Easy Virtue

Easy Virtue, a film adaptation of Noel Coward's jazzy 1920s-set play, pits the old traditions of Europe's landowning gentry against the brash modernity that America had come to symbolize. The old guard is represented by a wealthy British family led by the brittle matriarch Mrs. Whittaker (Kristin Scott Thomas). When her son, John Whittaker (Ben Barnes), marries a sexy race car driver named Larita (Jessica Biel) several years his elder, the entire family is thrown into a tizzy.

Once Biel's character arrives at the Whittaker home she's meant to represent a vibrant and mesmerizing new way of doing things that is utterly offensive to this family so steeped in tradition. But alas, Ms. Biel doesn't quite have what it takes to hold down the center of a film like this and the whole endeavor suffers. To see why, read more

Jessica Biel hit the red carpet at a screening of Easy Virtue in NYC last night. Earlier in the day, Justin Timberlake enjoyed a little down time at a driving range in Manhattan. Both Jessica and Justin made appearances on SNL over the weekend, but it was his performance that has people talking. Jessica had nothing but glowing feelings about his show, saying to Extra, "I think he killed. I think he just killed it. So good…[Also] I loved the short, the digital short. And I loved the immigrant sketch." Sounds like Jessica agrees with most of you that there's nothing to be offended about from JT's Britney comment or the rest of his funny appearance on the show.

To see more of JT golfing and Jessica just read more

Jessica Biel dressed up for the second night in a row, this time for a screening of Easy Virtue at the London Film Festival last night. She got more creative with her hair and makeup and apparently her appearance isn't something Jessica takes lightly. In the December issue of British Marie Claire, Jessica opens up about aging, plastic surgery as well as marriage and kids. Check out the revealing quotes by clicking here.

To see more photos of Jessica and her costars, just read more

Jessica Biel took to the red carpet at the Rome Film Festival yesterday going from her businesswoman press conference look before a glamorous wardrobe change. Jessica didn't bother to do much with her hair or makeup, but she let the dress do the talking at the premiere of Easy Virtue with her costar Ben Barnes. This isn't the first time Jessica has visited Italy this Fall — she and JT had a romantic vacation in the city, which got people talking about wedding bells around the corner. Justin didn't make it on this trip, but seeing as they actually started attending events together maybe some day they'll pose on the red carpet side by side.

To see a lot more photos from the premiere just read more

These two movies might take place in completely different countries and time periods, but the Monster-in-Law/Meet the Parents/isn't-family-wacky overtones are the same. If there's anything to take away from the trailers for Smother and Easy Virtue it's "beware the in-laws!"

We've been keeping an eye on Easy Virtue for a while now, seeing as it's Jessica Biel's (as a bright blonde?) first big leading lady role in a comedy — a British comedy that takes place in the 1920s, no less. The movie, based on Noel Coward's play, follows an American divorcee, Larita (Biel), who travels to England to meet her new in-laws, having spontaneously married a young Englishman (Ben Barnes). Unfortunately, Larita's new mother-in-law is not too fond of Americans, and regards Larita specifically as a woman of "easy virtue." No U.S. release date yet, but Easy Virtue opens in the UK Nov. 7.

Coming back to present day, the trailer for Smother makes me laugh. To find out why, read more

Jessica Biel showed off those pearly whites on the set of Easy Virtue in the UK yesterday. Biel's working a brand new blond 'do under that cute hat. In the romantic comedy, Jessica plays an American divorcée who has to face her new-in laws after marrying an Englishman on a whim. Sounds like a far cry from running around in minimal clothing for Powder Blue so maybe Jessica's dreams of trying out lots of different projects are coming true after all.

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Lots of movie casting news these days — from Marley and Me to aliens lurking upstairs.

• Alan Arkin will join Jennifer Aniston and Owen WIlson in the film adaptation of bestselling memoir Marley and Me. Wilson plays a newspaper columnist who adopts a dog with his wife (Aniston). Arkin will play the editor of the newspaper.
• Jessica Biel will star as the lead in the romantic comedy Easy Virtue, based on the Noel Coward play. The movie follows Biel's character, "an American divorcee who travels to the South of France and marries a young Englishman, played by Ben Barnes, on the spur of the moment. The couple return to England to face his family, including his parents, played by Colin Firth and Kristin Scott Thomas."
• Amy Ryan is the lucky lady chosen to star opposite Matt Damon in an untitled Iraq war thriller directed by Paul Greengrass, the director of two of the Bourne movies and United 93.
• High School Musical star Ashley Tisdale will make her feature film debut in "the adventure comedy" They Came From Upstairs about "a group of teens who have to defend their Maine home from the aliens who invaded the top floor." Just the top floor? Huh.