The only reason I’m not giving this film five stars, asides from a slight bias against mainstream cinema, is Jessica Biel. I’ve never found her particularly versatile as an actress; my notes inform me that she told the director she’d need help, since she “doesn’t have a sense of bitterness or cynicism in her”.
It’s called acting dear… And she just lacks the imperative classic 20s style.
Now for the facts. Easy Virtue can only be described as a fucking fabulous film. It is sensational, sensual, classic, decadent, deliciously funny underpinned by a sense of darkness. Noel Cowardian humour drips from every line, as the dialogue begins with chilling British reserve versus joyous wry sarcasm and descends into a veritable war-zone of sharp-tongued shrapnel, dead lap dogs have never been so funny. The soundtrack is crucial, and there is an almost orgasmic moment when a dirty, gritty, 20s jazz sounding version of Sex Bomb overwhelms the senses. You just have to love a movie that climaxes on a tempestuous tango!
The story follows two newly-weds, young Englishman John Whittaker and his spur of the moment American bride Larita when they arrive at John’s country manor home, reminiscent of a Samuel Beckett space in its deadly stuffed-animal stillness. Sparks fly between Larita and John’s family as their equally shady pasts and stubborn presents collide. The characters are delicious in their quirks and symmetry, from the drunk butler to the clinging mother. Ben Barnes does a brilliant job at depicting the young John, who dissolves from a sensuous young man into a bewildered little boy; Kristin Scott Thomas is her usual exquisite self, acting the “villain” of the piece. But Colin Firth is the true star of the show. There is the distinct feeling that he has finally been given a role to really get his teeth into; he’s beautiful, wonderfully funny and desperately dark.
The film ends just the way you secretly hoped it would, without cliché or predictability, and you find yourself starry eyed, hands clasped, laughing in sheer pleasure as the credits kick in. Go see it; trust me, you haven’t had this much fun in far too long!
4 Stars
