We watched Easy Virtue at the St George Open Air Cinema last night. Certainly privileged to go a second time this year. You couldn’t ask for a better backdrop than to have the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour bridge in the one frame with the shimmering vermillion skyline to the left that slowly settles in to the dusk.
Easy Virtue is a social comedy that plays on the snobberies of the English aristocracy and disbelief of all things American. Its based on Noël Peirce Cowards comedy and directed by Stephen Elliot — who also directed “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert“. The main characters were played by: Jessica Biel, Colin Firth, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ben Barnes.
Easy Virtue was a preview as is due to be released on 12th of March 2009 here in Sydney. Stephen Elliot being among the crowd decided to speak a few words which obviously was assumed were to be about the movie… but instead was about his holiday in the French ski resort in Courchevel, delivered between plentiful umms, swearing and uncollected pauses. Hmmmm. Luckily it was short and the movie started soon. Most directors seem to make mediocre orators yet often directors with non-english speaking backgrounds seems to deliver their thoughts painfully precisely. Have you ever wondered why?
The Daily Mirror critiqued: “It’s wall-to-wall wit on a grand scale.” I’d probably say there are plenty minor omissions in the movie but it can be a good laugh once you get on with the story. Its a light hearted jaunt with a feel good liberation in the end. Bit like a Bollywood drama. Overall its a fun film I’d definitely recommend it to others.