Easy Virtue

This thoroughly appalling British film marks the 6th occasion this year that I have bailed on a film before the credits rolled. One leading American critic got into trouble a few weeks ago after it emerged he reviewed a film he'd only seen the first 8 minutes of. I stayed for significantly more than that, although I don't think I quite made it to the hour mark. Perhaps one shouldn't review a film unless they've seen all of it, or perhaps if you do you should be upfront about it. Well here's me being upfront: if you don't think I should review a movie I didn't see to its conclusion, treat this as a review of the first 45 minutes.

It is very possible that Easy Virtue defied all expectation and suddenly found some shred of competence in a screenplay that had thus far adapted a Noel Coward play so badly that it made the playwright seem positively humourless.

It is possible that every single attempt at humour suddenly hit the mark where they had hitherto missed so badly that is was excruciating to watch.

It is also possible that the makers of this thing realised that watching interiors shot as though they have been illuminated by candle-light was unacceptable and that they drafted in a proper cinematographer for the second half.

It is quite possible that the powers that be realised that a period film with a jazzed up soundtrack featuring covers of songs written decades after the film was set, Rose Royce's Car Wash being one example, was completely inappropriate and did nothing more than convey a hopelessly desperate attempt to appear whimsical, funky and cool.

It is certainly possible that Kristen Scott Thomas was given a character of substance in the second half rather than a two-dimensional pale imitation of her Gosford Park character.

It is possible that Biel and Barnes discovered some sort of screen chemistry that had eluded them.

It is possible that the actresses playing the two sisters were recast with actors with more charisma.

It is definitely possible that the director (Stephan Elliot) realised that you don't have to invent new camera angles or movements to make your mark on the industry. Turning the camera 90 degrees to shoot a car sideways on is not clever. It's just irritating.

Yes, all this is possible.

Is it likely? No.

D