Rating: 
Summary: some good elements but overall too slow moving
Review: There's precious little mirth in "The House of Mirth," a complex, though sluggishly paced, study of Victorian Era morality (though, technically, this film is set a few years after that time, during the early years of the 20th Century). "The House of Mirth" was Edith Wharton's first novel and, although I much prefer her later works like "The Custom of the Country" and "The Age of Innocence," this maiden effort is not without its virtues.Like many of the Henry James novels upon which Wharton consciously patterned her own, "The House of Mirth" is a harsh indictment of the class-consciousness and false values that permeated life for the well-to-do class during that era. It casts a scathing eye on a society that offered so few opportunities for women, yet demanded that they live up to such an impossibly high standard of behavior. In the story, Lily Bart (Gillian Anderson) comes to experience the subtle brutality of this tea-and-crumpets world, where favors come with hefty price tags of compromised virtue, where one's position of comfort can be suddenly obliterated at the whiff of a scandal or the utterance of a rumor, and where trusted friends, in such a case, can be the first to abandon one on the shoals of poverty - all in the cause of social expediency. Taken as a bare-boned story, "The House of Mirth" is really quite interesting - especially in its later, darker section wherein we see Lily stripped of all her social connections and forced to try to make her way in a world that has been designed to block her every move. She becomes quite a sympathetic figure as the movie goes along. But how long it takes us to get to the point where we really care! For long stretches of this film, we find ourselves wishing it would at least pick up the pace somewhat. We know that the film is not intended to be a fast-moving work, but "The House of Mirth" often confuses slowness and drabness with high drama and art. Only in the latter stages, where the character connections finally fall into place and where Lily's plight becomes one with which we can identify, does the film truly pique our interest. The casting also seems quite problematic at times. Anderson does a find job conveying the wistful sadness of Lily at the end of the film, but her hangdog expression seems inappropriate in the early scenes. Eric Stoltz is far too much of a milquetoast as the man who might save her and Dan Akroyd is nothing short of an embarrassment as an older married friend who makes a move on Lily in exchange for some badly needed cash. "The House of Mirth" makes some profound statements about the plight of women living at the last turn-of-the-century. I'm just not sure how relevant it is to women living at THIS turn-of-the-century - except perhaps to show them how much better they have it now.
Rating: 
Summary: Love Letters
Review: Based on the classic novel by Edith Wharton, the mood is set from the start. You enter a world of lace umbrellas, flowing dresses, tea parties, ornate settings, delicate hairstyles, divine jewelry, lush countryside and horse drawn carriages. Lily Bard (Gillian Anderson) only has a limited time to give to various experiences in her life. She is definitely hunting for a husband and financial security seems to be at the top of her list. What she hides well is her need to be loved, for who she is and not for what she can give a man financially. While socially pressured to find a wealthy husband, she longs for a man who will tell her he wants her, no matter what. In fact, she has little to offer and finds herself in financial ruin shortly after trusting Gus Trenor (Dan Aykroyd) to invest her small fortune. She is not only naïve about finances, she has no idea men will expect more from her than she is willing to give. There are many men offering her a way out of her situation, yet she can't seem to settle for anything less than love. And the only man who seems to ignore her is the one she wants. He offers her love once and she rejects it and feels she must marry someone wealthy to keep her social position to keep up with her addiction to luxury. When Lawrence (Eric Stoltz) says: "The only way I can help you is by loving you." She finds that what she has chosen seems hateful to her. Bertha (Laura Linney) takes great pains to ruin Lily's reputation. Her husband George Dorset (Terry Kinney) cannot protect Lily as his own heart is in shambles. There is also some great humor in places where you really won't expect it. Watching this movie only once will not alert you to the subtle metaphors and intrigue it contains. The script at times is simply delicious! Even though some of the acting isn't. You can't always have it all! The settings are so superior, I could endure a few poorly executed lines. I love life and still enjoyed this movie. It is a warning, to not take the wrong paths in life, no matter how much we might want to take them. Lily has a good heart and many take advantage of her. Heartbreaking!
Rating:
Summary: Gillian Anderson does it again!
Review: While "House of Mirth" is not a film for everyone, it is for those who enjoy a wonderfully written and acted artsy film. Gillian Anderson does a superb job portraying social elite Lily Bart, from wonderful beginning to tragic end. Well worth taking the time to buy or rent this video!!
Rating: 
Summary: X-files fans beware....
Review: X-files fans beware. This is not a Gillian Anderson movie you are likely to enjoy. While I didn't find the movie overly boring or overly dry, it's not the sort of movie I would watch when I am in any sort of mood other than completely happy. However, all that aside, Gillian Anderson puts on a beautiful performance in this film. While it's not a movie that I am likely to watch again, I am glad that I experienced it once.
Rating: 
Summary: You know what would have made this movie better...?
