The Painted Veil
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Movie Reviews of The Painted Veil
Movie Review: It Starts Slow, 5 Stars
From the trailers this looked like another stuffy, boring Merchant/Ivory plodder, but NO!It does start slow, but it has to set up the characters. Naomi Watts' character is shallow, immature, self-centered and pretty much a parasite living off her parents.
Since everyone else has synopsized the story,I won't. But give it a chance, it really gets speeding along and is completely unpredictable. I couldn't tell where the plot would take us.
The cinematography is stunning! Having been to Asia and having an airport lay over in Hong Kong I could feel the sticky heat of southern China just watching this movie and I felt myself drawn in. Even if you've never been to Asia, just the camera work and set decoration makes you think you're overseas and back in the 1920's.
One terrible line of dialogue though that slipped through: Naomi Watts tells her husband she's pregnant. His reply, "With a baby?" (Well, duh, yeah!) I'm not sure I heard that line right. I'll have to watch the movie again.
Anyway, pure adult entertainment. You have to be patient, listen to the story, a generous helping of sexual content. Highly recommended! I'll end up watching this one at least 10 times.
Movie Review: Stunning and Resplendent
Summary: 5 Stars
Based on the 1925 Maugham novel of the same title, "The Painted Veil" (2006) takes it's name from a verse of Shelley "Lift not the painted veil which those who live call life." In this story, however, the veil is indeed lifted as a man and a woman discover true life and true love by giving their lives for others. A dull civil servant, Dr. Fane, brilliantly played by Edward Norton and a shallow, silly debutante called Kitty (Naomi Watts) make a disastrous marriage of convenience. Only by going to a remote area of China to assist some helpless villagers in a cholera epidemic do the couple find themselves and each other. Dr. Fane is revealed to be man of courage and ingenuity; Kitty, with the help of some feisty nuns, learns to put the needs of others first. Her inner depths are unveiled as she discovers the reality of love. Diana Rigg portrays the Mother Superior who describes her own spiritual journey to Kitty. It is one of the best descriptions of the dark night of the soul that I have ever heard in a contemporary film. Visually breathtaking, "The Painted Veil" was filmed on location in rural China; it can be enjoyed just for the scenery.Movie Review: THE PAINTED VEIL
Summary: 5 Stars
This is without question Naomi Watts best work, she is terrific in this film. It is of course based on W. Somerset Maugums classic book, and it's true to the spirit of his prose. I had heard that it was Edward Nortons favorite book, so I was not surprised to see he produced the film as well. The cinemaphotography is simply breath taking, it is filmed on location in China and the film couldnt be any more beautiful. Norton and Watts are perfect as the leads and their chemistry is a directors dream, I usually find Norton cold, he's such a method actor, I find he normally is not good as romantic lead, but this role suits him to perfection, I think he has rarely been better. The film is sweeping and does not lag, Tobe Smith is great as usual, he really should have won an academy award for his role as Truman Capote, he was so superior to Philip Seymore Hoffman, he was just unlucky in its release, but I digress, sufficive to say, I loved this film, it was romantic and sad yet uplifting. Be forewarned the film shows cholera up close and personal, it was not considered the scurge of the world for nothing, it's a beast. Highly recommnended.Movie Review: Great film-Watts and Norton are tremendous
Summary: 5 Stars
Read the "Is it possible to fall in love with virtue?" review. It does great justice to this beautiful film.
This was a challenging movie, a very unusual love story, where two unhappy people who initially lack a shared connection or chemistry, grow to respect one another, and from this respect springs passion. Not the usual pattern of events- and a challenge to communicate convincingly. Very few actors could have portrayed this relationship so seamlessly. Watts and Norton delivered exceptionally mature performances - they really should be credited as brilliant for pulling this off. So subtle too, not a bit over the top; their clean, quiet performances were nearly flawless.
Another essential ingredient to this movie, aside from the the historical setting (the Orient during a cholera epidemic) is the musical score. It does so much to set the tone of this film, and it is as perfect as Watts and Norton's acting.
This movie's beauty makes one weep. I wish I could do it justice with words, but I can not. Just don't miss the chance to see it.
Movie Review: One of the best films in this decade.
Summary: 5 Stars
The movie, The Painted Veil, is one of those rare instances where the film is more satisfying than the book. Since the book was written by one of our greatest English writers, Somerset Maugham, this is high praise for the film, indeed. Naomi Watts plays Kitty, a spoiled, beautiful English woman who marries a man she does not love, Walter Fane(played by Edward Norton). She has an affair at the first opportunity. Walter finds out and devises a particularly wicked revenge. How his revenge plays out is the main plot of the film. The book follows a similar story line but the characters of Kitty and Walter are essentially unchanging, and their relationship is basically static as well. In the movie, Kitty, Walter, and their relationship evolve in a surprising, rewarding, and entirely believable manner. Naomi Watts and Edward Norton are excellent as Kitty and Walter, and Toby Jones, Diana Riggs, and Liev Schrieber are a fine supporting cast. The movie also has beautiful scenery (filmed on location in China) and a haunting score. Highly recommended.