wealthy married men to sustain her lifestyle in America. Her acting is very well done as is that of all the other characters. Helen's character, sells what jewelry she has left, buys a new trouseau and heads to the Italian coast to mingle with the wealthy there in the hope of upgrading her situation. Those she comes in involved with, make for an intriguing story.
After seeing it on TCM, when it was in progress, I knew that I had to have it. I am very happy that I purchased it and, if you are one who likes period pieces, with great costumes, beautiful color, actual Italian seaside locations and scenery, you will very much ejoy this dvd and its story.
The resolution, sound and color, are superior. I highly recommend its purchase. I recieved it carefully packaged, and within a short time after ordering it.