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Up at the Villa

Play trailer Poster for Up at the Villa PG-13 2000 1h 54m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
45% Tomatometer 60 Reviews 36% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Surrounded by the lush countryside of Italy, Mary Panton (Kristin Scott Thomas), a middle-aged and once-affluent widow, seems to have her financial future secured again when she attracts the notice of a wealthy wife-seeking diplomat (James Fox). But her fate turns when she meets bold American Rowley Flint (Sean Penn). Though he is married, the two cannot deny their passion and soon begin a complicated relationship that involves covering up a scandal and continuing deceit.
Up at the Villa

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A poor script and an aimless plot keep this film from engaging the audience.

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Critics Reviews

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A.O. Scott New York Times 01/01/2000
2.5/5
Vintage lemon. Go to Full Review Susan Stark Detroit News 01/01/2000
3/4
A beautifully buffed piece. Go to Full Review Lou Lumenick New York Post 01/01/2000
2/4
IF Keenan Ivory Wayans had directed this movie, it would have probably been called Up at the Villa, the English Patient on the Razor's Edge wrote The Letter. It also would have probably been a lot more entertaining than this wan adaptation. Go to Full Review Michael Dequina TheMovieReport.com 10/17/2007
2.5/4
Kristin Scott Thomas just makes an already annoying character--Mary is whiny and selfish--even more grating with her broad, overly mannered performance. Go to Full Review Betsy Bozdech DVDJournal.com 10/21/2006
1.5/4
Almost less believable than the "far, far away" universe of Star Wars. Go to Full Review Film Threat 12/06/2005
3/5
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Audience Reviews

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Steve D @RT35616104 02/10/2023 Extremally unlikable and aimless. See more 04/08/2016 Only good thing is the leads' performances. See more 10/31/2014 Boring and slow movie See more 09/26/2013 I miss watching decent periodic films, with beautiful scenic spots & solid-acting cast. Although this one was not really good already, looking rather old fashioned by looking back today. See more 06/10/2012 Definitely entertaining and very pretty, but the events are simply unbelievable based on Mary's character. Kristin Scott Thomas is ridiculously gorgeous and Anne Bancroft is killer as usual but something is just off with the writing/concept. Could have been really great -- alas. See more 09/09/2011 I had almost forgotten how dashing Sean Penn used to be quite a few years ago. The combination of Kristin Scott Thomas, and Sean Penn, is quite good in this nice little period drama. Slow moving...but nice. See more Read all reviews
Up at the Villa

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Philip Haas

Director

Kristin Scott Thomas

Mary Panton

Sean Penn

Rowley Flint

Anne Bancroft

Princess San Ferdinando

James Fox

Sir Edgar Swift

Jeremy Davies

Karl Richter

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Up at the Villa

Director Philip Haas and Sean Penn on the set of USA Films' Up At The Villa Kristin Scott Thomas and director Philip Haas on the set of USA Films' Up At The Villa Jeremy Davies and Kristin Scott Thomas in USA Films' Up At The Villa Sean Penn and Kristin Scott Thomas in USA Films' Up At The Villa Kristin Scott Thomas and Sean Penn in USA Films' Up At The Villa Kristin Scott Thomas, Sean Penn and Anne Bancroft in USA Films' Up At The Villa Kristin Scott Thomas and Anne Bancroft in USA Films' Up At The Villa Kristin Scott Thomas and James Fox in USA Films' Up At The Villa Derek Jacobi and Kristin Scott Thomas in USA Films' Up At The Villa Kristin Scott Thomas as Mary Panton in USA Films' Up At The Villa View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Surrounded by the lush countryside of Italy, Mary Panton (Kristin Scott Thomas), a middle-aged and once-affluent widow, seems to have her financial future secured again when she attracts the notice of a wealthy wife-seeking diplomat (James Fox). But her fate turns when she meets bold American Rowley Flint (Sean Penn). Though he is married, the two cannot deny their passion and soon begin a complicated relationship that involves covering up a scandal and continuing deceit.
Director
Philip Haas
Producer
Geoff Stier
Screenwriter
Belinda Haas, W. Somerset Maugham
Distributor
USA Films
Production Co
Universal Pictures, October Films, Mirage Enterprises, Intermedia Films
Rating
PG-13 (Thematic Elements)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 5, 2000, Wide
Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.9M
Runtime
1h 54m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)