The House of Mirth (2000)

Pretty Good

Fantastic!

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

I've never been big on costume dramas, and this is no exception. I was mostly bored during this. Based on an Edith Wharton novel, the film stars Gillian Anderson as an independent woman. She's getting close to being out of marriageable age, but she refuses to pick between the many men courting her. She believes she has plenty of time, knowing that she's highly desirable. Unfortunately, her gambling debts are starting to haunt her, and they eventually pull her down to a lower class. Soon she finds that her marriage prospects are no longer available, and she must (gulp!) work for a living. For me, it's the dialogue that really kills it. Perhaps people spoke like this in early 20th Century New York, but I can't hear "I have been foolish to the point of being compromised!" without rolling my eyes a bit. As one might expect, the costumes are excellent, and, as with all Davies films, the cinematography is beautiful. But I found it to be a slog.

I think this was, overall, a successful work. I say that without having read the source material, but as a film it stands alone well and it's able to get across most of what it intends. Of course, that doesn't mean it's not without its share of flaws. Gillian Anderon is pretty great for most of it, but at times her portrayal sort of strains, as if she's just "acting" and it shows. Still, she's mostly effective, as are the rest of the performances. The period drama isn't as stuffy as one might expect, and for some reason it reminded me a lot of Dangerous Liasons. The ending is earned though, and because of it I have to say that I do recommend this.

Caught this flick at my home Trysons pad last night. He was chilling with his Bea Lawanda at Wendys but wanted to keep his crib legit, be a lot of creepers rolling up in here so I stepped up for my dog.Situation is like this, Lily Bart be a total honey, DA moment she walk on DA screen I be like DAUM GIRL YOU FINE. Problem is honey knows she fine and is a total PLAYAAA!!! First home she meets be my home Lawrence Selden, brutha is like DAUM, Im gonna tap that ass. Lily be playing tho, wont let the brutha get his swag on, she be creeping for a legit brutha not some wannabee porch rat.Dudes heads be turning everywhere, Lily holding out on the broth-as though, waiting for a certified situation so she can get her own pad and not have to shack up with her Aunt. Her Aunt be nasty ass hoe, no respect and always fronting.Then dis Dude Sim Rosedale try to Holla at Lily. He be all like marry me and sh1t but my girl Lily keeping it real for her man Lawrence Selden. Yeah they be hooking up and sh1t when peeps not looking. I was like WHAAAT!! You go Lily, keeping them homeys guessing. My home Selden not be getting all ubiquitous and sh1t, you know he wants DAT ass. Honeys be playing tho, homeys be treated all Obliquely, it ain't rite.Girls be nasty like you never seen up in this joint.Den this Otha honey Bertha Dorset be all stepping up on Lily, fronting and talking smack in front of Lily with her peeps present. Lily be getting a bad rep. Den another dude, Augustus 'Gus' Trenor, be trying to pimp Lily, he be getting my girl in debt and sh1t, dis guy be creeping. Times be tough for Lily, I feeling ya sister, times tough for homeys all over this joint.Girls be nasty like you never seen up in this joint. Bertha be spreading rumors that Lily ain't legit, sh1ts about to get serious. Lily not letting these plays be front, when Lily hear of Bertha rolling with a new posse she be like "No doubt the rabbit always thinks it's fascinating the anaconda " I be like BURRRRNNNNNNNNNN!!! Dtas what you get for fronting Bertha.Den Lilys aunt be all dying and sh1t, ain't leaving no dollars for Lily either. Situation ain't right, pl be talking more smack about Lily too, now Lily out on the street.Homies try to help but Lily ain't fronting, now she going Solo but its ain't easy for a Sista to make it on her own, sh1t be to real out there and Lily don't make it. I was like DAUMMM girl, sister took it all the way, big respect.So DAT about it homeys, time is tough back in De olden days too for a brotha and sister, not one Homies got to tap DAT ass either. SHEEEEEETTTT!!!

I caught this movie on different occasions and always at the end. Finally I was able to watch it from the beginning. And I am glad I did. I have not read Wharton's book of the same title, but plan to now. I have to know the background of Lily Bart and everyone involved in The House of Mirth.The casting of Gillian Anderson in the lead role was genius. Anderson's beauty is unparalleled and her performance should have been Oscar-worthy. She captures Lily Bart with all the emotion that one can ask for. She is snobby, selfish, sympathetic and sorrowful. You cannot help but want her to win. I was drawn to the movie because I am a fan of The X-Files and I was glad to see the actress who played Scully leaving her comfort zone for a once-in-a-lifetime role. Eric Stoltz also gives a memorable performance as Lawrence Selden. I could tell immediately that he was in love with Bart, but also knew her too well. He knew that she would never marry for love and so he never proposed. But you can see the jealousy in his face when she is being courted by other men. The kissing scene was marvelously done and kept me wanting more. And his weeping over her corpse at the end of the film is heart-breaking. Other big names who appear in the movie are Dan Aykroyd as Gus Trenor and Laura Linney as Bertha Dorset. Both are intriguing and fun to watch. Anthony LaPaglia also appears in the film. At times, I found myself almost wanting him to win Bart. Almost. A period-piece, the costumes are stunning and at times, real. The director had some of them using real clothing from the turn of the century. The women even wore corsets; this helped them appreciate what women went through at a time when they were still considered property. Wonderfully directed, acted, costumed and everything else, this movie has stuck in my head. I look forward to reading the book and learning more. When a film can draw someone in like that, it is a success.