A Good Woman (2004)

Set in the 1930s, a young newlywed (Scarlett Johansson) and her husband (Mark Umbers) are spending "the season" on the Amalfi coast in Italy. But when an older woman (Helen Hunt) with a dubious reputation appears on the scene, she suspects her husband of having an affair with her. THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST is Oscar Wilde's most famous play but I've always preferred his LADY WINDERMERE'S FAN. Directed by Mike Barker, Howard Himmelstein's screenplay is a clever updating of Wilde's FAN which has been adapted for the screen at least three previous times as well as numerous TV adaptations. While Wilde's notable wit has been diluted somewhat, it's still colorful, elegant and well acted. While the Wilde purists would no doubt object to what is lost by the updating but if what we get is watered down Wilde, the compensations are not to be sneezed at. Hunt brings a nice air of desperation and poignancy to her Mrs. Erylnne and Johansson is suitably demure and Ben Seresin (WORLD WAR Z) does justice to the Italian locations. With Tom Wilkinson, Stephen Campbell Moore, John Standing and Milena Vukotic.