Praise the Virtuous

Friday, September 25, 2009 , Posted by Should I See It at 12:13 AM

Film: Easy Virtue
Director: Stephan Elliott
Starring: Jessica Biel, Colin Firth, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ben Barnes
Plot: Set in England in 1928, young John Whittaker (Ben Barnes) marries glamorous, and older, American Race Car Driver Larita (Jessica Biel) much to the displeasure of his family. Her arrival upsets the family’s very British landed gentry sensibilities.





Easy Virtue’s biggest asset is undoubtedly its director, Stephan Elliott. Elliott, who also brought us Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, has an energy and, most importantly, a vision for the period piece. In less capable hands, Easy Virtue would be considered tired, outdated and, well, boring.


But there is something incredibly refreshing about Easy Virtue. Usually the ‘period country house drama’ is a showcase for glamour and beautifully preserved buildings. But in Easy Virtue, we see the idyllic country setting is deteriorating. Hidden amongst all the laughs, is the knowledge that the devastation of the Great Depression is lurking just around the corner. There is something poignant about Mrs Whittaker’s (Kristin Scott Thomas) desperation to cling onto a social order that is becoming obsolete.


Elliott’s directorial style is enhanced by wonderfully adapted screenplay of Noel Coward’s 1924 play of the same name. Elliott (who also serves and screenwriter) and Sheridan Jacobs provide dialogue that has more witty lines than I can remember; “she’s a lot like death by drowning; quite pleasant once she stops struggling”, being one of my particular favourites.


The soundtrack keeps the film bouncing along nicely. While there are plenty of period songs, lots of Cole Porter and Noel Coward himself, the real surprises are the versions of ‘Sex Bomb’ and ‘Car Wash’ that are almost unrecognisable with their 1920s style orchestrations.


Solid performances also abound. Kristin Scott Thomas is superb as always. Colin Firth has moved from playing the dishy hero to playing the dishy dad. But don’t worry ladies, the dark and broody Colin Firth still abounds, sporting plenty of stubble. Ben Barnes is probably the biggest surprise. He exhibits a youthful charm that he lacked in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. Barnes also contributes to the soundtrack, demonstrating a lovely, smooth tone that makes me hope he will play Billy Crocker in Anything Goes one day.


But the real scene stealers are Katharine Parkinson and Kimberley Nixon as the Whittaker daughters. Parkinson is incredibly funny, with some of the best line deliveries in the film. Nixon, almost unrecognisable from her role in BBC’s Cranford, is delightful. Nixon is definitely and actress to look out for over the next few years. She is clearly talented, but there is a warmth about her that is appealing. Given she makes the right choices, she is certainly in line for a successful career.



Unfortunately the films biggest down fall is its leading lady, Jessica Biel. What should be the film’s greatest asset, is a dead weight dragging the film down and stopping it from reaching its full potential. Lines such as “it’s awfully dispiriting” fall awkwardly, and her British cast mates run rings around her in every scene. Biel is certainly glamorous, but her athletic figure seems out of place in the waif world of the twenties. Also, Biel is only 27, not nearly old enough to be the ‘harlot sneaking into the nursery’ that Larita accuses herself of being.

Biel, as an actress, is an outsider here. She does not fit in a film with British greats Firth and Scott Thomas. And while her conspicuousness should work in the context of the film, it unfortunately does just the opposite. She is swallowed up by the Britishness surrounding her, instead of rising above it. Her performance feels like a performance.


Mostly because of Biel, the films more dramatic third act feels awkwardly at odds with the rest of the film. But the other performances make it worth it.






Should I See It?

Fortunately the film is strong enough to withstand Biel's performance. There is still 97 minutes of fast paced frivolity to enjoy. A definite yes.





Easy Virtue Official Site here