Highly Overrated But Still Good

The first must-see film of the year.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

If ever there was a flick calculated to annoy and depress,this is it.Short on dialogue and long on "funereal" settings,House of Mirth is anything but. Not that I expected a cackle-fest! Best acting can be blamed on Dan Ackroyd though.I thought things were warming up when he appeared.No such luck. I really would have liked the pretentious heroine to have become,a scheming blackmailer,rich,beyond her wildest dreams and the toast of New York!But it was not to be.She was,in her own word,useless.Without any ability to marshal resources offered by friends,this lass's fate was sealed. To all 21st century young ladies who now think a "kick*ss" attitude will get them through life-beware,take heed of Lillie's fate.

When I bought this DVD nearly a decade ago, it was for Gillian Anderson, a formidable actress whom I met every week with "X-files" and for its settings in the Victorian time period.Now, I realize it was actually America and not Great-Brtitain, and discovering the majestic mansions of the movie, I understand actually why I appreciate this era: old, baroque, stylish, expensive, classical, it's simply like my parents building! In addition, I admire the British composure: polite, calm, soft even when it comes to say dreadful sayings! Some say they are hypocritical, I think instead they are highly civilized because they tame the beast inside all of us and can face hard arguments in a peaceful way! Concerning Gilian, she delivers an amazing portrayal but sadly, her character is for me intolerable: too many bad memories arise! Her psychological test would conclude that she's among the narcissus kind. Having practiced it for 4 years, you feel useless and frustrated in front of a narcissus loved one! Indeed, the narcissus person is alone and faces a lot of problems! Thus, they flirt constantly to ask for help and they crush their prey after using! Their conduct is materialistic and not emotional and they are unable to show empathy or caring about others! They believe their daily life is far too different than ordinary life and they think that they are saint, perfect and pure person while in fact, they fall in bad habits. They ask for true love but can't give it anyway! I don't know anymore if I depicted the movie or my relationships, but with "Douches Froides", this movie figures among my doom list, this is to say: one viewing is enough because too accurate with my inner pains...

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.

Technically this film was great & it was a good story. The acting was excellent, BUT... it was also an annoying film for the following reasons:1) She seemed so intelligent, how did she also make such a stupid mistake as to leave in the middle of an opera with a married man where everyone could see her go - what was she thinking?! 2) Why was Lily so damn proud as to not accept help from 2 well-intentioned friends, one of whom actually loved her & she didn't have the sense to follow her heart! Was this realistic? (Oh ya, it's a film!) 3) Why didn't she use those damning letters to re-enter the society she craved (tho why quite frankly, when it was by and large so hypocritical, is beyond me!)? 4) And to cap it all, she decides working is just too problematic so she tops herself! What a waste! 5) Why did Lawrence not chase her more if he was really interested in her? What game was he playing at? So he annoyed me!She seemed so clever at the beginning - I thought she'd find a way out of her troubles. Sorry but she was a complex & silly woman. (Yes, it's judgmental.)I'm annoyed that this film has affected me days after I saw it.7/10 from me