And speaking of Kristin Scott Thomas, I saw "Up at the
Villa" last night. A Somerset Maugham adapdation by Philip
Haas it suggests a kinder, gentler "The Letter"
floating in an atmosphere out of "Tea With Mussolini."
Thomas is a well-heeled but penniless British widow living in
Italy. James Fox, an ageing-but-dashing diplomat, proposes
marriage. She asks him to let her "think it over" as
he's about to take a brief trip. While he's away he's gets into
Major Trouble with Jeremy Davies (as an Austrian refugee), and
Sean Penn (as an American rotter) comes to the rescue -- only to
put himself in peril. Anne Bancroft does a great turn as a Grand
Dame.
Penn's actually tolerable in this one.
Altogether a solid entertainment.
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