A Good Woman (2005) Movie Information:

A Good Woman (2005) Directed by: Mike Barker A Good Woman (2005) Written by: Howard Himelstein A Good Woman (2005) Cast: Helen Hunt, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Wilkinson, Stephen Campbell Moore, Mark Umbers, Diana Hardcastle

A Good Woman (2005) U.S. Distributor: Lionsgate A Good Woman (2005) U.K. Distributor: UIP

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A Good Woman (2005) Synopsis:

Set in the 1930s on the beautiful shores of the Italian Riviera, Lions Gate Films' "A Good Woman" follows the seductive Mrs. Erlynne (Hunt), scorned by many as a 'woman of ill repute,' leaves New York for the Amalfi coast, where she hopes to find a new 'patron' among the vacationing aristocrats. The mean-spirited gossip stirred up by Mrs. Erlynne's arrival isn't enough to dissuade the jovial, kind-hearted Lord Augustus (Wilkinson) from falling in love with her. But Mrs. Erlynne has already set her sights on the married Robert Windermere (Mark Umbers), a wealthy young American who falls quickly under her spell. Windermere's faithful wife, Meg (Johansson), is herself distracted by the flirtatious overtures of Lord Darlington (Stephen Campbell Moore), a notorious playboy. But when she learns of her husband's blossoming affair, Meg resorts to drastic measures, with unexpected consequences for everyone involved...

A Good Woman (2005) Movie Review:

Adapted from Oscar Wilde's play Lady Windermere's Fan, this twisted little romantic comedy is packed with witty observations on love and marriage, and features some fine performances and a nicely offhanded production style, even if it all feels a bit dull.

It's the 1930s on the Amalfi coast, where Mrs Erlynne (Hunt) has escaped vicious Manhattan gossipmongers while she looks for a new man. It's not that she doesn't deserve the gossip for her man-using ways. She sets her sights on the young Robert Windermere (Umbers), whose naive wife Meg (Johansson) can't even begin to suspect his unfaithfulness. But tongues start wagging in the expat community, and a young lord (Moore) steps in to take advantage of the situation, while an older gentleman (Wilkinson) sets his eyes on Mrs Erlynne.

Wilde's wry and astute observations pepper the dialog from start to finish, and it's interesting that they're almost throwaway lines in Himelstein's script, even as they slice through the air with delightful precision. Barker (To Kill a King) keeps everything impeccably mellow and, eventually, melodramatic. Which would be impossible to bear without the sharp dialog and the fact that both Hunt and Johansson are capable of filling silences with small, meaningful movements. Wilkinson, on the other hand, is great at capturing the inner spark of a character. And the rest of the cast fill in the edges very nicely indeed.

This is a terrific story, with plot strands that intersect in all kinds of intriguing ways to examine issues of commitment and fidelity, while challenging accepted opinions and forcing us to look at ourselves honestly. The film drags badly at the end, taking ages to reach its final conclusion by way of a series of misunderstandings and red herrings, as well as lots and lots of dialog. And despite Wilde's provocative approach, Barker and Himelstein have made a surprisingly tame, rather too-nice little movie for the PG crowd. "If we're always guided by other people's thoughts, what's the point of having our own," indeed. Solid and engaging, but it should have been a kick up the backside.

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A Good Woman (2005) review written by: Rich Cline