Lost in the Shuffle

"The Painted Veil" seems to have gotten lost in the shuffle of art house/Oscar madness. Too bad. Director John Curran seems much more in control of his material compared to his last go-around, "We Don't Live Here Anymore," another novel adaptation which was shockingly flat. Perhaps "P.V." won me over because of its exotic locale (Shanghai), the vintage clothing and hair styles (1920s), and the understated performances (Edward Norton, Naomi Watts). Although the film could be passed off as an expert Masterpiece Theater episode, I still recommend it. (Image via Rotten Tomatoes.)