A Good Woman – Interesting dialogues

Lying at home with a stuffy nose and a running fever, with the occasional work getting done from home, does have its advantages I suppose, if it means that I could work and watch any movie that is playing. Even though I had only the energy left for one movie today and it was ‘A Good Woman‘. I have not read the original play by Oscar Wilde so I have no clue as to how well it is adapted and stuff, but I should say that this movie had its own share of very good , sarcastic dialogues which made me chuckle every now and then.

Helen Hunt as Mrs Erlynne was a big shock because this role is something I have never seen her play, but again I have always seen her portray strong characters and this one also had the same MO except the clothing and the context were different. Honestly I didn’t think it did suit her well, but she did carry herself well enough. Scarlett Johansson looked as beautiful as usual. But the greatest attraction in this movie is Tom Wilkinson. He did an amazing job according to me 🙂 I like that old man and he was charming personified in this 😉 what will all that witty dialogues he got for himself. Here are some of the dialogues which I really really loved.

Tuppy (Tom Wilkinson): Why? What? What?

Mrs. Erlynne: I like you, I do. But if this is going to work between us, you can’t do that.

Tuppy: Do what?

Mrs. Erlynne: “Where? What? Why?” I can’t always explain myself to myself let alone anyone else.

Tuppy: Good for you – takes the pressure off. Nine times out of ten, men don’t give two pins about why they just feel obliged to take an interest. (I did laugh out loud at this one… Why did it remind me of someone’s recent post’s about women and stuff 😉 )

….

Dumby: Do you think she’d look at you if you were poor?

Tuppy: Do you think I’d look at her if she were ugly? Fair’s fair, exchange rates and so forth. Well I know she’s had her this and her that… but if a man can tolerate his own past… why not a past in his wife?

…

Tuppy: Aren’t you clever?

Mrs. Erlynne: I read it somewhere.

Tuppy: I like a good read myself. Nothing too laborious. I don’t want to tamper with natural ignorance.

….

Tuppy: No, I think I’ll do very well to marry you.

Mrs. Erlynne: How very practical.

Tuppy: Oh, I’ve begun too many romances out of sentiment. They always end in settlement.

God, some were so forthright it makes you wonder for a while. Even Helen Hunt’s dialogues are crisp and sharp. I have read too many stories of Victorian Regency about affairs, marriages etc, so that doesn’t come as a big surprise or anything, but it must have been something at that time when the play was actually written. It did make for a relaxed watch for me today and I kind of liked that movie.