A Good Woman is one of those films that I just didn’t have any connection or feeling to. I didn’t like it, nor did I despise it. In fact I found the whole experience rather underwhelming. It’s not that it’s a bad film; there are certainly reasons and moments to enjoy, but in the end the film never really achieves anything other than the unrelenting boredom of its audience. I can’t tell you to go see, but I also won’t tell you not to see it. Not good, not bad, A Good Woman is just kinda’ there.
A Good Woman
2 & 1/2 Stars
The film is based on the Oscar Wilde play “Lady Windermere’s Fan,” and all I can say is I thought Wilde was a better writer. Filled with a charming British cast with a mix of two Hollywood leading ladies the movie spins a tale of sex, deception, lies, adultery, and more. In my memory such subjects have rarely been examined with less emotion and passion which may be the British sensibility of the film or the fact it was a paid vacation for all those involved. The second choice seems the more probable to me.
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The movie starts off in New York during the mid-1930’s where renowned adulterer and seductress Mrs. Erlynne (Helen Hunt) is expelled from society by the wives of all the husbands she has seduced. Pawning her jewelry and traveling overseas to the Amalfi Coast Mrs. Erlynne becomes the scandal and gossip of the town. She sets her sight on Robert Windemere (Mark Umbers) to be her new benefactor despite the fact that Robert is married to the lovely Meg (Scarlett Johannson) who has become the object of desire of Robert’s friend Lord Darlington (Stephen Campbell Moore). The town includes a group of gossiping old women (including Giorgia Massetti and Diana Hardcastle) and a group of older gentlemen (John Standing, Roger Hammond) including Tuppy (Tom Wilkinson) who takes an instant attraction to Mrs. Erynne and decides to make her his next wife.
From that basic set-up the film moves along much like a farce with odd coincidences and people misinterpreting things they see and hear. Problems start to arise when you realize that the film isn’t really funny and is much more of a drama that has been forced into this odd comical construction. The movie has several small twists and turns and one “surprise twist” but the characters are all paper-thin and lifeless. The movie is somewhat saved by the strong performances of the cast. Almost all the British cast come off well and I especially liked Tom Wilkinson and John Standing. As for the women of the film they are hopelessly miscast. The role of Helen Hunt, based on the story and plot twists, needed to be cast with an older actress in mind and although the camera loves Scarlett Johannson the script allows her little to do other than smile or pout into the camera. And you know if I can’t support a Johannson vehicle (see The Island) there’s got to be something wrong.
Overall the film is just a mild disappointment that never catches the audience up in the tale or earns the very fine performance of Wilkinson. I think there are some people who will enjoy the film and others who will not, but the film never provides anything to make you care enough to love it or hate it. In the end, the dispassionate film exercise just plays on the screen until it stops and you get up and find something more satisfying to enjoy.