The House of Mirth

When you read the reviews of this film, reviewers who have read the book tend to rate the film lower and indicate that film does not measure up to the novel. However, I think it is only fair to review the film as a stand alone artistic production independent of the source novel, and under this condition the film is superb and highly disturbing. I found myself thinking about the film all the next day after I saw it, for it is dark social commentary on the human condition. Gillian Anderson plays Lily Bart, a cool socialite, seeking a rich husband among the New York City social upper class. The film follows Lily as she makes one mistake after another in judgment, all with consequences that begin to undermine her social position. Her vulnerability is based on her ambivalence and inaction when action is required. Lily had upper class parents who lost their fortune when she was 19. Now she lives with her Aunt Julia Peniston, and her cousin, Grace Julia Stepney. The most obvious ambiguity in her life is her love for the handsome lawyer, Lawrence Selden, who does not have the size fortune needed to attract and maintain Lily. She loves him and yet her vocation is to seek a wealthy husband, and Lawrence recognizes that this is her vocation, the goal toward which everyone in her family and social network directs her, and thus he does not push his affections upon her. They become a tragic pair of star-crossed lovers. Eric Stoltz does a great job playing Selden, a cool sophisticated socially accepted handsome man. Under normal circumstance he would be an excellent choice for a husband. However Lily has been bred to go after the highest prize, the wealthiest men in New York City. Lily has a small inheritance of $9,000 of which she has lost $8,000 in gambling debt which she must repay. She is friends with Gus and Judy Trenor and Judy is attempting to fix Lily up with New York's most wealthy men. But Lily loves Lawrence and she undermines each and every attempt to connect her to a rich husband and secure future. She confides to Gus Trenor that she is in debt and he offers to manage her inheritance. Lily sees Judy and Gus as her great friends and attends the opera with Gus when Judy is in the countryside. Gillian Anderson looks outstanding dressed in red for the Mozart opera but her conspicuous beauty in combination with her married escort begins to stimulate gossip and tales that reach the ears of her prudish rich aunt. Funds come in which Lily disburses, not realizing that these funds are not her dividends but the funds of Gus Trenor who finally reveals he wishes her to become his lover so as to repay the funds he has given her. She refuses Gus but the damage to her reputation has been done. This incident is minor stuff compared to the incredible double-cross that she endures from Bertha Dorset, who sets up Lily to cover her own marital indiscretion. Lily's cousin Grace uses every opportunity to influence the elderly Aunt Julia and when Julia dies the vast fortune goes to Grace with only enough funds going to Lily to pay her debts. Lily has the evidence to shame Bertha Dorset and give her husband George Dorset the grounds for a divorce but she does not use the tools she has been given. When the wealthy Jewish businessman Sim Rosedale offers her a strategy by which she can regain her status, she refuses to act, probably because Bertha has had an affair with Lawrence Selden and thus to act would also hurt Lawrence. When rich Aunt Julia dies, she leaves Lily $10,000, enough to cover her debts but no more. Lily never understood or appreciated her aunt's value system and what games would be required to inherit the vast fortune of $400,000 that is left to cousin Grace. Remember that $400,000 in 1907 is equal to about 400 million in 2008 dollars. The film tracks Lily's sad fall down the social ladder and the poor self destructive decisions that Lily has made come to bring about her downfall. It is an irony that she never really commits any of the indiscretions for which she is accused. Beautiful rich women in her class had to balance their vocation of acquiring wealth with their passion for men other than their husbands. Lily was not cut out for this strategy that Bertha Dorset has mastered so well. Laura Linney is excellent as the relentless Bertha who would sacrifice Lily to cover her own indiscretion. The end is sad and crushing. Lily has learned that life is difficult and that she is useless person if she no longer resides in the upper crust of wealthy society. She comes to see that she was just a cog in a giant social machine and when she dropped out of the machine, she was of little use to anyone.

All Gillian fans should have one of these. She is at her best here (always is). Wonderful movie. Setting and theme from a wonderful past time.