Review: This movie would have been a flat-out masterpiece if only it had starred Jackie Chan as Miss Bart's estranged lover Seldon. He would have played the part masterfully with an intimate comprehension of Wharton's gripping story. Oh, now don't misinterpret what I'm saying -- this movie doesn't need anymore action than it already has (my lord, I almost had a heart attack with all the amazing twists and turns this thrilling movie contained!) No, I want Jackie Chan to dress up in a tux and walk around like he's in a serious drama. I would LOVE to see him kiss Gillian Anderson. It would have brought the movie to new, unbelievable heights. And speaking of heights, he should also play Heathcliffe.
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing happens in this movie!
Review: This movie is your ticket to sleepy time. I'm surprised I stayed awake during this poorly acted, terribly written, and tedious film. Gillian Anderson is the only reason why I gave it 2 stars at all. Two stars too many I should say. Who let this wretched excuse for British drama be produced? You couldn't pay me to watch this thing again.
Rating:
Summary: zzzzzzzz.
Review: Don't get me wrong, I don't need fast-paced movies jampacked full of action, and I like Gillian Anderson's acting in The X-Files. But, gee whiz, this film bombed. The storyline and editing are choppy, dull, and annoying (as if it's a mainstream movie that's attempting to be arthouse), and for some reason, Anderson's character isn't quite believable. Above all, though, it's a story about a woman who a) is a bit dim, b) is selfish, and c) is unable to communicate with her friends or ask for simple assistance when she's in trouble. I couldn't figure that one out - is she really stupid, or can't she swallow her pride for five seconds? I may seem harsh, but sincerely, who wants to watch a movie (that isn't a comedy) about someone who's selfish and stupid? The only redeeming moments are those with Eric Stoltz, whose character has half a brain (only half), and the villains, Dan Aykroyd (he makes an excellent bad guy) and Laura Linney. Anyway, if you're an insomniac, definitely buy this movie. It'll be so much more efficient than counting imaginary sheep. Thumbs down!
Rating:
Summary: pretty boring
Review: I love Gillian Anderson, I love her in the x-files and in playing by heart and she did well in this movie, but even with her great acting skills, this movie was boring.
Rating:
Summary: Gillian Anderson is outstanding
Review: After being an avid follower of 'The X-Files' for several years, I originally sought this out purely to see Gillian Anderson. How lucky I was. Unlike most period dramas, this doesn't show the blissful romance of the lifestyle of the rich or spend time panning around beautiful green hills. Its instant sense of reality is stunning and brings you right to the front of the action. Here we see Gillian Anderson, who won the British Independent Film Award for Best Actress for this, as Lily Bart constantly searching for fulfilment. As she turns down various suitors and is manipulated through her own naivity, we see her gradually spiral downwards. Here we are shown the cruelty of society, with Lily's friends quite prepared to discard her when her fortunes change. Anderson's performance as her fortunes change is absolutely mesmerising. She perfectly displays Lily's shock and horror as society spurns her, as well as her desperate scrabble for a scrap of self-dignity. Here the general public are shown what 'X-Files' viewers have known for a long time (especially through episodes such as 'Memento Mori') - that TV actors can actually act. This film is a real tour de force, and has seen that after leaving the hit TV show, Anderson will surely be taken seriously in the movie world.
Rating:
Summary: A well done period Drama
Review: I've always loved well done period dramas, since they give us a glimpse in bygone and sometimes less hectic times, and many times show that the people who lived back then were sometimes not all that different then us.
Such is the case with this excellent picture which stars the X-Files Gillian Anderson as Lilly Bart, a beautiful New York heiress in the opening years of the 20th century. Like many women of her class, Lilly is trolling for the ideal man to become her husband so she can live in comfort. Eric Stoltz portrays her true love, a lawyer of modest means, whose reduced station prevents him from taking Lilly as his wife, seeing as she's after bigger fish in the matromonial pool.
The film plays out as sort of greek tragedy as we watch Lilly slowly decend from her lofty station to the depths of despair both through her own actions, (She runs up a large gambling debt, and spends extravegently), and through the actions of those she trusted as freinds, (Dan Akroyd as a banker who offers to pay her debts if she'll become his mistress, or Bertha, who is willing to sully her best freinds reputation in order to cover up her own sexual indescrections) Through it all Lilly holds the key that'll bring about her salvation (A group of incriminating letters) but she hesitates to use them, instead allowing herself to brought low, finally taking her own life in an East side rooming house.
This is a lush film, full of period detail that requires the viewer to pay close attention. Ms Anderson's performance is of Oscar caliber and it is a great didservice that she was not at least nominated for this role as she brings Lilly across beautifully in all her moods from the flightyness of a money heiress at the films beginning to the dark mood of the end when she has fallen to the bottom from her once lofty perch. If you have an evening to spare with a top notch film, this is it.
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