A Good Woman
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Movie Reviews of A Good Woman
Movie Review: It has a few tricks up its sleeve that makes it fun and entertaining...
Summary: 3 Stars
I remember wanting to see this movie for the mere fact that Scarlett Johansson was staring and I totally adore her. The movie hadn't received the grandest of reviews and so I stayed away until a few weeks back my wife and I decided to rent it. I must admit that, while I can understand to a degree some of the bad press, it truly is far from a horrible mess. The film is shockingly engaging and in the end I found that I enjoyed myself my more than I thought I would.
Based on Oscar Wilde's play `Lady Windermere's Fan', the film follows a young married couple, the Windermere's, as they settle into their home in Italy. Young Meg is infatuated with her successful husband Robert and trusts him indefinitely. That works to her advantage, especially when Mrs. Erlynne moves into town. Notorious for conniving her way into the lives of married men, the town is obviously up in arms about her arrival. She quickly becomes the talk of the town. Meg, having met her, doesn't understand why there is so much gossip to be had, but when it becomes common knowledge that her husband has been spending unnecessary amounts of time with Mrs. Erlynne, even giving her money, she begins to worry for her marriage.
There is more to `A Good Woman' then the synopsis that I just provided. There is much more to Mrs. Erlynne alone than meets the eye. In fact I never would have guessed how this movie would end, and I think that's why I liked it all the more.
One major plus to this film is the marvelous Tom Wilkinson. His performance as Tuppy, the successful bachelor who tries to woo Mrs. Erlynne for himself, is seriously best in show. I only wish he had been in every scene. Wilkinson is always top notch, that's for sure, and here is obviously no exception. Mark Umbers is rather forgettable as Robert Windermere, but thankfully the film isn't that interested in him aside from a prop character. The film is much more concentrated on the jealousy building in his wife and the mystery behind Mrs. Erlynne. Stephen Campbell Moore does a fine job playing Lord Darlington, the young suitor obsessed with having Meg to himself. His performance, while not award worthy, is memorable and natural. He has a natural charisma and charm that is befitting.
The two female leads are both adequate as well. Scarlett Johansson, while not giving her finest performance, delivers as Meg a character that is naïve and trusting yet guarded in a way. By the end of the film she is forced to find herself even if it means falling flat on her face. She manages to pull this off well. Helen Hunt, many have jested, is too old for this role. I agree, yet have to disagree. I actually really enjoyed her performance. She looks ancient here, older than she really is, and I found that odd. You'd think they would have made her look younger for the purposes of the character, but they don't. Regardless, she nails the performance in my opinion. I love her chemistry with Wilkinson especially, even if he steals the scenes.
In the end I felt that `A Good Woman' was a good movie, one that is rewarding in its own ways. Sure, it's not phenomenal and it's certainly not the best period piece to come around in recent years, but it manages to deliver a solid 3 ½ star movie that is fun and exciting and something that the whole family can enjoy.
Movie Review: Wild About Wilde? A Strangely Subdued Retelling Of A Literary Classic Left Me Wanting More "Wilde-ness"
Summary: 3 Stars
Some people like to skydive or rock climb for adventure. I must admit, at this stage in my life, adventure (for me) is jumping into a movie that I know absolutely nothing about and hoping for the best. Daring, huh? Such is the case with the vaguely titled "A Good Woman." I knew it starred Helen Hunt, Tom Wilkinson and Scarlett Johannson--and that was enough to lead me on the "adventure" of discovering this film. Imagine my surprise, then, (about a third of the way through) when a character named Windermere was purchasing a fan for his wife--and I suddenly realized I was watching a strange modernization of Oscar Wilde's classic play aptly entitled "Lady Windermere's Fan." I felt pretty foolish, I must admit--but I don't entirely blame myself.
