The Painted Veil

Few could compete with Somerset Maugham when it came to capturing the range of human emotions, and by choosing the author's epic Painted Veil, director John Curran had the perfect plot in the perfect setting, China. With breathtaking cinematography (Stuart Dryburgh from The Piano) and superb acting by Naomi Watts, who marries the rather unemotional bacteriologist Walter Fane (Edward Norton) in a bid to escape from claustrophobic London society. ... Full Review

but, most of all, it's a rattling good yarn.....The direction need not be remarkable, and nor need the acting..... ... Full Review

Anthony Wong, a huge star in Asia, gave a wonderful supporting performance in last year's "The Painted Veil. The effect is probably meant to represent arterial spray, but the effect is poetic, almost ethereal, in the way it suggests the spirit being ejected from the body. ... Full Review

No matter, the film is strong enough to stand on its own as a highly dramatic film with a well developed screenplay, fine acting, and gorgeous cinematography. Well, now that I have put the time in and watched it, I am happy to report that it is a beautifully crafted film that combines a realistic relationship with the historical fact of China circa the 1920s, creating a film that is gorgeous to look at and fascinating to watch. ... Full Review

a fine film....The Painted Veil is a sumptuous adaptation of the celebrated novel....the golden age of cinema....some good performances.... ... Full Review

Good movie. In this newest version of " The Painted Veil ," Maugham's troubled souls are played by Edward Norton and Naomi Watts. THe scenery is lush and often breathtaking. ... Full Review

Not even considering the physical prowess, The Painted Veil is a sublime, rapturously beautiful piece of filmmaking. There's not a plethora of high-impact scenes or stringently potent aggression amidst this bittersweet tale of subdued punishment. ... Full Review

Produced by Edward Norton and Naomi Watts, The Painted Veil works well as a movie--even better as an actor's showcase. Filmed on location, the handsome production is, in many respects, just as old-fashioned as its source material--sex is merely suggested and Kitty is shocked that their English neighbor (Toby Jones) has a Chinese lover--but the ending packs a feminist twist. ... Full Review

Good movie. In this newest version of " The Painted Veil ," Maugham's troubled souls are played by Edward Norton and Naomi Watts. THe scenery is lush and often breathtaking. ... Full Review

The Painted Veil is sumptuous, languid and inspires vague indifference:....Not that Watts or Norton, in a pair of bold and intelligent performances, need much help.....The backdrop of indignation and unrest in colonial China is too abstractly sketched, just another kind of scenery..... ... Full Review