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“Easy Virtue” is an engrossing drama with
comic elements about the conflict between a young American bride (Jessica
Biel) and her domineering, classist mother-in-law (Kristin Scott Thomas who
may have deserved an Oscar nomination for her mesmerizing performance last
year in “I’ve Loved You So Long”).
The title may seem
familiar to some viewers because it was based on a Noel Coward play with the
same name. The play had been previously made into a silent film directed by
Alfred Hitchcock (starring Isabel Jeans). But that was not one of
Hitchcock’s better films, and this version is far more memorable.
Although “Easy Virtue”
was made in 2008, the film is scheduled to open at Landmark Century cinema
this week on Friday. But this is no reflection on the quality of the film
which is excellent in many ways.
Ben Barnes plays John
Whittaker, a man stuck between two strong willed women. His family is
quintessentially British, and come from old money. Most of his rather
provincial family is taken aback when he brings home his new bride, the
headstrong American racecar driver, Larita (played by the glamorous Jessica
Biel, who has improved considerably as an actress since she ruined “Blade
3.”)
Veronica despises Larita
from the start and refers to her as “John’s floozy.” The only person who is
sympathetic to Larita’s fish-out-of-water plight is her father-in-law
Colonel Jim Whittaker (Colin Firth), who knows what it is liked to be
tortured by his pompous wife, Veronica (Kristin Scott Thomas). In the past
the colonel has had a roving eye, and there might also be some sexual
tension between him and his drop dead attractive, daughter-in-law.
The straight laced,
Veronica constantly hammers at her liberated daughter-in-law. She is
determined to preserve the family name and control her son’s life, even if
it means ruining his marriage.
In all fairness, Larita
doesn’t always try too hard to blend in, and she even accidentally kills the
family dog (she sits on him). But we can’t help rooting for her, because her
character represents America and a more modern age.
Also, Larita refuses to
play tennis with the other ladies, and she is not ashamed to be a divorcee.
In addition she is caught reading racy literature (Proust’s “Sodom and
Gomorrah”) which scandalizes the ladies in the family.
Suspense is created
because we don’t know if Ben will step up to the plate and defend his wife
or whether he will end up alone like the mamma’s boy protagonist in D.H.
Lawrence’s “Sons and Lovers” (This film shares some of the Freudian
implications of that novel).
“Easy Virtue” is
undeniably talky, but it is also clever and sophisticated. Also, all of the
characters are all well developed, and the performances are convincing,
especially Scott Thomas, Firth and Biel. This little film is a welcome
alternative to all the big summer super hero films, and action sequels. |