Girl With a Pearl Earring

Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Colin Firth, Tom Wilkinson, Judy Parfitt and Cillian Murphy.
Directed by: Peter Webber
Based on: Tracy Chevalier's novel of the same name.

Girl With a Pearl Earring is simply stunning…Vermeer himself would be proud of the hues and shades Scarlett Johansson brings to this fictional account of his infamous work.

The work, 'Girl With a Pearl Earring', has long been considered, arguably, Dutch master Johannes Vermeer's most enchanting painting. Partly because the identity of the young woman with the deeply thoughtful, longing look, was unknown and of course for it's academically perfect yet dreamy structure... paint-wise.

Author Tracy Chevalier designed a curious yarn to explain not only the timeless look upon the girl's face but to give a glimpse into the master's world through the girl's eyes. The book, of the same name, became a best seller. Now too the film holds the same vision of beauty and superb story telling thanks to director Peter Webber's care of its construction.

This is a love story that transcends time and cultures. It's breathtaking and positively beautiful. Not a detail has been spared and Webber was certainly careful not to distort Chevalier's beautiful tale. The streets of Delft are filled with mud and mayhem. Vermeer's household is like a trainwreck; save his infamous "corner" of the world. Which for all its grit and grime, Vermeer still managed to create masterpieces that rang of tranquility and introspective peace. The production designer Ben van Os along with cinematographer Eduardo Serra gloriously capture the very different worlds Griet and Vermeer lived in as well as creating a third "character" in the city itself. Bravo.

Story goes…it's a stern yet playful Delft, Holland we are introduced to. Details of how the 1665 town would have looked are bountiful. Young Griet (Scarlett Johansson) has a new life facing her. Her dear father, a tile painter, has been disabled in a kiln explosion at the factory. Now she must help support her family by venturing across the square into a wealthy, religiously different, household to work as a maid.

She's a unique fastidious and observant girl who enjoys such idiosyncrasies as placing her vegetables in color spectrum order and dropping them into a stew as if creating a painting…

Her new master, Johannes Vermeer (Colin Firth) is already something of a legend in painting. His studio needs cleaning but nothing must be moved - for fear it will upset his current work. He entrusts Griet with the task...to the dismay of the senior housekeeper and the house mistress. They become a tad (read: like rabid cats in an alley) jealous and Chinese whispers seep into the woodwork of the turbulent household.

Soon Vermeer and Griet have a mutual respect for each other…for art. Griet feels safe and at home only in the studio - especially since she gets nothing but daggers from the bipolar wife (Essie Davis) and a snooty youngin' of Vermeer's gaggle of rambunctious children. She falls madly deeply for Johannes but in that artsy fartsy mutual soul-connection way.

This growing adoration does not go unnoticed by the home's owner, Vermeer's creepy mother-in-law Maria Thins (creepy Judy Parfitt). She decides to work their mutual "inspiration" into geld. Vermeer's paintings are the bread and butter of the growing brood of little Vermeers. She encourages their friendship and the attentions of Vermeer's top client van Ruijven (Tom Wilkinson). Soon a painting of the beatiful maid is commissioned...

This is a cruel and dangerous mixing of the arts.

Scarlett Johansson is phenomenal. She captures the essence of Griet so completely you're sure the story is true and novelist Chevalier found secret letters in an old forgotten wing of a Dutch museum. Scarlett's ability to subtly project emotion that bellows her character's inner desires, but at the same time, announces her morals beneath is almost mesmerizing to watch. It is a remarkable performance. I adore this mega-talented chickbabe's work anyway - but this may be her finest (so far).

Uppercrusty man torte Colin Firth lurks and smolders as the torn artist. Here's a girl he can be real with; chat about paints and lights. But, to frolic about the house with her can have dire results. Men. Firth never lets you see Vermeer's true motives and the film's mysterious side shines for it. I'd like to play painter with this tall elegant slice of manly yum...paint by the numbers....slow and artistic-like...purr.

Thespian extraordinaire Tom Wilkinson lends his talents completely as Vermeer's number one client, van Ruijven. He creates an oozing smarm and a multitude of lecherous sneers that will make you want to bath after viewing...

Bluntly Speaking? Be prepared to be transported directly into Johannes and Griet's world via this masterpiece of a film.

Snack recommendation: Chops and vegetable soup.