THE HOUSE OF MIRTH

2001

This is less a movie, than it is a time machine that whisks you back to the New York of 1905. It's less concerned with entertaining than it is with presenting an accurate portrayal of the elaborate life style, the ornate clothing, the formal manners, and to our ears , the stilted speech patterns of the wealthy, in turn-of-the-century New York. Based on the book by Edith Wharton, this could have been one of those Merchant-Ivory films, or a fine Masterpiece Theater series. It's the story of Lilly Bart, a woman born to be a socialite, but without the protection of a family and husband who could prevent her from making some of the terrible mistakes that she makes, falls out of grace from the society that she needs so desperately to survive. Women at this time had few choices, little power, no independence, and no money of their own. The results could often be tragic. All of the actors (Laura Linney, Eric Stoltz, Elizabeth McGovern, Dan Ackroyd, Anthony LaPaglia and Terry Kinney) are exceptional; Gillian Andersen is perfection as Lilly Bart.There's no action in this film at all; people don't even WALK fast! But if you have patience, and want to spend 2 hours in 1905 in New York, in the company of some exotic and fascinating  people, then this is your film.

5 Stars

NJB