Review of A Good Woman (2004) by Eugen K — 13 Jan 2010
Set in 1930, the story begins in New York where Mrs. Erlynne (Helen Hunt) is running out of suitors to pay her subsistence & sees a news photo of wealthy Lord Windermere & his young wife. Looking at a photograph in the newspaper, she packs up her few belongings, skips out on her healthy hotel bill, & makes her way to the shores of Italy.
She heads for the Amalfi Coast to be among the rich & famous for â??the seasonâ?? & to snare Mr. Windermere. Gossips twitter as he spends his afternoons with her, his wife blissfully innocent as she blushingly fends off attentions from a young English nobleman, an international playboy who thinks he's in love.
Mrs. Erlynne is also pursued by a worldly-wise older English nobleman. Mrs. Windermere's 20th birthday party approaches, where all plays out with much of Wildes humorous plot This film is a treat for those who like period pieces & al movies like those made by Merchant & Ivory.
The director developed a good & witty screenplay from A Wilde play. I really liked the idea setting this Oscar Wilde play in the 1930 Italian Riviera. It makes the film very appealing. The film has high production values excellent scenery, & great 1930s costumes.
There is a good score that enhances every bit of the film. The Amalfi coast is beautifully filmed & it is a great setting for this entertaining film about jet set (1930s) gossip & morals. Ben Seresis works magic in the cinematography area.
The Amalfi Italian Rivera is bathed in pastels, ochres blacks & golds of 1930s . This film (& cinematography) is a beautiful piece of Wilde nostalgia (albeit set in Italy & not Victorian 1890s England) Tom Wilkinson is really great in his role.
Helen hunt is also impressive as the traveling â??Jezebelâ??. Scarlett Johansson was dazzling in her role as the potentially jilted wife. The plot has some interesting twists at the end in typical Wilde fashion.
The director succeeded with this film on every level. It is a fine work about a lost age of divine decadence.
This review of A Good Woman (2004) was written by Eugen K on 13 Jan 2010.
A Good Woman has generally received mixed reviews.
Was this review helpful?
