By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.25 cats
Director: Terence Davies
Starring: Dan Akroyd | Eleanor Bron | Gillian Armstrong | Laura Linney
Country: france, germany, united_kingdom, united_states
Year: 2001
Running time: 140
IMDB: http://us.imdb.com/Details?0200720
Howard says: “At the end of the 1800’s, women were still powerless to be independent and were at the whims of social society. In fact, a woman’s reputation was easily destroyed by the power brokering of other women who only wanted to be the head matron in society. Such is the story told in THE HOUSE OF MIRTH. Gillian Anderson plays Lily Bart, a woman in her early 30’s who hasn’t married yet. The movie follows Lily’s life as it slowly falls apart because she actually has integrity, which is powerless against the times as they were. This is not a feel-good movie. It is a dissection of how horrible and rotten humans
can be to each other and how pride can eventually bring you down.
“Gillian is wonderful in the film to say the least. Her changes in personality as she meets different people is amazing to watch and I will be nominating her next year for Best Actress.
“The dialogue is amazing as well. The word-play and oral fencing that goes on is quite fun. There is a real art to be able to knock the wind out of someone while saying the nicest and politest thing on the surface. My favorite is when Lily dismisses Mr. Rosedale by simply asking him for a glass of lemonade. It was ‘delicious.’
“The entire cast is great especially Laura Linney as the extremely bitchy Bertha Dorset, who basically single-handily destroys Lily’s life.
“But mostly I walked away from the movie thinking that times haven’t really changed to much. People are still mean and spiteful to each other. It really made me despise cruel people even more and how they manipulate and use others for their own benefit.
“A great film. Don’t miss it.”
Laura says: “Any who judge Anderson as wooden based on her portray of ‘The X-Files’ Agent Scully will surely change their opinion after viewing her work here. Although she seems a bit too modern at first (a problem that costars Dan Aykroyd and Anthony Lapaglia don’t overcome), Anderson turns that into an asset as she gets into Lily Bart’s skin. As Lily’s over confidence, even snobbery, turns to disbelief, then resignation, Anderson fully engages us in Bart’s complex and unfair situation. The wash of emotions that play over Anderson’s face when Mr. Rosedale tells the impoverished Lily that ‘you could wipe your feet on them’ (referring to society) is one of the finest pieces of acting in the year 2000. It’s a brilliant performance.” 4.5 cats
For Laura’s complete review: “http://www.reelingreviews.com/thehouseofmirth.htm”
Marilyn says: “Gillian Anderson gives a stunning performance….quite wonderful.”
Michael says: “Stunning adaptation of Wharton’s novel criticizing class structure. Anderson is a revelation as Lily Bart, a young socialite who finds that losing her station is a fate worse than death ” 4 cats
Robin says: “Helmer/scripter Terence Davies does a marvelous job of adapting the Wharton novel to the screen. The stage director uses his skilled background to provide a play-like environment for the actors, but with the benefit of lush sets and costume that flesh out the material to movie, rather than stage, stature.” 4 cats
For Robin’s complete review: “http://www.reelingreviews.com/thehouseofmirth.htm”
Stephen says: “Terence Davies is a gay, working-class (unapologetic on both counts) English filmmaker primarily known before now for an unforgettable series of short films based on his own experience of growing up with an abusive father in Liverpool. It can be argued that what Scorsese attempted, in THE AGE OF INNOCENCE, also based on an Edith Wharton novel, Davies triumphantly succeeds at in his new adaptation of her The House of Mirth.
For Stephen’s full review: “http://www.stephenbrophy.org/review/ind/house%20of%20mirth”