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Showing all 23 reviews...
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As a younger viewer, I thought this movie most enjoyable. I watched it in two rounds with mum, not too late at night, and I did find it delicious (to put it in Bart's words!) Then again, I am a 19th C fanatic, and I do enjoy whatever period movie comes up. Thought the timing was fine. So much detail to be included, but this proved to be one of the most faithful adaptations I have come across. Anderson does a superb job.
10/10
12.5.2003 -
tutankhamen_princess@ - age: 13-17
Yes, I saw the movie, more than once, and I absoultely loved it! I wish there were more movies made with the background knowledge, intelligence surrounding the time frame this movie encompassed, and the ultimate futility most women felt in making decisions regarding their future, putting aside any personal motivations they might have had in order to prevail in society! What a pity!!
9/10
28.4.2003 -
kathidale@ - age: 50+
Such a let down! So much I was looking forward to seeing it, so much I would now suggest to spend your time elsewhere! Unbelievably poor acting and a very SLOW pace... I kept looking at my watch... and asking 'where is this going?'
2/10
12.5.2002 -
nadiaterrazzini@ - age: 26-35
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Quite long, and I hated it completely the first time I watched it. Note: DO NOT try to watch this late at night, or if you bored ot tired. It will only make you more tired/bored. However, I watched it again, fully awake, and found it to be a fairly enjoyable movie. It starts really slow and somewhat confusing but once you figure out all the characters, it's alot better. Gillian Anderson of course, was very, very well cast and did superb job of portraying the tragic Lily. I would have preferred if she had recieved an Oscar nomination... but that's life. The dialogue at times was stilting but the acting made up for it. Anthony LaPaglia was one of the more likable if not, one of the best supporting actors. As I was watching this movie, my roommates commented when Laura Linney came on "Oh no... No, another bitchy Laura Linney movie! " and Linney is a great character in this as she once again displays a talent for being wonderfully nasty when needed (on screen) Her performance added a little spark to the film. I can't help it, I don't really like Eric Stoltz. Possibly it's the character, but I found him to be dim and indifferent to absolutely everything. I'd definitely recommend this movie if you're into a very long period peice...
7/10
19.3.2002 -
vivhateshannah@ - age: 18-25
I just love this film... And Gillan was amazing!!!
10/10
31.8.2001 -
goma_01@ - age: 18-25
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Much like other period pieces, The House of Mirth shows the irony of social status - not only is it based on shallowness, but of abuse, as in, do what the select few say or else. Kind of like high school, and hey, the rest of life. Like Age Of Innocence this is based on the novel by Edith Wharton who does a fabulous job of showing how women are used as objects of desire, as chattel, as pawns, as bargaining chips, as things to be used... Unfortunately, little has changed. Naturally this is far too long, it really drags at times, I so know what water looks like. And what was with Grace? Gillian Anderson gives a stunning performance - you could alternately like and dislike her; find her strong and pathetic; charming and manipulative - the range was unbelievable. She really shows what a brilliant performer she is - Scully is just a drop in the ocean for this beauty. Eric Stoltz gives a great performace as the handsome if rather slow-witted, noncommittal 'almost' guy. The whole cast is just so great because you can love and hate them, love to hate them, see their flaws, but at the same time, empathize completely - it's not easy to do the right thing. Perhaps that's the biggest lesson here, it's not easy to do the right thing and even then, how do you know it's the right thing? And what if it isn't the right thing at the right time, or the right thing at the wrong time... What time is it? Very little mirth in any of these houses, irony can be so ironic.
7/10
12.7.2001 -
parkerd891770802@ - age: 26-35
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I don't know why nineteenth century novelists seemed to have the idea that no female heroine was ever allowed to get out a story alive. That aside, The House of Mirth didn't make me very mirthful, but was still the most uplifting film I've seen in a long time. A cautionary tale about image and money is not all that anachronistic in these consumerist, media saturated times. Gillian Anderson's sensual heartwrenching performance was a wonderful departure from the buttoned down restrictions of Scully in the X-files. I hope this is a promise of things to come. The most interesting character to me however was Anthony La Paglia's Simon Rosedale, who could have been Lily's happy ending. A major achievement for Terence Davies in refusing to succumb to the period piece temptation of producing a corset spectacle.