Instead of the claustrophobic drawing rooms in 1890's England, "A Good Woman" is fashioned in Italy of the 1930's (an odd choice considering the political climate at the time--which is conveniently never mentioned). The Windermere's are now Americans. And what was once Wilde's comedy of manners has become a rather stilted drama with occasional one-liners that fans of Wilde's works will recognize. I certainly have no problem with re-imagining a classic work, such as this. But "A Good Woman" keeps the storyline of "Lady Windermere's Fan" while jettisoning the elements that make it an effective social commentary. The intimate settings of the play establish a world where gossip is an essential part of daily life, the wicked interactions are all anyone have to occupy their time. By opening things up to the Italian countryside, this seems to be less relevant. It's as if the primary characters are engaged in a different movie from the supporting players who make mockery of them.
"A Good Woman" tells the story of Mrs. Erlynne (Helen Hunt), a seductress that has made a career of manipulating the egos of wealthy men. After being chased from American society, she settles in Italy where her path crosses with a young aristocrat named Windermere and his bride (Johannson). Windermere's relationship with Mrs. Erlynne sets the tongues wagging. It's best not to reveal too much of the plot for those unfamiliar with the play--but again, the film's screenplay loses much of Wilde's language, flow, and intricate comedy. Only the talented and British supporting players, led by the sublime Wilkinson, seem to be trying to maintain Wilde's spirit.
Still, this is a handsome production. But no amount of lush scenery and exquisite costuming can hide the film's truly fatal flaw. No offense to Helen Hunt, or her fans, but her interpretation of Mrs. Erlynne leaves much to be desired. With a stilted cadence to her speech and a pinched expression, Hunt never convinces us that she could be the irresistible creation that she needs to be. Johannson is somewhat vacant in her role, as well, but that is better disguised by her character's naiveté. It is Wilkinson, in particular, that completely saves this production. With much needed humor and charm, "A Good Woman" is inexplicably salvaged by a man! While this isn't terrible by any stretch, it's unlikely to send new viewers to seek out the works of Oscar Wilde--and that's a real disappointment. KGHarris, 03/07.
Movie Review: Oscar Wilde's Wit Scintillates Even As the Cast Wavers and the Context Falters
Summary: 3 Stars
Despite my reservations, I'm glad this film will finally be released next month in US theaters, as I already saw it on a United Airlines flight in November. There is much that is worthwhile about director Mike Barker's adaptation of Oscar Wilde's classic play of manners, "Lady Windermere's Fan". With his trademark cleverness and sophisticated characters, Wilde wrote a shrewdly observant and trenchantly funny story of jealousy, hypocrisy and social acceptance in Victorian London. First-time screenwriter Howard Himelstein updates the story to the 1930's placing most of the action on the glamorous Amalfi Coast in Italy, and it certainly makes for a great excuse for a beautiful setting and period-authentic fashions.
The film sticks with the basic outline of Wilde's play, as the plot focuses on Mrs. Stella Erlynne, a scandalous socialite who has been run out of New York for using wealthy, married men to allow her to live the high life to which she has become accustomed. In Italy, she latches onto young Robert Windermere, a successful American businessman who is still a blissful newlywed with his demure wife Meg in tow. About to celebrate her 21st birthday, Meg herself attracts the not entirely unwanted attentions of notorious playboy Lord Darlington, who discovers that Robert has been paying Mrs. Erlynne a generous allowance. Complications ensue until a surprise ending (at least a surprise for anyone who doesn't know the play) uncovers the true facts behind the payments. The brittle wit of Wilde's words remains intact, but the zestful spirit seems missing given the lack of an appropriate emotional context for Wilde's shrewd observations to resonate. Ultimately it all feels very civilized but too tepid to make the story relevant to a modern viewer.
