Review of Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003) by Manny C — 10 Mar 2011

Why see Girl With a Pearl Earring? Isn't Scarlet Johansson reason enough? Even in period drama she still manages to sizzle on screen.

She illuminates Girl With a Pearl Earring as Griet, a Calvinist working as a servant in the Catholic household of Johannes Vermeer (Colin Firth, in one of his best roles). Vermeer is of course the Dutch master painter who immortalized Griet in the famous painting that gives the film its name. At least that's what the best seller from Tracy Chevalier, on which the film is based, would have us believe. All of it is pure speculation, since very few details of Vermeer's life (1632-1675) are actually available, much like his oeuvre. In Girl With a Pearl Earring, it's thought that Griet was desired by just about every man who laid eyes on her, including Vermeer's patron (Tom Wilkinson) and the studly son of a butcher (Cillian Murphy). Unfortunately, erotic heat is mostly lacking in this film.

Director Peter Webber, in his debut, lays on a lot of bio-pic familiarity. Good thing he has the exquisite cinematography of Eduardo Serra. It's also a wonderful moment when Griet dons the titular earring and becomes the enchanting figure on the canvas. Girl With A Pearl Earring is worth the view.