There is nothing to surprise in this film. A well assembled cast, shot in beautiful locations with a good script and director deliver a good film that has the curious quality of instantly feeling like an old favourite without having anything exceptional to recommend it.
So it's a 'does what it says on the tin' kind of film which hardly serves as a recommendation (not that anyone would listen to me anyway) but nevertheless I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Well. that is exactly what I am hoping it will be like, when it's available here in the US. I love the book. Thank you.
shareIt’s available on US Netflix right now
shareYes, and I've watched it with pleasure twice. It's adorable, and the performances are quite good, though Michiel Huisman hasn't much to do other than look gorgeous and be nice, both of which he does quite well. His British accent isn't good. But he does have an almost inhuman ability to generate screen chemistry with quite a variety of actresses, and does so here.
Performances of the film, for me, are Penelope Wilton as Amelia Maugery and Katherine Parkinson, even better as Isola Pribbey. Wilton is so sharply moving in her role, and the sheer delicacy of Parkinson's performance is exquisite - I loved her character in the book, rejoiced at the casting, and expected to love Parkinson. She blew me away. Tom Courtney is marvelous as Eben Ramsey.
As Elizabeth McKenna, Jessica Findlay Brown is sharp and spot on. Lily James is adorable and believable as Juliet, Matthew Goode is charming and effective as her publisher / best friend.
Thought it was Lily James best performance today so far.
shareShe's adorable, as I said. I do think she is outshone a little, but it all works for me. I can even handwave Huisman's accent. I'll be watching again.
shareHuisman is Dutch which explains the accent. He was great in "The Age of Adaline".
shareI'm aware. And yes, he was. Also very good in "2:22," believable American accent in both. Great in "Treme," "Nashville," "Orphan Black." Pronounced Italian well in "Age of Adaline." But British English speech seems quite beyond him.
shareI thought it was good enough. The only thing that really bothered me was that the ending wasn't really earned. Hard to believe they really felt the way that they did based on so little experience.
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