8/10
9.7.2001 -
stephanie,campion@ - age: 26-35
I loved this film!!!
10/10
18.6.2001 -
gracap@ - age: 26-35
Gillian Anderson did an outstanding job in the House of Mirth. She played the role with subtle yet provacative skill. She is an actress rather than a movie star. This is a movie about a woman who attempts to transcent her human foibles. For me, it is best understood not from looking from the outside, attempting to understand the p.o.v. of a woman who puts her faith in the wrong people and is naive about the consequences. This young woman downward spiral emphasises the Victorian times where women's novels ended in either marriage or death. A well done play that is worth seeing again.
9/10
25.5.2001 -
kjmunro@ - age: 50+
Very disappointing movie. Unbelievably poor acting - all of it. Painfully slow moving and painstakingly long. Novice writing and very weak character developmen and scene transitions. This film did not even do justice to the scenery & cinematography as most period pieces do so well. It has been a long time since I've been to a movie where the audience was talking, laughing and groaning at various scenes and lines. I cannot believe I sat through the whole thing, I guess I thought it might miraculously improve. It didn't. I wouldn't even consider it a renter as I know I would never be able to stay awake through it. Oh well, better luck next time!
1/10
16.5.2001 -
mkonkina@ - age: 36-49
I was quite excited about this film when I first heard about it, but I came out of it somewhat perplexed. I found it hard to sympathize with Lily Bart, perhaps because the context is so far removed from anything we would know these days. I guess that means the film, for me, didn't manage to convey the turn of the century New York high society world vividly enough. I also found the film suffered from a common problem among cinematic adaptions of classic literary works: even though it's quite a long movie, the timeline just seemed fragmented, with too much crammed into too little time. Having heard so much about Gillian Anderson's supposedly amazing performance, I was also somewhat disappointed to find it merely good. All that being said, it's not a bad movie, but it just didn't quite live up to my expectations.
6/10
13.5.2001 -
diredritic@ - age: 18-25
I thought The House of Mirth was absolutely fantastic. It restored my faith in the movie industry: yes, great movies still exist, and this is definitely one that is worth the look. I am simply shocked that the Academy completely ignored this magnificient film, as well as Gillian Anderson's remarkable performance. She deserved to be nominated, and to WIN the Oscar for best female performance!!! Are great movies like great work of arts, the artists having to be dead before their genius is recognised? Hopefully not! Go see this movie, it will make you appreciate what a great film is all about.
9/10
26.4.2001 -
eijanaika@ - age: 18-25
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Being a Phile, I was excited to see Gillian Anderson in a role other than Agent Scully. I know many rabid fans are unable to see David Duchovny and Gillian as other than Mulder and Scully. Luckily, I am able to look beyond this (and know the difference between TV and reality... I mean, I don't hate Tea because David is meant to be with Gillian... Hehehe), and watch the film with an open mind. Gillian's performance was definitely Oscar-worthy (now I see why everyone said she was robbed of one... damn you, Academy! ). All I saw was the tragic Lily Bart, and not Scully. Well, except for the times when I would go, "No, Gilly, don't do it! Er, I mean Scully. Dammit, I mean Lily! " Okay, in all seriousness now... The film was just so beautiful and tragic and heartbreaking. I had an ache in my chest while watching this character's spiral downfall. It was sometimes too unbearable, yet you just can't look away. Very moving. The only other film that I've seen during the course of my 19 years on this planet that has done this to me was "Life Is Beautiful". And "the Lion King" (can't help but cry over poor, poor Simba). This film is for people who can truly appreciate it, and not for people who enjoy such films as "Joe Dirt" or "Freddy Got Fingered". This is truly one beautiful piece of art that I highly recommend to everyone. I'm going to see it again. Great script, great story, great scenery, great acting... I'm not good at rating things, whether a film deserves a 8, 9 or 10. You can either hate or love this film, and I just loved and adored it. I give it a 10. Man, this was long... *lol*
10/10
17.4.2001 -
i_am_of_the_sky@ - age: 18-25
Wow, that's all I have to say, beautiful movie that made me cry for hours. Gillian Anderson (and I don't like the X files) really suprised me, she was amazing. All I have to say is: You've got to go see it!
