“Easy Virtue” is a tasty comedy directed by Stephan Elliott in 2008. Based on the 1924 play by Noël Coward, the screenplay had already been adapted for the big screen in 1928 by Sir Alfred Hitchcock but this previous version was a silent movie.
Larita Huntington (Jessica Biel) is an American racing driver in the late 1920s. In her thirties, she is a strong and independant woman. Following the Monaco Grand Prix – which she wins – she meets John Whittaker (Ben Barnes) and she falls in love at first sight. John is very young, and John is very English. They marry on the French Riviera before joining John’s family in England, whom Larita does not know yet.
The clash of cultures, social classes and personalities does not take long. John’s mother, Veronica (Kristin Scott Thomas) manages with an iron fist (but no velvet glove) both the estate and her two daughters Hilda and Marion who are turning old maids. Her husband Jim (Colin Firth) hides his trauma from WWI and his disenchantment behind a permanent sarcasm.
Larita, who hoped that this visit would be short, sees the weeks go by, suffering on the one hand the growing detestation of Veronica and her daughters for the poorly born (but stunning) American she is, on the other hand the progressive infantilization of a young husband who she ultimately doesn’t know that well.
On the contrary, Jim feels sympathy for this full and living soul who brings a breath of fresh air to an environment that is stiff, bitter and malevolent.
Will love win? Nothing is less sure.
Jessica Biel plays a flamboyant and luminous Larita, Colin Firth perfectly portrays the disillusioned gentleman, Kristin Scott Thomas is the mother-in-law you would never want to meet. The soundtrack of the movie includes several jazz songs, some of which were composed by Noël Coward himself. The soundtrack also includes contemporary songs, reworked in a jazz version and it’s deliciously funny.
The whole thing is tasty, transgressive and funny – despite the criticism being unkind at the time.
Editor’s note. I certainly don’t have the flamboyance of Larita but I dare to believe that she would not have denied this sublime green dress.
Gucci dress – Lanvin purse – Miu Miu sunglasses – Repetto flat shoes – Vintage Valentino belt
May 24, 2024
