My weekly red envelope brought me The Painted Veil this time around. I am not exactly sure in retrospect how the film ended up on my queue. Maybe it was because it was nominated for a few awards (I think a Golden Globe or two...and might have won). Maybe it was because it's the kind of romantic drama that generally appeals to me. Maybe it was because it has Edward Norton, a favorite actor of mine, and Naomi Watts. It was probably all of those things and yet nothing specifically. I was just interested in it, and I had seen enough previews of it attached to other DVDs and such to stay interested.
I know it's based on a novel by W. Someset Maugham, and it's been my intention to pick the book up and read it before watching the film. Sadly, as per usual, I forgot my best of intentions, but I can say that after seeing this very well made film, I'm even more interested in the source material than ever before (and, for the record, I've never seen any prior incarnation of a film adaptation of this particular classic).
Naomi Watts plays Kitty, a spoiled, selfish, and rich society girl who also happens to be hearkening upon old maid status, due to her inability or lack of desire to commit to a potential husband. Edward Norton plays Walter Fane, a bacteriologist who is shy, awkward, and, in many ways, already married to his work. After espying Kitty at some society function and becoming smitten with her, he quickly proposes marriage. She accepts, though, it seems, to escape the impending "old maid" brand and her nagging family rather than for love. The pair move to Shanghai, where Walter conducts his research. Bored, listless, and uninterested in her husband, Kitty engages in an affair with British Vice Consul Charlie Townsend (Liev Schrieber), but Walter learns of her infidelity. Seemingly out of revenge and ill feeling, Walter gets it into his mind to travel into rural China and work in the heart of the cholera epidemic, and he demands that Kitty accompany him or be served divorce papers. The adjustment for these two is rocky, but they learn important lessons about themselves and each other in the process.
I have to say, in the end, that I really kind of loved this film. The technical elements are the premiere triumph of The Painted Veil. First of all, and others have said it, but this film was strikingly beautiful. The cinematography, using the on-location surrounds in present-day China and the contrasts of natural light and topography, was truly breathtaking. I simply kept murmuring "how pretty" or "that's beautiful" from the moment that the scenes transitioned from Britain to China.
The art direction and costuming were absolutely fantastic as well. This was one of the most convincing period dramas I have seen in a while based on the attention and detail paid to the lovely 1920s dresses sported by Ms. Watts, and the items like cloth parasols, victrolas, and other period decor dotting even the run-down cabins the Fanes visit and reside in while working in the epidemic. I am a huge fan of this time period anyway, so it was a delight to see how the filmmakers embraced it.
Also, the score for this picture is just beautiful, featuring an acclaimed Chinese pianist (Lang Lang). It really captures the essence of this story and could be a stunning piece of music performed even without the accompanying visuals.
Speaking of which, while I haven't read the original novel, I feel like this adaptation was very solid. The story was told with great care, and I generally like the direction taken by John J. Curran. The story itself is an engaging and powerful romance-in-reverse, where the two protagonists discover feelings for and about each other of which each was unaware, but it's made even more touching and meaningful with the performances of the leads. I see that some reviewers before me had some gripes about Mr. Norton's English accent. For my money, I thought he did a decent job; it was thin but consistent, and he's such a fabulous actor, that the accent was mere frosting on a very sweet cake. His performance was gripping and resonant, and I very much enjoyed watching him as I almost always do.
I wasn't sold on Naomi Watts, at first. Actually, I had the most trouble suspending disbelief when she was supposed to be the spoiled rich girl committing adultery. Perhaps, her situation was too sympathetic for me, and Ms. Watts never made Kitty an actual brat to start. She was, on the other hand, sort of bemusedly stubborn, and I'm not sure I agreed with her choices at first. Once her character began its road to reformation and redemption and love for her husband, the true strength of Naomi's performance shined, and the first quarter or third of the film and portrayal of her character were soon forgotten.
Still, this is but a small complaint. All in all, I thought the film was great, which was a bit - not too much, but a bit - surprising. It was a beautiful surprise, though. I think the Painted Veil receives an 8.5 rating from me between minor flaws/very good and perfectly entertaining in light of the "but one" small complaint. As for the test, the jury's still out on this one, though I can't see myself buying it to watch when the mood strikes because the ending is a bittersweet one, a bit predictable and anticlimactic, and actually made me kind of sad. I don't own many sad movies, but I recommend The Painted Veil highly for those who haven't seen it. It's a visually stunning little film that will get its hooks into you from the first frame and keep you interested until the last.