Easy Virtue - 2008

Movie #142
3 stars

American widow Larita (Jessica Biel) meets John (Ben Barnes), a wealthy young Englishman, in France and impulsively marries him. But when they visit his family at their country estate, Larita receives a chilly reception from her virulent new mother-in-law (Kristin Scott Thomas). As she waits impatiently to move on with life in London, Larita forms a subtle bond with John's father (Colin Firth) while John falls further under his mother's spell.

Cast: Jessica Biel, Ben Barnes, Kristin Scott Thomas, Colin Firth, Kimberley Nixon, Katherine Parkinson, Kris Marshall, Christian Brassington, Charlotte Riley, Jim McManus

Director: Stephan Elliott

Filming Locations: London, Oxfordshire, and Nottinghamshire, England

Like/Dislike: The interior shots were amazing. The wide camera shots allowed the viewer to feel as though they were in the room. OK...this may also be a dislike. It is possible that the wide shots were favored because of Jessica Biels' somewhat lack of acting skills. Her role was the most important one...the role that would ultimately make or break this film. She may have tried too hard to feel uncomfortable in the current setting but at times it was kind of painful to watch long scenes that mostly evolved around her speaking.

Like: Kristen Scott Thomas did a fabulous job...just like she always does. She pegged the role of a somewhat angry mother perfectly. If she wasn't in this movie than I don't think I would (a) have been attracted to it, or (b) been able to finish the film.

Like: The dog :)
Dislike: THE MUSIC!!! We (or atleast I did) got the point of the era the movie was supposed to take place in. It is not necessary to play a blaring song every 10 minutes to remind the viewers it is not the 21st century. The interior of the house and the clothes say enough.

Dislike: I wanted to like this movie so much but in the end I just felt disappointed. Was the viewer supposed to feel a rush of excitement when we found out about Jessica Biels' past? Did the viewer even reallly get to know about her past?

Overall Recommendation: If you like Kristen Scott Thomas then you may enjoy watching it a little bit...but other than that don't expect very much.

Kristen Scott Thomas Quote: People will now go to films with subtitles, you know. They're not afraid of them. It's one of the upsides of text-messaging and e-mail. Maybe the only good thing to come of it.