Girl With a Pearl Earring
2004. Directed by Peter Webber. Screenplay by Olivia Hetreed based on the novel by Tracy Chealier. Starring Scarlett Johansson, Colin Firth, Tom Wilkinson, Cillian Murphy, Judy Parfitt, and Essie Davis.
I am ashamed at any reservations I had about seeing this movie. I always felt like it was a movie I should watch but it looked like a movie I would admire more than love. It felt, as some movies do, like homework, so I put it off. Only with the upper generation of my family watching it recently, did it make its way to the top of my Netflix queue. It exceeded any and all expectations I had for it. It is a thrilling movie.
Nothing in Peter Webber's filmography suggests he was ready to make a film so confident and assured. He gets everything right. The mood is perfect. The cinematography is superb. The film moves steadily without ever rushing and takes the time to offer details. There is enough information about 17th century painting to be fascinating but not too much to take away from the drama. It is completely engaging and spellbinding. The cast is terrific. Scarlett Johansson, who is surely one of the finest actors working today, delivers a tremendous performance. Colin Firth is also terrific, doing his best acting when he is unable to speak a word but simply has to listen to his wife or his wealthy buyer. Tom Wilkinson is great, as always, in support.
The film is based on a book, which is based on an actual painting of the same name. It creates speculation as to how this painting came to being. This is the (fictional) back story that culminates in the painting itself. I'm so glad to have finally given this glorious film the chance it deserves.
My grade: A
I am ashamed at any reservations I had about seeing this movie. I always felt like it was a movie I should watch but it looked like a movie I would admire more than love. It felt, as some movies do, like homework, so I put it off. Only with the upper generation of my family watching it recently, did it make its way to the top of my Netflix queue. It exceeded any and all expectations I had for it. It is a thrilling movie.
Nothing in Peter Webber's filmography suggests he was ready to make a film so confident and assured. He gets everything right. The mood is perfect. The cinematography is superb. The film moves steadily without ever rushing and takes the time to offer details. There is enough information about 17th century painting to be fascinating but not too much to take away from the drama. It is completely engaging and spellbinding. The cast is terrific. Scarlett Johansson, who is surely one of the finest actors working today, delivers a tremendous performance. Colin Firth is also terrific, doing his best acting when he is unable to speak a word but simply has to listen to his wife or his wealthy buyer. Tom Wilkinson is great, as always, in support.
The film is based on a book, which is based on an actual painting of the same name. It creates speculation as to how this painting came to being. This is the (fictional) back story that culminates in the painting itself. I'm so glad to have finally given this glorious film the chance it deserves.
My grade: A
posted by Keith Allison at 8:55 PM
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