Casting is part of the problem. As Mrs. Erlynne, a skeletal Helen Hunt seems miscast despite her best efforts at being scintillating. Her appeal comes from her contemporary, down-to-earth sensibilities, so her portrayal of a predatory bon-vivant feels off-kilter, especially as her character shows moments of vulnerability. The omnipresent Scarlett Johansson looks right as Meg, but she also seems at sea with Wilde's dialogue and the character's evolution. Even so, Mark Umbers is comparatively lackluster as Robert. Faring better are Stephen Campbell Moore as Darlington (spewing my favorite Wilde line as he describes America as a society "that's gone from barbarism to depravity without bothering to develop civilization in between") and, in particular, Tom Wilkinson, who plays Mrs. Erlynne's not-so-love-blind suitor, Tuppy, with the panache that the rest of the cast seems missing. All the externals are fine - Ben Seresin's sun-dappled cinematography, John Bloomfield's fanciful costumes, Ben Scott's Mediterranean-feeling production design. However, it all comes down to Wilde's incisive wit, and the movie is worth seeing just to listen to that.
Movie Review: Not good enough to recommend
Summary: 3 Stars
A great cast. A decent story. Fantastic locations. Great costumes. Excellent, excellent dialogue. But I didn't really enjoy this movie because the performances lacked a bit of snap and crackle. I think it needed some kung-fu.
Without spoiling the story for anyone, the premise of the movie is as follows: Mrs Erlynne (Helen Hunt) is a (slightly) older New York socialite with a reputation for "preying" on wealthy married men. Forced to flee New York she sets of for the Amalfi coast with her sights set on the newly married Meg (Scarlett Johansson) and Robert (Mark Umbers). She quickly strikes up a relationship with Robert which sets tongues wagging and he is suspected of providing her with an allowance and beginning an affair.
Meanwhile: Meg attracts the attention of a playboy Lord who sees an opportunity to make his move, Mrs Erlynne attracts the attention of old Lord Tuppy and the gossip starts to take its toll on any number of relationships.
Things come to a head at Meg's 21st birthday party when the motivations of the various players are revealed and some unexpected truths emerge.
What lets this film down is the fact that not one character has any charisma and as a result there is none of the requisite spark between the characters that a story like this needs. Meg and Robert seem dull. I suspect that Scarlett Johansson was cast more for her visual qualities than any else; Mrs Erlynne is just not sexy enough or alluring enough to seem believable in the role of a vamp; the playboy Lord fails to make any real impact - and the whole thing is just a little bit too PG rated. Or a little bit too proper perhaps. As I say, what it needs is more kung-fu (if you know what I mean).
The one decent performance is from Lord Tuppy who also seems to get all the best lines while he is trying to woo Mrs Erlynne.
Lacking enough substance to be good enough to recommend.
Movie Review: A Notorious Bad American Woman's Redemption in Italy.
Summary: 3 Stars
A Good Woman was screened at festival here in Toronto alongside with films like Being Julia, but it's been kept on the shelves until last month when it finally gets it's North America release. Now I know it's delayed for the reason of marketability. I find this film to be dull in it's direction and it results in a nice looking period film lack luster, comedy, or drama. It's not as good as An Ideal Husband(also a Wilde adaptation), and it's not worthed the participations the two leading ladies.
Helen Hunt(Mrs. Erlynne) is an experienced seductress with a bad reputation, and she's been with most of the married men in New York. When she's shunned by society, she flees the city to Italy in search of another sponsor. She managed to connect to a wealty young married man named Robert Windemere(Mark Umbers) who secretly carried an affair with her and provides for her finiancially. Meanwhile, Mrs. Windemere(Scarlette Johansson) is clueless about her husband's secret affair with the notorious Mrs. Erlynne when the whole town's gossiping about her arrival. Mrs. Erlynne also attracts the attention of another wealthy suitor named Tuppy(Tom Wilkinson) who eventually becomes infatuated by her and wants to give her his all. The real mystery of Mrs. Erlynne's past starts to unravel, and her must not reveal her secrets and lies in order to help save Windemere's marriage and redemn herself....
Helent Hunt at times seems to be channeling Glenn Close's expressions from Dangerous Liasons, and she's quite convincing as woman wearing a mask. Unfortunately, the role is limited to a one-note and not multi-layered performance. Got to give her credit for being so glamorous and against type. Scarlette Johansson is also kind of low-key in this film. However, she did get to have a few tearful moments. I must say that Tom Wilkinson is superb in a supporting role.