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Easy Virtue

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Easy Virtue (2009)

May. 22,2009
|
6.6
|
PG-13
| Comedy Romance
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A young Englishman marries a glamorous American. When he brings her home to meet the parents, she arrives like a blast from the future - blowing their entrenched British stuffiness out the window.

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Reviews

Scanialara
2009/05/22

You won't be disappointed!

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Jeanskynebu
2009/05/23

the audience applauded

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Lidia Draper
2009/05/24

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

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Raymond Sierra
2009/05/25

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

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victoriasimon86
2009/05/26

This comedy set in a WWI backdrop also has an orchestra soundtrack highlighting era greats like Cole Porter. (Aptly named the "Easy Virtue" Orchestra) Jessica Biel in any movie is enough to draw an audience based on eye candy alone. Add platinum blonde, an excellent English supporting cast and outfits courtesy of the film's costume collaborators and you have yourself a witty, wild and all-consuming two hours of fun. When Laritta, a young American Grand Prix winner from Detroit meets an even younger English aristocrat, John Whitaker (Ben Barnes)sparks fly as fiercely as Laritta's driving. The two marry and when Laritta meets John's well to do family in the English countryside, the encounter is anything but pleasant. Little does Laritta know that Mrs. Whitaker (Kristin Scott Thomas) and her daughter sidekicks will do anything to have her disappear. What is this gold digging American harlot doing impersonating as a member of my family? She is everything that they are not: lively, seductive, brazen and they hate her for it. Laritta is a match for Mrs Whitaker as they both deftly plot the other's social demise. Laritta is the "siren" leading John to his death and Mrs. Whitaker is Medusa turning all that is beating flesh to stone. One man turned stone is her estranged husband played by Colin Firth. A war vet who has lost his direction and purpose after becoming a failure. He is the dark horse who provides an aside as Shakespeare's character's often do every now and then to put things into perspective. The film climaxes with an ending that you will not soon forget.

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GabriellaBN
2009/05/27

This is one film where the brilliant chemistry the actors shared allowed for the disregarding of any faults the plot may hold. It was fabulously cast and the characters accurately represented every aspect of the English culture in that time period. The plot twists are, for the most part, unpredictable and the comic timing is precise. Ben Barnes, once again, nailed his role of a handsome English aristocrat, and Colin Firth is perfect as the sultry, brooding man of the house. At first I was hesitant to see Jessica Biel in a British romance, but she exceeded my expectations in every aspect including her little duets with Barnes.I would recommend this movie to anyone and everyone.

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jmatrixrenegade
2009/05/28

I really enjoyed this movie the first time around since I thought it had great leads, a good sense of place and examined numerous important themes.The "7th Heaven" actress hit pay dirt here, finding a perfect movie to show her talents. She has not have had much success finding a similar role since. In time, we see the depth of her character, who at first just comes of as "outrageous." The parents of her new husband are excellent as always. Again, their characters are deeper in time, at first, they might be seen as just "characters" in a period drama. Supporting actors like Katherine Parkinson (of Doc Martin) also are good. And, there are some really wicked (the dog scenes; the can can) and touching (including toward the end) moments.I watched it again and didn't quite enjoy it as much. So, maybe it loses something on re-viewing. Maybe it was just too soon.

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ga-bsi
2009/05/29

This film was a wonderful surprise. I usually don't particularly enjoy Biel because I've only ever seen her in films like Stealth and Next, which were both quite terrible. To be perfectly honest I only rented the film because it was based on a play by Noel Coward, whose work I adore. I was ready to be mildly pleased and somewhat saved by Firth and Scott Thomas. I was absolutely delighted when Biel's portrayal of the American female race car driver who has a somewhat shady past was witty, strong and extremely likable. It would be silly to say that Biel does not normally look very attractive; but in this film she looked beautiful and graceful in her evening gowns and fitted trousers.Firth is as dashing and gorgeous as ever as the laconic father who is silently suffering the harrowing memories of the First World War, and his repressive wife and malicious and empty headed daughters. He provides Biel with the perfect support system, making her performance stand out even more with his perfect comic and dramatic timing. Their chemistry is electric and makes Biel and Barnes' pairing looking rather dull and badly matched. The scene in which he and Biel dance passionately to Latin music during a rigid and contrived Christmas party at the family mausoleum, otherwise known as the family cottage, is definitely my favourite part and the best display of their chemistry.Overall the film is witty, wonderful and surprisingly deep. Some may feel disappointed, but I feel that this is one of Noel Coward's best works. It seamlessly shows the unhappiness, secrets, suffering and hypocrisy of the outwardly wealthy but inwardly bankrupt upper class British aristocracy; the doomed pairing of two people who are well acquainted strangers who think they are in love; and the pairing of two people who should have been together all along and finally are.

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