10/10
13.4.2001 -
maia@ - age: 13-17
Hello. I am writing not to win the tickets because I am a little far away but House of Mirth is a such wonderful movie that I don't undestand yet why her star and the movie hadn't got an Oscar nomination. I saw it at a Film Festival, I travelled miles away from my city and it was my best goal a while ago from now. Gillian Anderson is a wonderful actress, the nuances and the heartbreaking acting is whatever I hope of an actor. Terence Davies made an amazing job to film House of Mirth. I only hope, this movie has the prize it deserves. Laura Ivana Mansilla Buenos Aires, Argentine
10/10
11.4.2001 -
mansillalauraiv@ - age: 36-49
I spent 2 1/2 hours in pure fascination! Great direction and beautiful photography. Icing on the cake is an outstanding performance by Gillian Anderson. Supported with an excellent Laura Linney and Anthony LaPaglia. This movie is a gem. And it goes beyond my understanding why it was ignored by the Oscar committe. It deserved a better destiny. And Gillian Anderson was robbed! The best female performance of the year!!!
10/10
11.4.2001 -
miamarie_larsson@ - age: 36-49
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Astounding. I find period pieces to have an overwhelming vast feeling. As if everything was without restraint and you have nowhere to focus. Terence, though, made an absolutely tight movie. If he had included more landscape shots, it would have deterred the audience from the dialogue. Gillian Anderson did an outstanding job. She completely owned the role of Lily Bart. Terence Davies opted to not have narration to help the audiences along with the inner thoughts of the characters. He relies solely on the actors, more importantly, Gillian Anderson. She is perfect in delivering these subtle nuances. No doubt about what it is that she *really* means when she opens her mouth. I could not imagine another actress in her place. Dan Aykroyd is my only grief, but it's a minimal displeasure and did not take away from the film as a whole. Laura Linney seemed to thoroughly enjoy playing the wicked Bertha. Eric Stoltz had adequate chemistry with Gillian, but did not do much else for me. One of the rare movies I intend to purchase when available and watch again and again.
10/10
11.4.2001 -
cass333@ - age: 26-35
House of Mirth captured the emotional climate of the Novel in an extraordinary way. The wonderful use of music and light only served to emphazise the loneliness of the main character. Gillian Anderson plays a difficult role with all the subtlety of a master actor. Brava!
10/10
11.4.2001 -
rosewreath@ - age: 36-49
I had a little shock the first 2 minutes of the movie because, to me, the dialogue sounded "off". But then, I grew accustomed quickly to the quality and tone of the language and accepted it for its litterary character (I've never read Wharton) and never looked back. Seemingly longish at over 2 hours, I never found the film to be boring. It certainly is not a formula flick: if you're looking for easy oneliners, explosions, potty humour, snuggable pets or a classic happy end, this motion picture is *not* for you. Rather, this movie will very intelligently (if depressingly at times) make you look at the darker side of human relations (some have described Lily in her social circles as someone swimming with sharks... ) while making you, for all her flaws, admire the main character's integrity.
8/10
11.4.2001 -
incredule@ - age: 26-35
Excellent film. Gillian Anderson is fabulous in the role of Lily Bart, the socialite who is cast out of high society because of her friends' ruthless manipulations and her own inability to do the right thing at the right time. There's no physical violence in this period piece, but words can inflict grievous wounds. Watch it for the fine acting, for Lily's plight and complexity, or for the message it carries to our times. Just go see this movie.
10/10
8.4.2001 -
anxphile@ - age: 18-25
Gillian Anderson rocks in this corset movie of high society intrigue! Every word and perception hits with the force of a velvet covered blugeon... Polite society is anything but. Scully who?
9/10
7.4.2001 -
nanomancer@ - age: 26-35
A measured and proper descent into Hell. Gillian Anderson shines in this costume drama about a single socialite on the prowl for a rich husband who is excrutiatingly crushed beneath the weight of her corset and the true yearnings of her heart. Excellent cast. Intelligent script. Good direction. Watch it before it's gone.
9/10
6.4.2001 -
poe51@ - age: 26-35
Be warned - this movie is 2 1/2 hours too long... An utterly wretched flick that has simply no redeeming qualities. It's not romantic and it's not dramatic... and it's not funny. People were falling asleep at the première.
1/10
5.4.2001 -
theatre@ - age: 18-25
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