Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful photography, dull story.
Review: A rich period piece centered on the lives of wealthy residents of pre WWII Florence, "Up At The Villa" is lovely to look at, but dull to watch. The story focuses on about four days in the life of Mary Panton (Kristin Scott Thomas), an English socialite living in Florence. Mary's serene and boring life is turned upside down by a proposal from Sir Edgar (James Fox), a very wealthy man she doesn't love; her fascination with Rowley Flint (Sean Penn), a roguish playboy who irritates and attracts her; and a peccadillo with an indigent Austrian refugee. As if that is not enough excitement for the bland widow, the refugee commits suicide when she tries to explain to him that their night of passion wasn't true love, but an act of kindness and pity on her part.The principal problem here is that the main characters are so flawed that the viewer is unable to care about anything that happens to them. The only charismatic character is Princess Ferdinando (Anne Bancroft), a delightfully irreverent busybody. Mary makes so many bad decisions in such a short period that it is difficult to have any respect for her. Rowley is simultaneously repugnant and pathetic and Sir Edgar is about as interesting as a decapitated mushroom. The best thing about the film is the cinematography and the period renderings. Director Philip Haas and cinematographer Maurizio Calvesi combine to bring us breathtaking scenes of Florentine splendor. The Villa that was selected was majestic and the period costumes, cars, furniture and props were wonderfully accurate. This natural beauty in conjunction with some excellent lighting effects made this film a feast for the eyes. Kristin Scott Thomas' performance was marvelous despite the haplessness of her character. She was emotional and confused, and she looked lovely doing it. Sean Penn was utterly miscast as Rowley. Penn is best playing offbeat and outrageous characters. In his attempt to contain his natural outlandishness, he came across as far too restrained and lacked the dashing and cavalier attitude that one expects from such a playboy. Together they had as much chemistry as used dishwater. The best performance was unquestionably that of Anne Bancroft. She gave an unrestrained and effluent performance as the Grande Dame that glistened with dynamic energy. It is too bad she didn't get more screen time. I rated this film a 7/10 on the strength of the photography and a great performance by Anne Bancroft. The story isn't bad, but it is far from inspiring. It will probably play better to female audiences than male due to the highly emotional nature of the heroine.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful photography, dull story.
Review: A rich period piece centered on the lives of wealthy residents of pre WWII Florence, "Up At The Villa" is lovely to look at, but dull to watch. The story focuses on about four days in the life of Mary Panton (Kristin Scott Thomas), an English socialite living in Florence. Mary's serene and boring life is turned upside down by a proposal from Sir Edgar (James Fox), a very wealthy man she doesn't love; her fascination with Rowley Flint (Sean Penn), a roguish playboy who irritates and attracts her; and a peccadillo with an indigent Austrian refugee. As if that is not enough excitement for the bland widow, the refugee commits suicide when she tries to explain to him that their night of passion wasn't true love, but an act of kindness and pity on her part. The principal problem here is that the main characters are so flawed that the viewer is unable to care about anything that happens to them. The only charismatic character is Princess Ferdinando (Anne Bancroft), a delightfully irreverent busybody. Mary makes so many bad decisions in such a short period that it is difficult to have any respect for her. Rowley is simultaneously repugnant and pathetic and Sir Edgar is about as interesting as a decapitated mushroom. The best thing about the film is the cinematography and the period renderings. Director Philip Haas and cinematographer Maurizio Calvesi combine to bring us breathtaking scenes of Florentine splendor. The Villa that was selected was majestic and the period costumes, cars, furniture and props were wonderfully accurate. This natural beauty in conjunction with some excellent lighting effects made this film a feast for the eyes. Kristin Scott Thomas' performance was marvelous despite the haplessness of her character. She was emotional and confused, and she looked lovely doing it. Sean Penn was utterly miscast as Rowley. Penn is best playing offbeat and outrageous characters. In his attempt to contain his natural outlandishness, he came across as far too restrained and lacked the dashing and cavalier attitude that one expects from such a playboy. Together they had as much chemistry as used dishwater. The best performance was unquestionably that of Anne Bancroft. She gave an unrestrained and effluent performance as the Grande Dame that glistened with dynamic energy. It is too bad she didn't get more screen time. I rated this film a 7/10 on the strength of the photography and a great performance by Anne Bancroft. The story isn't bad, but it is far from inspiring. It will probably play better to female audiences than male due to the highly emotional nature of the heroine.
