An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
2012
Theatre
The show has suddenly become quite wonderful, and the galvanising factor is the terrific stage debut of Melanie C
Blood Brothers
Music
The British pop music industry may be eating itself but if Muse are the pick of what it can offer the world in 2010 then British music is in rude health indeed
Muse
I was smitten by both Gilberts enormous luxuriant moustache and the intelligence and nuance of this highly entertaining play
I totally recommend Babbo to anyone who is looking for really good and traditional Italian food
Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW!
London,
Nick Curtis's rating
Reader rating
Dir: Stephan Elliott.
Cast: Jessica Biel, Ben Barnes, Kristin Scott Thomas, Colin Firth, Kimberley Nixon, Katherine Parkinson, Kris Marshall
Description: Prodigal son John Whittaker returns to his family's stately pile with his new bride, American racing car driver Larita in tow. His sisters Hilda and Marion are terribly impressed by the glamorous, out-spoken new addition to the clan, and his war-wounded father Jim seems charmed too. However, John's neurotic mother Veronica is horrified that her golden boy has married... an American, when he could have proposed to one of the neighbours' daughters, thereby ensuring their social standing within the local community. Tensions escalate as Veronica blatantly tries to drive a wedge between John and Larita.
Country: UK. 2008. 96mins
Feisty: Jessica Biel with Ben Barnes in Easy Virtue, based on Noel Coward’s witty play
After-party: Colin Firth, Livia Giuggioli, Jessica Biel and Barnaby Thompson at Home House
How clever of director Stephan Elliott to cast Jessica Biel in Noel Coward’s critique of English snobbery. Her character, the fast, American “floozy” Larita, proves a near match for the hostile aristocratic clan whose son she has married.
And Biel, formerly a mere decoration in blockbusters and on Justin Timberlake’s arm, here gets her Yankee choppers into Britfilm royalty, Kristin Scott Thomas and Colin Firth. Her feisty performance stops Elliott’s film from being the by-the-numbers Twenties period drama it resembles.
The usual costume drama clichés are smoothly deployed. A magnificent motor car brings Larita — she is, shockingly, a racing driver — and puppyish hubby John Whittaker (Ben Barnes) up to a magnificent house.
Inside, John’s two silly sisters, several dogs, and lots of snobbery and barbed Cowardian aperçus await the new wife. John’s father (Firth) has let the estate go and his steely mama Veronica (Scott Thomas) is adamant her son should ditch his bride and knuckle down to save his inheritance.
Firth plays a man who has lost his soul, somewhere between the carnage of the trenches and the brothels of postwar Paris, with his habitual diffidence. Scott Thomas, looking heroically dowdy, goes into froideur overdrive.
Veronica is a character whose aim — keeping her family and estate together — might be admirable, even if her waspish methods are not, yet Scott Thomas plays her as if determined not to elicit a jot of sympathy. She is unremittingly brittle and icy, like mint cracknel. This unbalances Coward’s social point, which is delicately rather than savagely made.
Biel exudes the warmth and can-do vigour of an American adventuress, but is also touchingly hurt and bewildered in the face of snubs, slights, and the wearying business of behaving “properly”. Her relationship with Barnes’s pretty but insipid John never quite convinces.
Partly this is because Elliott makes him trill lines from period songs to Larita now and again, as if he’s suddenly been possessed by the soundtrack. Elsewhere, there’s a nicely judged comic cameo from Kris Marshall as the butler, and handsomely-mounted set pieces: a foxhunt with Larita on a motorbike, and a party where scandal is whipped up by a defiant tango.
This film is never less than lovely to look at. But it’s lifted above the level of being pretty, witty and mildly diverting not by those heavyweight Brits doing their thing, but by Biel.
Easy Virtue screens tonight as part of the London Film Festival at Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, and goes on general release on 7
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
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Coward's wit is meant to be a scalpel not a chainsaw, and I feel each player was cast well & delivered. I'd single out Miss Biel only to make the point, she does have acting chops & is not just a screen totty. Plus, she can sing! [check music credits] Kris Marshall as the major domo deserves high praise. Firth & Miss Scott-Thomas are always good. Their film progeny were up to the task & attarctive even in their flaws. BTW I love you Charlotte Riley---I'll be your Heathcliff any old day 
- Jb Early, Blacksburg VA USA
Gorgeous production, laugh out loud funny at times, and never less than witty. Kristin Scott-Thomas is the reason to see the film, even if Ben Barnes (fine) and Jessica Biel (very good) are the reason most will go. Ably directed too.
- Charles Dunhill, London, UK
As an American (and a Californian!) living in England, I really related to this film. I think the review above is a fair description - but I enjoyed it much more than the reviewer. For starters, you could look at Jessica Biel for an hour and a half and not feel you wasted your time. I thought Ben Barnes' character was suitably young (rather than 'unconvincing') and quite sympathetic for that (if he had been any stronger the ending wouldn't have been satisfying). And of course - anything with Kristin Scott-Thomas.
I also thought the themes in it were well handled (financial crisis, 'putting food on your family', peace in our time - and all that). But mostly - I thought the film was funny. Not just a chortle - but laugh out loud funny - and so did the rest of the audience. It was great fun, with real heart. In short I thought it was sexier than Atonement, and funnier than... nup... can't think of another funny period film that was, you know, actually funny. It ticked all the boxes for me.
- John Faulkes, London UK
this film hit the spot.. the actors were terrific, the sets were authentic, the story was an wonderful British romp.. great fun.. and music brought this old play to a new younger audience.. bravo
- Stanley Buchthal, usa
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