Review of Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003) by Thomas W — 21 Apr 2011

One of the most beautiful movies I have EVER seen -- literally. This film is a feast for the eyes and it very-much deserved its Oscar nomination for Best Cinematography. The colors are vivid and muted at the same time .

.. and not since Barry Lyndon have I seen a film look more-like an actual piece of artwork. It is a painting come to life. A good storyline needs to be a part of any good film and "looking at a moving picture" isn't enough to keep one thoroughly engrossed in a costume-drama like Girl With a Pearl Earring; but this film delivers that too.

It is a fictionalized account of a Johannes Vermeer painting's origin -- the painting of the film's title (Vermeer and the painting both exist(ed) -- so this is spectacular "historical fiction" if you will).

Vermeer was a Dutch master and is played here by a near-silent Colin Firth (The King's Speech, The English Patient, A Single Man) who lives painting-to-painting (like paycheck-to-paycheck) at the mercy of wealthy benefactors.

His current benefactor is played by a slithery Tom Wilkinson (In the Bedroom, Michael Clayton, Batman Begins) who commissions his latest painting. That painting lacks inspiration until Vermeer catches his servant/maid Griet (Scarlett Johansson - Lost in Translation, Match Point, The Prestige) cleaning his studio .

.. and she becomes his latest muse/subject much to the dis-satisfaction of his very-pregnant/very-jealous wife played by a great and unknown Essie Davis (Australia, The Matrix 2 & 3, Code 46). Griet is also a near-silent character as her place in society isn't one that is supposed to be either seen or heard; but Johansson is more-than-fine in this role (the actress had BOTH this and Lost in Translation this year [both roles earned her Best Actress nominations at the BAFTAs while the Oscars don't allow for this and she most-definitely became the victim of vote-splitting that year stateside]).

Griet is persued by both Vermeer and his benefactor but she has a fondness for a lowly butcher played by Cillian Murphy (Batman Begins, Inception, Sunshine). The film is a beautiful painting; it is a love-triangle; it is a domestic drama; and it is a social commentary.

Few films have surprised me like Girl with a Pearl Earring has done. It looked boring and un-lively ... un-interesting and pretentious; but it was none of these things. It ended up being mesmerizing and as masterful as one of Vermeer's paintings.