Fresh and Exciting

Don't Believe the Hype

Crappy film

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

The Maugham novel would have been a treat this movie is not.The evil fascists are interrupting the beautiful life of ex-pats living in 1937 Florence. These beautiful rich people include Kirstin Thomas (the scenery and costumes are beautiful---but that is all that is good about this movie.) It is basically a chick flick with Thomas swirling around everywhere things appearing magically at the right time to this wide eyed heroine. Kirsten has it all: looks experience 1 night stands with hitchhikers fleeing the Nazi's a powerful suitor and hot lover and so forth as she outsmarts the cartoon like Italian officials. No this is more than a brain dead caricature of pre WWII politics--it is brain dead period.I grew to hate Kirstin's character that wide eyed not a mean bone in my body look the only look she has frozen in place during the whole movie as she picks up and screws a hitchhiker in the most beautiful as is possible Florentine villa. Belinda and Philip Hass (writer and director) also made Angels and Insects a movie that troubles my subconscious even today. That is a whole different matter though or is it??.... in it there was too bright of lighting dresses made to look like insects---weird and troubling. It is however the perfect female heroes that are the problem in both films= they are sickeningly PC perfect.This is Maugham stripped of all of his sophisticated observations and insights and filled with chick flick PC action.Thumbs down down down....

can someone please help me i missed the last view moments and i don't want to pay money to see the whole film again. i got to just where they are in the train carriage and she says 'what about that drink now?' and smiles. what happens after that? is there anymore dialogue or action? surely it doesn't just end there? i was a bit bored in the film and kept hoping it would get better. i love Kristen Scott Thomas does anyone remember the UK TV series she was in about some nuns? i am wanting to know the name. Sean Penn was brilliant Madonna eat your heart out! everybody else in fact the film a bit predictable, it was a 'spot a star cast'. the ending took me by surprise i really thought she had burnt her boats.....if you are a fan of any of the stars its worth watching.

Well, after reading several comments, it has become more than apparent to me that the majority didn't like it, especially Sean Penn's role. I, for one, enjoyed the film. Perhaps it's not the best movie ever made, perhaps it's not Penn's greatest performance, I'll give you that. However, I thought the movie was fun, enjoyable to watch. I suppose I wasn't looking for an Oscar candidate when I picked it up because the premise of the movie itself doesn't lend itself the traditonal epics or emotional dramas that are favored by the Academy. Mysteries are a favorite of mine and so the plot kept me interested and, to another point, I thought Sean Penn's performance was wonderful considering the role. Yes, it was understated which I found wonderful, and yes, after a momentary pause to think, the romantic relationship between Kristin Scott Thomas and Sean Penn seemed a bit odd, they don't seem to fit well together in that context. However, I thought the movie was all around just fun and Sean Penn is so utterably watchable in this movie and so charming and seductive that I would've followed him to the ends of the earth, guarantees or not

I expected more of this film than it could deliver. I havent read the novella but other comments lead me to believe that the ending was different from the one filmed. Perhaps they should have stuck to it. If I love a movie I rave about it If I hate a movie I am equally fervent in my comments but with this one I dont even care enough about the movie or the characters in it to comment more. Disappointing.