Glad to see they made a movie about Vermeer using his lighting techniques in the movie itself. As recorded in other comments there is not much dialog in the film. Lots of atmospheric shots with not much action per se except for Scarlett Johansenn mixing paint, walking around the artist studio etc. One thing I did find very funny is the idea that Vermeer would have been influenced in his painting choices, composition etc, by someone who is basically a skullery maid. Sorry but I think it's definitely a 21st revisionist's idea to put forth this supposition. For example, Scarlett's character must be very careful not to move anything in Vermeer's painting model-setup, a chair, etc. Yet one afternoon, she looks at the painting in progress and decides that a chair in Vermeers painting should not be there, so she removes the real life chair from Vermeers mock-up. Later, Vermeer notices this and decides that she is right and erases the chair from his painting. Later he asks her why she moved the chair! Yikes! It all got a bit contrived and pompous at that point. Poor Colin Firth. What happened to his performance? He basically uses one expression throughout the film. That of p*ssed off. Combining this with the horrible hair extensions/wig(?) they had him in and his character is woefully petulant throughout the flick. Johansen actually does manage to keep the audience interest though she better be carefull not to let her soulfull, furrowed brow look become too much of an affectation. Judy Parfitt, as Vermeers mother-in-law,is one of the better attractions in the film. She's an accomplished actress one should keep an eye out for. She was particularly good in the Kathy Bates flick, Dolores Clairborne where she utters the infamous line... "sometimes being a bitch is the only thing a woman has to hold on to"
Review of Girl with a Pearl Earring
