THE PAINTED VEIL

RYAN: We just saw “Shanghai Surprise” with Madonna and Sean Penn in the theatrical re-release.

CAROLINE: Ha. In actuality, it was “The Painted Veil” with Naomi Watts, Edward Norton and Liev Schreiber. And it was a much better movie than “Shanghai Surprise.”

RYAN: Totally. I thought this movie was amazing.

CAROLINE: I really, really liked it too. I was pleasantly surprised because I really didn’t know what to expect.

RYAN: The best thing about this movie is the story. It’s one of the best stories I’ve ever seen.

CAROLINE: Clearly, you haven’t read the book that it’s based on.

RYAN: Oh. No, have you?

CAROLINE: No. But the way you’re talking, you’re making it sound like it’s an original screenplay.

RYAN: Oh. I didn’t know it was based on a book.

CAROLINE: So I guess the words “Based on the Novel by W. Somerset Maugham” at the beginning of movie didn’t have an effect on you.

RYAN: I must have been searching for green Gummi Bears during that moment.

CAROLINE: Gotcha.

RYAN: Well, the story is incredible; very dramatic. There are some great moments of drama where you’re just like, “Oh my God, I love the drama!”

CAROLINE: Agreed. And what a great cast. I know Naomi Watts isn’t your favorite but I thought she did well here.

RYAN: Well she won me over in this film. And Edward Norton looked sexy.

CAROLINE: He was hot sporadically. But the moments that he looked hot, he looked really hot.

RYAN: And he’s just so good.

CAROLINE: He really is unbelievably good. He gives a calm, understated performance in this and I really enjoyed it. And I always love Liev and his fabulous voice. He does a British accent like no other.

RYAN: And a rare appearance by Diana Rigg as Mother Superior. She’s a British actress whom I adore.

CAROLINE: I gotta say, I hadn’t heard much buzz about this movie, but it was really good. It’s kind of slow-moving but that didn’t bother me. It’s gorgeous and sweeping with great scenery.

RYAN: Absolutely. Consistently throughout the film I noticed how beautiful the cinematography was.

CAROLINE: I believe it was shot largely in China. It’s a little gray and overcast but really beautiful. And there’s some hot sex in the movie.

RYAN: It made me believe in love again.

CAROLINE: Bottom line?

RYAN: This is absolutely a movie that I would recommend. It’s very mature. It’s not like a fun, kid-type movie. It’s for the more mature film-goer. And I just thought throughout the beginning, middle and end, it’s such a wonderful story. It does a really good job of holding your interest.

CAROLINE: Totally, I would definitely recommend it too. I remember thinking at about fifteen minutes into it, “Wow, I can’t believe how good this is,” and it never let up. It stayed really good. But oddly, the movie isn’t getting very much recognition.

RYAN: Surprisingly, it was also produced by Edward Norton and Naomi Watts.

CAROLINE: I found that questionable. They probably just wanted more money.

RYAN: I just don’t understand why it’s titled “The Painted Veil.”

CAROLINE: That’s not for us to judge, Ryan.