“Based on a play by Noel Coward.” That’s a statement that’s got some oomph. Coward’s long been held as a master of wit, with plays like Blithe Spirit, Design for Living and Private Lives still well known long after his death. The film Easy Virtue is based on a play by Coward, and takes some of the design of his play, but it’s obvious that this is a modern redress, which is both interesting and not. My review after the jump.

Opening today in New York and Los Angeles is “Easy Virtue”. It’s the new film from director Stephen Elliott (“Priscilla Queen of the Desert”) and it’s an adaptation of a Noel Coward play. Starring is Jessica Biel, Colin Firth, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Ben Barnes.

I managed to see “Easy Virtue” a few weeks back and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Not only are the performances great across the board (yes…even Jessica Biel), but the script was really funny and it felt very modern – even though it took place in the roaring twenties. If you want to take a chance on a film, I recommend it.

Anyway, I recently interviewed Director Stephen Elliott and co-writer Sheridan Jobbins and they talked about adapting the material and Stephen revealed why he’s been away from making movies for so long. It ends up he was in a horrible ski accident that almost killed him. It’s a crazy story and he describes it in detail. Watch the interview after the jump:

Opening tomorrow, in limited release, is “Easy Virtue”. It’s the new film from director Stephen Elliott (“Priscilla Queen of the Desert”) and it’s an adaptation of Noel Coward’s play. Starring is Jessica Biel, Colin Firth, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Ben Barnes.

I managed to see “Easy Virtue” a few weeks back and was quite surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Not only are the performances great across the board (yes…even Jessica Biel), but the script was really funny and not at all what I expected. While we’ve all seen plenty of movies that take place in the roaring 20′s, “Easy Virtue” seemed fresh.

Anyway, to help promote the film, we’ve been given 5 clips and the trailer. They’re all after the jump so take a look. Also, later tonight look for my exclusive video interview with Sheridan Jobbins and director Stephen Elliott. He explains why he’s been away from making movies for so long.