For all of those who believe Gillian Anderson cannot escape the bounds of her Dana Scully character on the X-files, one look at "The House of Mirth" will change that opinion. From the moment she walks out of the cloud of steam created by a train and turns her veiled face to Eric Stoltz, she completely transcends Scully. Anderson plays Lily Bart, who's gambling habit and tendancy to fraternize with men leads to her social downfall in turn of the century New York. She knows she should marry a man with money, but she loves Stoltz's character, Lawrence Seldon, a young attorney who is financially secure but not well off. Through a series of social blunders and failures to understand the motives of several characters, Lily soon finds herself on the outside of society living as a drug addict and making hats. Gillian Anderson plays Lily with such heart-breaking stubborness that most of the time you want to climb through the screen and shake her. But this is a typical Edith Wharton story, and the good guys rarely, if ever, come out on top. Watching Anderson's physical change is one of the most amazing aspects of this film. In the beginning, she is bright and bubbly with a perfect complexion and clear eyes. By the end, her exhaustion and addiction is palpable--her entire body seems to have changed in some way. Here's hoping that more parts like this await Gillian Anderson when she breaks free from X-files.

This movie was a major disappointment. After almost 2 hours and 15 minutes, my wife and I kept asking: what is the message here? The total futility of living? Luck is the key to everything? Be glad you didn't live in the early-1900's? We cared for none of the characters and the ending was depressing. Why would anyone write a story like this or produce such a film? We enjoyed Gillian Anderson in "The X-files." In fact, we kept wondering if Lt. Mulder was going to suddenly appear and rescue Scully from this dire film. "House of Mirth?" There was no mirth of any sort. Just one negative scene and situation after another. Gillian Anderson also appeared in a recent production of Charles Dickens' "Bleak House," a dark and brooding tale, even by Dickens' standards. Believe it or not, "House of Mirth" is even bleaker than "Bleak House." Other reviewers liked the costumes and various production features. But what good are they when there is virtually no story and the characters are all unpleasant, unsympathetic people? Unless you're a mashochist, steer clear of this movie. Yes, it has good actors and the costumes and scenery may be well done. But if there is no story, who cares?

House of Mirth was actually number one on my Christmas list of must-read books last year. I'd heard so much about the movie, I forced myself to abstain from watching it until I finished this sure-to-be intensely satisfying book. I'm sure it's because I'm not used to Edith Wharton's writing style, but I think she may've been alergic to action. There's plenty of self-examination from our heroine, Lily Bart, and her seemingly endless commentary on society and her place in it. Thankfully, we're spared much of that in the film. The film brings up many interesting points that I'm sure the book discussed, had I cared at the time. Is Lily Bart a martyr for accomplished, well-to-do ladies of her circle? Does she surrender too soon? Does her weakness say more about her or society? It really is rather a disturbing look at societal politics and how quickly the upper echelons of society could eliminate or alienate rivals by rumor, slander or even the hint of impropriety. As much as I initially loathed Lily Bart and her ineptitude, I really should sympathize because she's not a survivalist in the skilled, strong work-ethic sort of way. She wasn't bred for that. We get early on that even she knows she's doomed to failure. She's given several opportunities to get back in the game, but shuns them out of pride or loyalty to her friends. Gillian Anderson is exceptional in the film because she understands Lily Bart is an uncomplicated woman. She wants to be a part of high society but won't step on anyone to get there or take the easy way out. She knows Lily's imperfections but she'd explain that they're necessary if she's to fight for her place in the world. That's all she knows. I do love the entire cast in this film, especially Dan Aykroyd as Gus Trenor. Some people dislike the casting of Aykroyd and I too think his presence is rather jarring. I'm waiting for him to whip out his proton pack. But his odd, slimy salesman presense was a brilliant choice as we instinctively don't want him anywhere near Lily. I'm rather partial to this film for restoring the bitter disappointment I felt for the book. I really find it more interesting to watch Lily's star gradually diminish without needing a constant commentary from the heroine. We only need to see how she reacts. She isn't able to share her inmost feelings and I think her silent, self-struggle, is what makes the audience wish they could help her or be her confidant.

This movie was outstanding. It was about love, values, and all the complexities that can occur when making the wrong decisions. It was also about the sub-text of dignity and honor.

What a cast! Gillian Anderson · Dan Aykroyd · Eleanor Bron · Anthony LaPaglia · Laura Linney · Elizabeth McGovern. I couldn’t find this after thoroughly enjoying it years ago. Had to purchase!

This copy was stolen from a library and sold online. It still has the library sticker bar code on the disk and case. The movie is ok

FILM DI GRANDE ATTUALITA'. OTTIMA REGIA, INTERPRETI MOLTO BRAVI ANCHE SE ATTORI DI TELEFIM, SORPRENDENTI. LA TRAMA E LA SCENEGGIATURA , ABBASTANZA FEDELE AL LIBRO, SUPERBA. DA VEDERE MA SOPRATTUTTO DA RI-VEDERE.

