Easy Virtue Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.5

Easy Virtue Blu-ray Movie Review

'Easy Virtue:' an easy buy on Blu-ray?

Reviewed by Martin Liebman September 21, 2009

Based on the Noël Coward play of the same name, Easy Virtue takes a topsy-turvy look at the particularly biting, tit-for-tat, manipulative, and yet oftentimes downright hilarious ins-and-outs of a post-World War One marriage between a wealthy English Aristocrat and a carefree American female race car driver. The independently-spirited production boasts lavish sets and costumes, a whimsical script, wonderful period performances, and top-flight direction. Easy Virtue is the sort of film, though, that's of a style and tone that's more of an acquired taste rather than mainstream. Despite the presence of fan-favorite Jessica Biel in the leading role, the movie isn't a numbers-minded vehicle for the actress but instead a chance for her to not only take on an entirely unique physical appearance but delve into material that's a far cry from either The Texas Chainsaw Massacre or "7th Heaven," each of those in and of themselves of extremely diverse tones and themes. On the whole, however, Easy Virtue is more likely to appeal to audiences with a taste for the peculiar; it's a throwback sort of film doesn't always play by the rules and dares to challenge its audience through both the good times and the bad that mark the characters' journeys that see them through happiness and sadness with plenty of levity in between.

At least they're not on their cell phones.

Young English Aristocrat John (Ben Barnes) is returning home -- with a wife. It's a prospect that meets with his mother's (Kristin Scott Thomas) disapproval, even before she's had the opportunity to meet the girl. Matters are worsened when she learns that her son's wife is an American named Larita (Jessica Biel), a big city girl with a knack for driving and winning races. His mother may not be pleased, but his father (Colin Firth), a World War One veteran, is. He takes an instant liking to the girl, and he finds himself in the middle of the growing schism within the family over John's audacity to marry such an "inappropriate" girl. Though John and Larita only plan on staying a few days -- long enough to get to know the family -- John finds himself unable to leave the comfort of his home and the company of his relatives, while the idyllic countryside setting and constant squabbling with John's mother leaves Larita cold and restless. What begins as under-the-breath comments and subtle rudeness gradually builds into an all-out family feud. Can John and Larita's marriage withstand a frontal assault from John's split family?

Easy Virtue's strength lies in its ability to draw in its audience and retain a firm grasp on their attention spans through to the film's surprising end. What seems at first a stuffy period piece quickly morphs into a fun and energetic character study that centers on the ins-and-outs of familial relations. With a light and breezy tone, the film takes on elements of both slapstick comedy and serious interpersonal drama, integrating the two seamlessly and thereby taking the edge off of what is otherwise something of a downer story. Easy Virtue -- and any story of this sort -- almost demands such a schism to offset the underlying themes of spite and distrust that mark the relationships in the film, particularly between Larita and John's mother. The comedic edge allows for a better flow to the entire picture and makes the film's more serious third act a bit easier to swallow. The smart script, then, requires only a steady hand behind the camera and a cast that understands what sort of mood the scripts aims to set, and in those regards, Easy Virtue also works well.

Director Stephan Elliot keeps Easy Virtue well within reason but does show a flair for the dramatic and often provides quirky angles that do well to set the tone of the film without falling into the trap of appearing gimmicky or experimental. The film is beautifully shot, though as is the case in many period dramas (Becoming Jane, for instance), the scene-chewing costuming and exquisite scenery cannot help but look good for the camera. Seemingly a character in and of itself, the rich British countryside lends to the film a wide-open scope and a broader array of settings and characters that add to the rich diversity of ideas and influences present in the film. Still, Easy Virtue is primarily about its characters and the tit-for-tat confrontations that are at first plainly obvious yet not spoken of -- until things boil over and the film takes a turn towards the melancholy. The primary cast pulls off the material superbly. There's no doubt that Kristin Scott Thomas makes the film and serves as the grease that allows the story to smoothly flow; she's biased from the beginning and, whether her suspicions prove true or not, she's the catalyst for a series of events that being as mildly humorous for all parties involved but slowly degrade into an all-out war of words and actions that play in stark contrast to the easygoing nature of the film's opening act. Jessica Biel, Ben Barnes, Colin Firth, and Kris Marshall as the family's butler Furber each deliver appropriately intoxicating performances that tie the film together nicely.

Easy Virtue Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Easy Virtue delivers an easy-on-the-eyes 1080p, 2.39:1-framed transfer. The image takes on a deliberately washed out appearance at times, the scene following the opening credits a prime example. It looks cold but nevertheless inviting thanks to the exquisite furnishings that adorn the house. Nevertheless, as a result of the washed out look, skin tones often appear ghastly. Still, colors tend to impress on the whole, and outdoor scenes absolutely sparkle. Colors take on a rich, eye-catching tone, particularly the greens that make up the shrubbery and grass around the manor. Fine detail looks about as good here as any transfer on the market; the period clothing reveals plenty of stitches, seams, weaves, and other nuances that make up jackets, sweaters, and hats, allowing each to take on a perfectly lifelike appearance. Black levels never appear to waver too far in either direction, neither drowning out details nor looking overly bright. The transfer exhibits a slight layer of grain that lends to the film a cinematic look and feel and completes what's a wonderful transfer.

Easy Virtue Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Easy Virtue arrives on Blu-ray with a quality Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The big band tune heard during the film's opening title sequence sounds fantastic; there's a wonderful level of clarity across the entire range, including a nice, subtle low end that makes its presence felt while not playing as too aggressive for the material. It's followed up by a nice boom of thunder that sounds and feels completely real. Later, a light rain falls in the background, and birds chirp throughout the soundstage during a memorial service in chapter eight. Ambient crowd noise at a stage production later in the same chapter surrounds the listener in a subtle envelope of sound that does well to sonically recreate the event. Generally speaking, however, Easy Virtue delivers exactly the sort of experience one would expect of a Comedy/Drama; there's not much going on but what there is features an improved level of clarity and sense of space afforded to the material by the lossless encode. Rounded out by faultless dialogue reproduction, Easy Virtue makes for another winning soundtrack from Sony.

Easy Virtue Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray release of Easy Virtue contains several bonus features. First up is a commentary track with Director/Co-Writer Stephan Elliott and Co-Writer Sheridan Jobbins. With a rather nonchalant, carefree approach, the duo discusses how they came to be attached to the project; the history of the story and its previous film incarnation, a silent picture directed by Alfred Hitchcock; updating the film for more modern audiences; the quality of the cast; and more. New York Premiere (480p, 6:12) contains several brief interview snippets with cast and crew and behind-the-scenes footage of the film's premiere. Also included is a collection of four deleted scenes presented in 480p standard definition, a blooper reel (480p, 8:50), and the film's theatrical trailer (1080p, 2:02). This disc also features BD-Live functionality and 1080p trailers for It Might Get Loud, Every Little Step, Whatever Works, The Jane Austen Book Club, and Married Life.

Easy Virtue Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

A wonderfully diverse film that features equal parts side-splitting humor and intense drama, Easy Virtue sets itself apart from other period pieces thanks to its ability to integrate the two unique styles so evenly throughout. Each plays off the other well, and the laughs in particular do wonders for the story, offsetting what is otherwise something of an upsetting but superbly-crafted unconventional Drama that's bound to surprise viewers with its ending. Sony's Blu-ray release of Easy Virtue is easy on the eyes and ears. Sporting high quality technical presentations and a few bonus materials for good measure, Easy Virtue comes easily recommended.