Product Details

• Actors: Christian Bale, John Gielgud, John Malkovich, Martin Donovan, Mary-Louise Parker
• Directors: Jane Campion
• Format: Import, PAL, Widescreen
• Language: English, Italian, Spanish
• Subtitles: Dutch, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish
• Region: Region 2 (Read more about DVD formats.)
• Number of discs: 1.0
• Studio: Universal
• Run Time: 138 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: B000AM5102
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #157,252 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Great Britain released, PAL/Region 2.4 DVD:it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ),French ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ),Italian ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ),Spanish ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ),Dutch ( Subtitles ),English ( Subtitles ),French ( Subtitles ),Italian ( Subtitles ),Portuguese ( Subtitles ),Spanish ( Subtitles ),ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (1.85:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Documentary, Interactive Menu, Production Notes, Scene Access, Trailer(s),SYNOPSIS: Jane Campion directed this expressive adaptation of the classic novel by Henry James. Isabel Archer (Nicole Kidman) is a young American woman who, after the death of her parents, has been sent to England to visit relatives. While her family's tragedy has left her penniless, Isabel's beauty has earned her the attentions of a number of eligible men. When Isabel turns down a proposal of marriage from the wealthy Lord Warburton (Richard E. Grant) because she does not love him, her cousin Ralph (Martin Donovan), who is also smitten with her, arranges for his father to leave her a fortune before succumbing to tuberculosis so that she may live as an independent woman. Isabel takes a tour of Europe, where she meets Madame Merle (Barbara Hershey), a jaded sophisticate and matchmaker who introduces her to Gilbert Osmond (John Malkovich), a widowed American artist living abroad. Isabel falls in love with Gilbert and they marry, but his sloth and opportunism soon begin to wear on her, and three years later she is desperate to get out of their relationship. The Portrait of a Lady also stars John Gielgud, Mary-Louise Parker, Christian Bale, and Shelley Winters.
SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Golden Globes, Oscar Academy Awards,

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars A LUSH AND BEAUTIFUL PERIOD PIECE..., April 23, 2006

By	Lawyeraau (Balmoral Castle) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

Jane Campion is a brilliant director who can direct a film and convey much with a minimum of language and action. Her film, "The Piano" is a testament to that innate talent. This would lead one to believe that directing an adaptation of a Henry James novel would be a natural segue for her.

While this is a lush and beautiful period piece, the problem with it is that it is somewhat dull. Despite stellar performances by Barbara Hershey and the supporting cast, the main star, Nicole Kidman, is out of her league, though she is a luminous beauty and has some acting ability. The problem is that her performance lacks the presence or depth necessary to transcend the material and make this a truly interesting film. She just is not good enough an actress to be able to carry this type of storyline and engage the viewer in the lead role of wealthy expatriate, Isabel Archer.

Moreover, while John Malkovich gives a wonderful performance as the malevolent Gilbert Osmond, he is decidedly miscast as he is simply not charismatic enough to make it believable that Isabel Archer would throw caution to the wind over such an unattractive and, decidedly, sinister man. It is unfortunate, as the film is an otherwise fairly faithful adaptation of Henry James' complex novel of the same name. It could have been a contender.