Getting your Firth fix
In honor of Colin Firth winning Best Actor at the Golden Globes on Sunday, I have a treat for you.
And yes, I'm operating here on the certainty that his GG nomination and win were deserved and right, unlike some of the other wacky calls that weirdo Hollywood Foreign Press Association makes. (Jennifer Love Hewitt nominated for Best Actress of anything? Especially for a TV movie where she plays a massage therapist who turns to prostitution to make ends meet, as so awesomely recapped by the Fug Girls?)
But anyway. Back to the point. A couple of years ago a movie called Easy Virtue came out.
I noticed it because it had Colin Firth in it. I read the description and learned that it's about an American woman (played by Jessica Biel) in the 1930s who meets and impulsively marries a Brit (played by Prince Cathhpian) in Monaco and is then taken to England to meet his family on their vast estate. Colin Firth and Kristen Scott-Thomas play the parents.
Kristen Scott-Thomas is the proper English lady who is horrified at her new American (gasp) daughter-in-law with her modern ways and her smoking (double gasp) and her career as a racecar driver (gasp and then fall over dead). She sets out on a campaign to run the floozy off.
Colin Firth plays the shaggy dad who just wants to be left alone to putter in the garage.
My initial thoughts: Meh. If Colin Firth isn't the romantic lead then I don't want to waste my time. Also if he's going to be shaggy and weird. And I don't want to watch a Jessica Biel movie. Also the DVD cover was not that cool yellow one above but this other kind of lame one. So I passed. A week or so ago, though, I saw it on Netflix and decided to give it a try.
Friends, I was so wrong about this movie. Turns out that first of all it's an actual SLA, being based on a play by Noel Coward (which, hi, means that unless some moron rewrote all his dialogue then it should be pretty darn witty). So, yes, witty it is. Jessica Biel did not bug me like I thought she would, and the rest of the cast is great (special mention goes to the butler, who was my favorite). I found that I actually quite enjoyed watching Colin Firth play a sardonic, can't-be-bothered sort of person. He is the only family member who welcomes his son's bride and doesn't look for every opportunity to judge her.
And then?
He finally shaved and this may or may not have happened.
That's all I'm saying.
I'm Steph, a librarian and mom of 3 (not sure how that happened). Let's chat books, food, Sumptuous Literary Adaptations, poop, knitting and maybe some crazy Mormon Feminism.
24 comments:
I don't know if I can keep reading this blog if you're going to keep bad-mouthing Miss Hewitt. I doubt that's much of a threat, but there you have it.
I saw this movie in the theater and thought it was...eh. Biel was a bit too much over the top for me.
But that dancing scene was pretty great.
I just put it in my Netflix queue. I shall hunt you down if it is awful.
I loved that movie...
And....I just added it to the queue. Thanks!
Mmm I adore Colin Firth...he'll always be Mr. Darcy to me. He was amazing in The King's Speech! I'm a new follower, and I noticed you are a librarian. I'm applying to MLIS programs for this coming September : )
That was possibly two of my most favorite Colin Firth moments, that dancing scene.
If only he would have done that with Jennifer Ehle in the King's speech...
I wasn't so sure about this one, either, but I think I'll give it a try now.
Nookleerman, your love for Boobs--sorry, MISS Hewitt is your own private thing.
Naomi, the dancing scene WAS pretty great. I made my sister come over to my house to watch it.
Hass, I will hope you hate it because I would love to see you!
Perkiwendy, thanks for the validation. :-)
Hope you like it, Lady Susan!
Westcoastsoul, welcome! Am curious which programs you're applying for, let me know if you get a chance. And yeah, can't wait to see Mr. Darcy in The King's Speech.
Jenny, yeah. I'm surprised the theater didn't implode when those two got onscreen together. If it had been a theater made up of a bunch of you and mes, I'm pretty sure it would have.
Debbie, my apologies in advance if you hate the rest of the film, but you will luuuuuurve the dancing scene.
I mean minutes, not moments
i saw easy virtue on netflix watch instantly and pretty much had all the same concerns you did, but ended up loving it as well. the end surprised me, which rarely happens, so that was good too. i think its worth a look for sure.
just watched episode 2 of downton abbey-still loving it!
So far I'm applying to The University of Western Ontario and University College Dublin. Am not sure about UCD, as it is CILIP and not ALA, so I would have to look into that more if I get accepted
Westcoastsoul, don't worry about CILIP--they're reciprocal with ALA. I got my degree from a UK school and nobody has ever questioned it. Good luck!
I have an irrational dislike for Jessica Biel that kept me from Easy Virtue for a long time and I was so pleasantly surprised when I finally saw it. I still don't like her and I think she was miscast but it is worth it for the dancing and all of the unshaven rakish Firth involved.
It's laying by the Bose at this very moment - I couldn't remember why I put it in my queue but it's coming back to me. Thanks for the reminder!
Hey, little momma, I hear you are officially a poopy face!!!
Thank you for being my recent TV/movie reviewer lady. I'm thoroughly enjoying your picks! You need to stay home and watch more TV more often! :)
Oh that's really good good to hear! Where in the UK did you go?
Those pictures of baby with the Avent bottles are sources of distress for Hudson. I think the novelty of handing over his bottles is now over.
Westcoastsoul, I went to Loughborough University. Fee free to email me if you have questions! (miss.nem (at) gmail.com)
I dind't love that movie - BUT i did love Downton Abbey! Thanks for the tip on that!
This sounds a lot like Relative Values - also on Netflix - also Colin Firth - although he doesn't play the dad in this one - it also has Julie Andrews - and is fabulous! Check it out!
I actually caught this on Netflix myself two weeks ago. I wondered if you had seen it. The butler is the clueless oldest son from the older episodes of "My Family" which is pretty much must-see-tv if you like British comedy.
My assessment was a lot like yours, and of course, Colin Firth was supremely adorable even shaggy. But in fancy dress clothes circa 1930!!!
Now on to Ben Barnes--his performance was good in Easy Virtue, even if the character was rather shallow. But it must be said that with a Spanish accent, a little bit of facial hair and the title "King Caspian" he joins the ranks of downright hot.
I'm with those who though Jessica Biel was a bit of a bore in this part . . . when she wasn't over acting. Her clothes, however, were a thing of beauty.
I loved Colin Firth so much in this that the next night I had to re-watch The Importance of Being Earnest, with THIS scene that I rewound three times:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQW_bovs40s
And I'm breaking down. I will see The King's Speech in the next few weeks. I.Can't.Help.Myself.
Wow. Okay, that last picture has me heading over to Netflix right this minute.
I'm new here, by way of Scream and a Hug - nice to meet you!
And now over to Netflix. Because there is Firth.
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