Rating:
Summary: Sumptuous but slight
Review: A sumptuously filmed, delightfully old-fashioned, but ultimately rather insubstantial adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham's novella of the same name. Mary Panton (Kristin Scott Thomas) must decide: does she play it safe and marry a stuffy Englishman (James Fox) for position and security, or does she follow her heart and take up with a charming but feckless married American playboy (Sean Penn)? A few days of melodrama involving sex, suicide and the menace of Italian fascism help make up her mind. The performances from Scott Thomas and Penn are solid, with Anne Bancroft, Derek Jacobi and Massimo Ghini delighting in minor roles, though Jeremy Davies is less convincing as an Austrian peasant. It's probably worth seeing just for Maurizio Calvesi's cinematography and Paul Brown's production design - the lavish villa and the ripening tomatoes at the tennis club are a treat. But highest honors surely belong to special make-up artist Joan Giacomin who transforms the talented but rather rough-headed Sean Penn into a veritable `40s matinée idol. Penn continues to shine, in roles like this one, with remarkable versatility.
Rating:
Summary: Sumptuous but slight
Review: A sumptuously filmed, delightfully old-fashioned, but ultimately rather insubstantial adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham's novella of the same name. Mary Panton (Kristin Scott Thomas) must decide: does she play it safe and marry a stuffy Englishman (James Fox) for position and security, or does she follow her heart and take up with a charming but feckless married American playboy (Sean Penn)? A few days of melodrama involving sex, suicide and the menace of Italian fascism help make up her mind. The performances from Scott Thomas and Penn are solid, with Anne Bancroft, Derek Jacobi and Massimo Ghini delighting in minor roles, though Jeremy Davies is less convincing as an Austrian peasant. It's probably worth seeing just for Maurizio Calvesi's cinematography and Paul Brown's production design - the lavish villa and the ripening tomatoes at the tennis club are a treat. But highest honors surely belong to special make-up artist Joan Giacomin who transforms the talented but rather rough-headed Sean Penn into a veritable '40s matinée idol. Penn continues to shine, in roles like this one, with remarkable versatility.
Rating: 
Summary: Thomas is great but the rest is substandard
Review: Despite some quality elements, foremost among them a lovely performance by Kristin Scott Thomas, `Up at the Villa' emerges as a fairly dull, ultimately unsatisfying tale of stiff-upper-lipped romance played against a wartime backdrop. In a way the film serves as something of a companion period piece to the recent `Tea With Mussolini' since both films involve wealthy American expatriates living and flourishing in Italy in the days leading up to the Second World War. Thomas stars as Mary, a young British widow who, while she is occupying a Florentine villa, finds herself the object of romantic overtures by an assortment of men including a wealthy but married American man, Rowley Flint (Sean Penn), and a penniless Viennese refuge (Jeremy Davies) with whom she has a one night stand. Shattered by her rejection the next night, the latter commits suicide in front of the distraught woman and it is in the attempt to cover up the incident with the help of Rowley that the film's few moments of genuine drama can be found. One of the problems with the story, based on a Somerset Maugham novella, is that, although Mary comes across as a sympathetic and often even a complex character at times - she is a caring, well-intentioned woman whose pampered existence leaves her unsuited for confronting the harshness of much of the world around her - the men whom she involves herself with emerge as both incredible and shallow. Penn seems particularly miscast in a role that calls for debonair subtlety when all he seems to be able to provide is insipid callowness. Indeed, rarely has a pair of screen lovers conveyed less dynamic chemistry than this one does here. Anne Bancroft provides dramatic intensity in her stereotypical role of the aging grand dame, but unfortunately, she doesn't get the screen time one would have liked seen accorded either her or her character. The film is indeed stunning to look at, filled with views of beautiful Florentine architecture and the lush Italian countryside, but the look of the movie is not enough to distract us from the overall languid pacing, the undramatic exposition, and the lightweight histrionics of Mr. Penn. As a result of such unequal pairing, Kristin Scott Thomas seems almost as if she is occupying this film alone for long stretches of time. Considering the utter richness and beauty of her performance that may not be such a bad thing overall - but `Up at the Villa' provides her with precious little support all the way around. **1/2
Rating: 
Summary: A good time!!
