TheLittleSongbird The book is a masterpiece and this adaptation is almost up to that level, just as richly told and emotional. It is not the kind of adaptation that will suck people in straightaway but the slow pace and how subtle a lot of aspects are actually add to the storytelling rather than distract and shouldn't be reasons to dismiss it. While I can understand completely why not everybody will like The House of Mirth some of how the detractors express their opinion reek of ignorance, like with the I'm-right-you're-wrong attitude. The House of Mirth does have a slow start and Eric Stoltz's performance can seem rather lightweight for such a complex character, though he is not without his affecting moments. The casting does have the "is this going to work" thought initially but the performances come across really well. Laura Linney sinks her teeth into her role and is suitably bitter, Eleanor Bron is formidable, Dan Aykroyd also comes across surprisingly well in a menacing and cunning turn and Jodhi May is charming and sympathetic. Terry Kinney, Anthony LaPaglia, Penny Downie and Elizabeth McGovern are also very good. The best of the lot is Gillian Anderson, whose performance is magnetic and truly heartfelt, her last scene with Stoltz is just heart-wrenching. The House of Mirth is shot very elegantly and the whole adaptation's period detail looks gorgeous. The lack of music is a good choice, allowing the intimate, understated atmosphere of the storytelling speak for itself. The dialogue is distinctively Edwardian and very literate without being stilted, how it's adapted is very thoughtfully done and any observations of the attitudes and classes of the time are sharply done. The story takes its time to unfold which is not a bad thing, period dramas often benefit from this especially when it's adapted from complex source material, and thankfully this deliberate pacing is not done in a self-indulgent way. Narratively The House of Mirth is incredibly touching and rich in theme and character, allowing you to identify with the characters(written and characterised believably) and with the interactions and the emotion it always maintained my interest. The direction is very intelligent and subtle. All in all, a truly beautiful adaptation. 9/10 Bethany Cox

suzieiloveny As someone who has read the book and enjoyed it immensely I was looking forward to seeing the film. However, the very first moment of the movie, when we see Lily Bart I got really confused. I remember reading the first chapter, in which Wharton described her as stunningly beautiful, charming and blonde. I'm sorry but this was completely ruined by the actress. The way she talked and moved was extremely annoying, not to mention she was hardly beautiful, what is wrong with her mouth??? When reading the book I imagined someone like a hybrid between Grace Kelly and Veronica Lake. A graceful, sublime beauty. Not this annoying woman. The same goes for Seldon. Wasn't he supposed to be handsome too? Dear god, who the hell cast these people? This alone managed to ruin the movie for me. I would urge anyone to read the book, since it's masterfully written. But the movie is an abomination. Once again, Lily was meant to be a stunner!!!!!

toddstlmo This was the absolute *Worst* movie I've ever watched. Yes, the scenery was nice, the costuming was fairly good, and the story line may have been a realistic portrayal of the powerlessness of women in that time period. However, the movie was not quite as exciting as watching paint dry, and significantly more depressing. Sooooo terribly Boring! And did I mention, depressing? How about depressingly boring? Imagine something like a root canal, without the fun and excitement, but lasting for hours on end. I couldn't muster the willpower to care about the characters, hoping that somehow the plot would lead *somewhere* - but it didn't. Last but not least, let's face it, the accents didn't cut the mustard. If you consider "Jane Eyre" to be an edge-of-your-seat action/adventure novel that you just couldn't put down, then this movie is for you! Everyone else, *please* do yourself a favor - don't watch this movie! If you ignore my review and watch it anyway, and if you have the fortitude to stay awake to the end, and if you manage not to hang or eviscerate yourself out of sheer depression, you will still curse yourself for not heeding this warning and wasting almost 2 & 1/2 hours of your life!

leplatypus When I bought this DVD nearly a decade ago, it was for Gillian Anderson, a formidable actress whom I met every week with "X-files" and for its settings in the Victorian time period.Now, I realize it was actually America and not Great-Brtitain, and discovering the majestic mansions of the movie, I understand actually why I appreciate this era: old, baroque, stylish, expensive, classical, it's simply like my parents building! In addition, I admire the British composure: polite, calm, soft even when it comes to say dreadful sayings! Some say they are hypocritical, I think instead they are highly civilized because they tame the beast inside all of us and can face hard arguments in a peaceful way! Concerning Gilian, she delivers an amazing portrayal but sadly, her character is for me intolerable: too many bad memories arise! Her psychological test would conclude that she's among the narcissus kind. Having practiced it for 4 years, you feel useless and frustrated in front of a narcissus loved one! Indeed, the narcissus person is alone and faces a lot of problems! Thus, they flirt constantly to ask for help and they crush their prey after using! Their conduct is materialistic and not emotional and they are unable to show empathy or caring about others! They believe their daily life is far too different than ordinary life and they think that they are saint, perfect and pure person while in fact, they fall in bad habits. They ask for true love but can't give it anyway! I don't know anymore if I depicted the movie or my relationships, but with "Douches Froides", this movie figures among my doom list, this is to say: one viewing is enough because too accurate with my inner pains...