Easy Virtue (2008)

A young Englishman marries a glamorous American. When he brings her home to meet the parents, she arrives like a blast from the future - blowing their entrenched British stuffiness out the window.

Director:

Stephan Elliott

Writers:

Stephan Elliott, Sheridan Jobbins

Stars:

Jessica Biel, Ben Barnes, Kristin Scott Thomas

2 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jessica Biel	...	Larita Whittaker
Ben Barnes	...	John Whittaker
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Veronica Whittaker
Colin Firth	...	Mr. Whittaker
Kimberley Nixon	...	Hilda Whittaker
Katherine Parkinson	...	Marion Whittaker
Kris Marshall	...	Furber
Christian Brassington	...	Phillip Hurst
Charlotte Riley	...	Sarah Hurst
Jim McManus	...	Jackson
Pip Torrens	...	Lord Hurst
Jeremy Hooton	...	Davis
Joanna Bacon	...	Cook / Doris / Beatrice
Maggie Hickey	...	Millie the Maid
Georgie Glen	...	Mrs. Landrigin

Storyline

Between world wars, the Whittaker's estate is sinking; only the iron will of Mrs. Whittaker staves off bankruptcy while she awaits her son John's return from the continent. To her dismay, he brings a bride: an American widow who races cars. The bride, Larita, thinks she and John will visit and then go to London, where he'll work and she'll race. But John is to the manor born, and mother is nothing if not a master at plans and manipulation. Soon it's all-out war between mother and bride, with John's father, a burnt out veteran of the Great War, in the bride's corner ineffectually. Mother has a plan to join with the neighboring estate; only Larita is in her way. Can't we all get along?

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Plot Keywords:

estate | female nudity | unhappy marriage | tango | fox hunt | 

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Taglines:

In a family that prides itself as proper, vice becomes a virtue.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content, brief partial nudity, and smoking throughout

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK Canada

Language:

English French

Release Date:

19 June 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Buenas costumbres

Filming Locations:

Ealing Studios, Ealing, London, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£341,099 (United Kingdom), 9 November 2008, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$143,038, 24 May 2009, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$2,656,324, 4 October 2009

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ealing Studios, Fragile Films, Endgame Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the second film in which Colin Firth plays a Word War I veteran traumatized by his experiences during the war. The first one was A Month in the Country (1987).

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Goofs

While in the nursery, John refers to something not scoring Larita any "brownie points." This phrase did not originate until the 1960s.

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Quotes

Mrs. Whittaker: well, coming from a country no older than the chair you are sitting in, seems a very practical solution!

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Crazy Credits

The band playing the closing music calls out its members' names.

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Connections

Referenced in Late Night with Jimmy Fallon: Episode dated 4 June 2009 (2009)

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Soundtracks

Prelude in E Minor Op. 28 No 4
Written by Frédéric Chopin
Arranged by Marius De Vries
Published by Copyright Control (PRS)
Performed by Marius De Vries and David Coulter

User Reviews

A thoroughly enjoyable British comedy.

John Whittaker (Barnes) is travelling and falls in love with beautiful American divorcée, Larita (Biel). After spontaneously getting married, John brings her back to his stately home in England, where although many warm to her, she is largely frowned upon – especially by his formidable mother, Veronica (Scott Thomas), who makes her stay as uncomfortable as possible. Based on the original play by Noel Coward, 'Easy Virtue' encompasses sharp wit, romance and drama; and although it is set in 1920s England, it is far from the typical period drama that might be expected. The soundtrack is slightly risky in places with its rearrangement of contemporary songs to period-music; but this can be overlooked for everything else the film has to offer. Firth supplies brilliant one-liners as the war-weary husband of Veronica. Biel has a captivating presence, bringing sexiness and classic Hollywood glamour to the screen; whilst Thomas, in total opposition, plays the stiff-upper-lipped English mother-in-law to perfection. A thoroughly enjoyable British comedy.