Review: I also really enjoyed this movie. This is an intelligent rendering of Somerset Maugham's novella. No explicit language, sex, or violence but the film still holds your attention because of the good dialogue and acting. The costumes are gorgeous too. Kristin Scott Thomas and Sean Penn have surprisingly effective romantic chemistry. And veteran actress Anne Bancroft almost steals the show with her deliciously gossipy character. Seeing this movie is a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous Actors In Good Writing Instead Of Fabulous Writing
Review: I am used to having Sean Penn, Kristin Scott-Thomas and Anne Bancroft completely knock me out in their screen roles. However, I'm also well accustomed to not being one of writer Somerset Maugham's fans. His writing bores me to death on the written page. The era of this work should have inspired impassioned writing. It takes place right before the Fascists take over Europe, before the outbreak of WWII, in Florence, Italy. Since it is Maugham's writing though, it always verges on the strained. Nevertheless, the actors give it all they've got and there is a good night's home viewing for you here. Scott-Thomas's character is attracted to security in the form of possibly marrying a real dullard of an older suitor. Actor Fox seems to embody my idea of Maugham himself as that stuffed shirt. Scott-Thomas is also attracted to adventure and danger in the form of a married man, Penn, and a penniless Austrian refugee. Advising her throughout is Bancroft, who married for money, not love, and now enjoys her well-heeled and titled widowhood. Who does Scott-Thomas choose and what are the problems along the way? You'll have to watch it to find out. My only regret is that these actors didn't have five star material at their disposal. The way hubby put it was, "Well, I guess you can't expect 'The English Patient' or 'Dead Man Walking' every time out." Indeed.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous Actors In Good Writing Instead Of Fabulous Writing
Review: I am used to having Sean Penn, Kristin Scott-Thomas and Anne Bancroft completely knock me out in their screen roles. However, I'm also well accustomed to not being one of writer Somerset Maugham's fans. His writing bores me to death on the written page. The era of this work should have inspired impassioned writing. It takes place right before the Fascists take over Europe, before the outbreak of WWII, in Florence, Italy. Since it is Maugham's writing though, it always verges on the strained. Nevertheless, the actors give it all they've got and there is a good night's home viewing for you here. Scott-Thomas's character is attracted to security in the form of possibly marrying a real dullard of an older suitor. Actor Fox seems to embody my idea of Maugham himself as that stuffed shirt. Scott-Thomas is also attracted to adventure and danger in the form of a married man, Penn, and a penniless Austrian refugee. Advising her throughout is Bancroft, who married for money, not love, and now enjoys her well-heeled and titled widowhood. Who does Scott-Thomas choose and what are the problems along the way? You'll have to watch it to find out. My only regret is that these actors didn't have five star material at their disposal. The way hubby put it was, "Well, I guess you can't expect 'The English Patient' or 'Dead Man Walking' every time out." Indeed.
Rating: 
Summary: JEREMY DAVIES IS MASTERFUL EVERYTIME
Review: I viewed this movie for one reason - Jeremy Davies. He gives extraordinary life to every role he chooses. He spins gold! I never hesitate to see a movie in which he appears because he cares enough about acting to turn his portrayals into lovely and beautiful gems each time. I'm glad some actors still strive for brilliance, truly appreciate each chance they're given to act on screen and actually create moving, believable, and magical memories for the audience to come away with after they've bought their ticket.
Rating:
Summary: JEREMY DAVIES IS MASTERFUL EVERYTIME
Review: I viewed this movie for one reason - Jeremy Davies. He gives extraordinary life to every role he chooses. He spins gold! I never hesitate to see a movie in which he appears because he cares enough about acting to turn his portrayals into lovely and beautiful gems each time. I'm glad some actors still strive for brilliance, truly appreciate each chance they're given to act on screen and actually create moving, believable, and magical memories for the audience to come away with after they've bought their ticket.
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