Brendon Jones
It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.
SnoopyStyle
It's 1930. Infamous Mrs. Erlynne (Helen Hunt) is chased out of New York high society. She sets eyes on Amalfi, Italy and newly wed Robert Windemere (Mark Umbers). The scandal follows her. Rumors spread affecting his young wife Meg (Scarlett Johansson). She thinks he's having an affair but in reality, Erlynne is secretly Meg's mother unbeknownst to her and Robert has been paying her to keep that secret. Lord Augustus (Tom Wilkinson) falls for the fascinating American Erlynne.I don't know anything about the Oscar Wilde play. It seems to me that Erlynne is an outrageous American bombshell. Helen Hunt is not quite that character. She has a modernity that doesn't easily come off. It's a light affair with a glow that is two setting too bright. All the British actors seem to be from Masterpiece Theater. I can buy a young Johnansson but Hunt is pushing it.
gavin6942
While retaining her secret identity, the illustrious Mrs. Erlynne (Hunt) saves Lady Windemere (Johansson) from making a grand social faux-pas with the scoundrelly Lord Darlington (Moore).My expectations were a bit low on this because I am still warming up to Helen Hunt. All those years of "Mad About You" never convinced me, but I am starting to have second thoughts. This film is a notch above her usual stuff.Although I am not familiar with the Oscar Wilde play, I am quite pleased with this adaptation. It is moving, with decent twists and turns. There are also more than a handful of quotable lines, which I presume are Wilde's creations. They come across as timeless.
katiebee09
I was incredibly disappointed in both the storyline and performances in this film. I have enjoyed both Helen Hunt and Scarlett Johansson in other films, and so expected good things. I couldn't get into any of the characters, save one! Tom Wilkinson, as "Tuppy" offered the only believable acting. I kept waiting to be swept up in this 1930s period piece, and throughout the entire movie I continued to wait. I couldn't connect with the characters, the dialogue was poor and poorly delivered, and the story itself was flaky and fragile, and seemed to be falling apart at the seams the entire way through.I wouldn't waste an hour and a half on this film. I almost turned it off a few times, but wanted to see if it would actually go somewhere. It left me saying, "Meh."
Amy Adler
Lady Meg Windemere (Scarlett Johannsen) is a beautiful, young newlywed, residing presently on Italy's Amalfi coast with her rich, gorgeous husband. She believes everything in her life is perfect, for she is rather innocent about the way the world generally turns. One day, there is a new lady in town, very lovely Mrs. Erlynne (Helen Hunt), who is a notorious woman. It is rumored that she goes from man to man, extracting money and gifts through a sort of romantic blackmail. Meeting Lord W in a glamorous shop, she advises the young hubby to get a beautiful fan for his wife's pending birthday. Before much grass grows, Mrs E starts to conduct a secret liason with Lord Windemere. Gossip flies furiously but never reaches Meg. However, another gentleman in their circle, Lord Darlington, tries to woo Meg away from her husband, too. Unbelievably, another Brit, Tappy (Tom Wilkinson), who has been married and divorced twice, casts his eyes on Mrs. E. With such a tangled web of deceit, woven by the principal parties, what will be the result? And, are there even more secrets to tumble out? It was probably to be expected that in the modern age, producers would feel that a film entitled Lady Windemere's Fan wouldn't make it so they settled on A Good Woman. There was likely not much difference at the box office, which is darn shame, for this is an elegant, witty film. Of course, since most of the dialogue belongs to Wilde, what else can you expect? From classic lines like "a devilish woman is a bother, a good woman is a bore" to "plain women cry, beautiful women go shopping", Wilde had a great knack for truthful human observation. All of the actors are wonderful, with Hunt doing great work as the scarlet woman one can't really hate and Wilkinson putting forth his usual terrific stuff. Johannsen, too, is beautiful and touching as the naive wife while all of the other cast members are very fine as well. Once again, too, the Italian scenery makes for a gorgeous setting while the 30's costumes and amenities look fabulous as well. The script adaptation and direction are secure and fluid as well. In short, if you like such films as A Room with a View or An Ideal Husband (also Wilde), try to get your hands on this one, also. You will find it most rewarding in every way. Oh, and pass it along to your family and friends, for it deserves a wider audience than the usual suspects.
