Girl With a Pearl Earring

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Girl With a Pearl Earring

PG-13

Released Jan 9, 2004

1h 39m

Biography

Drama

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Popcornmeter

73%

Tomatometer

178 Reviews

68%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

When her father goes blind, Griet (Scarlett Johansson) must go to work as a maid for painter Johannes Vermeer (Colin Firth). While cleaning the house, Griet strikes up an unlikely friendship with Vermeer, which both agree to keep secret for fear of provoking the painter's jealous wife, Catharina (Essie Davis). When wealthy patron Van Ruijven (Tom Wilkinson) begins to lust after Griet, and commissions a painting of her, Vermeer and Griet are obliged to spend long hours alone together.

Critics Consensus

Visually arresting, but the story could be told with a bit more energy.

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Anthony Lane

The New Yorker

What keeps Webber's movie alive is the tenseness of the setup (will this girl stay in the artist's household, and, if so, will she become his lover or his muse?), and, above all, the presence of Johansson.

May 10, 2021

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Antonia Quirke

London Evening Standard

Little happens -- save for several family arguments and the artist worrying about money and the integrity of his ambition -- yet it is unforgettable, and, shot to look like a moving Vermeer painting, effortlessly profound.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 14, 2017

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Older teens and adults will enjoy. Book is better.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 24, 2010

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Felicia Feaster

Creative Loafing

[A] satisfying, provocative film.

Jan 29, 2020

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Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

A visually stunning masterpiece with the beauty and elegance of a single perfect pearl.

Nov 7, 2019

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

The film is an intriguing speculative account of the creation of one of Vermeer's most famous and sensual paintings. Every shot in the film looks like it was taken right out of a painting from Delft, Holland circa 1665...

Rated: B+

May 9, 2009

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Alec B

It's all tawdry melodrama in the end but the cinematography is on another level here

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/26/24

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alex r

Pale adaptation of the book

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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colin m

A good film. A bit slow though.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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lanfranco c

The Making of a Famous Painting.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

dave s

Scarlett Johansson plays Griet, the demure maid who inspires Johannes Vermeer (Colin Firth) to paint Girl With A Pearl Earring. Thanks to some fantastic cinematography, a beautiful color palette, and perfect framing, virtually every shot looks like a Vermeer painting, worthy of display in a gallery. Johansson gives an understated but effective performance as Vermeer's muse and Firth is suitably intense as the artist obsessed with perfection. The interplay between the two leads is nothing short of fascinating and the feeling of friction the develops within the family as a result of Griet's presence is palpable. Some may take issue with the distracting relationship Griet has with the butcher's son, but that's a minor quibble in an otherwise excellent film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

joel h

Watching Girl with a Pearl Earring is like watching someone paint a picture. Yes, it's interesting at times, and it can be beautiful, but for the most part I was just waiting for the film to be done. This completely fictionalized story's time is mostly filled with silent stares and longing glances. I also had a hard time taking Colin Firth seriously as a tortured artist. Some may appreciate this movie, but it's not for me.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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Peter Webber

Director

Colin Firth

Johannes Vermeer

Scarlett Johansson

Griet

Tom Wilkinson

Van Ruijven

Judy Parfitt

Maria Thins

Cillian Murphy

Pieter

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Synopsis

When her father goes blind, Griet (Scarlett Johansson) must go to work as a maid for painter Johannes Vermeer (Colin Firth). While cleaning the house, Griet strikes up an unlikely friendship with Vermeer, which both agree to keep secret for fear of provoking the painter's jealous wife, Catharina (Essie Davis). When wealthy patron Van Ruijven (Tom Wilkinson) begins to lust after Griet, and commissions a painting of her, Vermeer and Griet are obliged to spend long hours alone together.

Director: Peter Webber
Producer: Andy Paterson, Anand Tucker
Screenwriter: Olivia Hetreed
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Delux Productions, UK Film Council, Archer Street Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Some Sexual Content)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 9, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $11.6M
Runtime: 1h 39m
Sound Mix: Surround