à vrai dire, on n'attendait pas grand chose de l'héroïne de X files, cette série pour ados un rien faiblarde. Eh bien, elle nous cloue le bec et tient haut la main ce film de grande qualité. Quand on pense aux tonnes de navets édités en français et celui là n'est qu'en zone 1 ! En attendant l'édition européenne, faites un vrai cadeau à votre DVDthèque avec Chez les heureux du monde.

For those of us who have watched the 200 episodes of the X Files, and the two movies, sometimes several times over, it is no surprise to find Gillian Anderson producing a ravishing performance in her role as Lily Bart. Admirably supported by a well-chosen cast and directed precisely by Terence Davies. Why would those about to make a film of such quality choose anyone but an actress of Gillian Anderson's consummate abilities? I came late to "The House of Mirth" and am pleased not to have missed the film. Unfortunately in recent decades all the traditional superlatives that one might use to describe such a performance have become devalued. One searches for adjectives less commonly used hence my choice of "sublime" in the title to this review. The other part of my title are words spoken by Gillian Anderson in her acceptance speech for the "Best Performance by an Actress in a British Independent Film" in the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) in 2000. Her characteristic humility, so rare in the acting profession, is obvious as she departs stage right! The sets and settings are wonderful when viewed on a Blu-ray player and it's disappointing that the transfer to Blu-ray has not happened. The ladies' costumes in particular are divine and at times quite breathtaking in their beauty. Those reviewers who find the pace of this film too slow should receive our sympathy. The slower pace of days gone by gave time for reflection, time for thought and time to cherish the life we have. The enchanting performance of Gillian Anderson could have gone on for hours. As Lawrence Selden said to Lily in a memorable woodland scene "You're such a wonderful spectacle."

Wie alle vorangegangenen Rezensionen, bin ich auch nur voll des Lobes für diesen Film. Die Ausstattung ist nicht nur beeindruckend, sie erscheint auch authentisch und gibt einen überzeugenden Hintergrund für die Geschichte der Lily Bart ab. Diese Geschichte selbst ist ebenso ansprechend wie tragisch. Lily Bart, die, wie es im Film heisst, immer die "falschen Dinge zur richtigen Zeit" bzw. "vice versa" tut, erleidet ihr Schicksal hin- und hergerissen zwischen den Ansprüchen die ihrem sozialen Status geschuldet sind und moralischem Zögern. So wird sie letztlich durch diesen Konflikt aufgerieben und verliert mehr als ihren sozialen Status. Etwas überrascht hat mich die Anfangssequenz des Films, in der die Zuschauerin sozusagen mitten ins Geschehen geworfen wird, und in einer einzigen Szene die Beziehung der Charaktere Lily Bart und Lawrence Seldon erahnen muss. Interessanterweise gelingt das hervorragend, und durch die Interaktion dieser beiden gewinnt man Einblicke nicht nur in eine möglicherweise romantische Liebesgeschichte, sondern auch in die komplexe Figur der Lily Bart. Hervorzugeben ist meiner Meinung nach nicht nur die wirklich beachtliche Leistung Gillian Andersons, die in historischem Gewand schön wie ein Gemälde ist, sondern auch Eric Stoltz als Seldon. Er spielt diesen ebenfalls in sozialem Statusdenken verharrenden Charakter mit großem Charme und bezwingendem Understatement. Durch hervorragendes Casting und zwei wirklich talentierte Schauspieler entsteht eine Chemie, welche andere Edith Wharton Verfilmungen zwischen ihren Akteuren vermissen lassen. Ebenfalls lobend zu erwähnen sind Laura Linney und Dan Akroyd, welche die weniger konfliktgetriebenen als -treibenden Charaktere in diesem Drama spielen. Sehr überzeugend! Alles in allem ein fabelhafter Film, der nur zu empfehlen ist.

Película de época, que -con otras ropas y ambiente- en algunas sociedades actuales sigue siendo parecido. Mujer honesta, que se niega a casarse solo por adquirir riqueza y posición social, también con el defecto del juego que la arruina y condena a bajar de clase económica sin la preparación para superar la situación. No acepta entrar en el juego de la manipulación pero logran manipularla hasta condenarla. El ambiente, los palacetes, las tomas fotográficas muy buenas. Los diálogos buenos pero excesivamente tiesos. La compré de segunda mano y ya no se puede comprar. Una joyita del cine.