I actually liked this movie, it was a replacement copy because the first one was stolen, I liked this movie because The Girl with a Pearl Earring is one of my favorite paitings

Lordy, what to say about this movie... First, the whole thing was designed and filmed as if it were a painting my an old master. Just beautiful. Of course Scarlett Johansson and Colin Firth were wonderful, but I think my favorite character was Vermeer's wife, Catharina, played by Essie Davis who I fell in love with for a minute there. Most of the story was told outside of the dialogue: Griet's way of moving about the house, the tension between Vermeer and his mother-in law, the need for assurance communicated by his wife's expression - and oh my lord, when she sees the painting! I love this movie, I watch it no more than once a year because I don't want it to get stale.

The movie is okay. I hate being this person but the book was just so much better. Scarlett Johansson was okay but mostly I felt she was very flat. I don't think that she really embodied the character.

Visually stunning. Carefully selected frames are Vermeer-like paintings in breathtaking cinematic clarity; which ironically is a contradiction in terms, since his technique and overall preferences of subject matter was the very antithesis of that which was the hallmark of the younger Rembrandt.

The plot is a convenient platform to provide a glimpse into the life of the celebrated artist and offers a glimpse of The Netherlands in it's renaissance.
While the details of his family life are most likely exaggerated contrivances; although the depictions are well done, we also examine the often difficult relationship between artist and patron which still exists to this day.

The very gifted Colin Firth provides us with a deliberately paced study of Vermeer's alleged character and mannerisms; this subtle performance is convincing as it is intriguing in terms of providing a highly subjective insight into the nature of the artist himself.

Scarlett Johansson is Firth's equal in her performance both as Vermeer's household servant and muse.

The supporting actors are more than satisfying backdrops for this semi melodramatic story and play off very well against the evolving story of Vermeer's relationship with Griet; yet they manage not to detract from the most important aspects of the film.

All the technical aspects are an exercise in realized perfection and the production values are balanced to perfection with an impressive attention to detailed authenticity without the burden of excess; which Vermeer himself would have approved of.

I love period movies and this one was done so well. From the costumes, to the street scenes and everything in between. As an artist, there is so much to say about this movie but other reviewers have done a wonderful job. I sensed the basis for the chemistry between Griet and Vermeer was the understanding of and passion for art. She truly appreciated him as an artist and he appreciated her knowledge and understanding of color and light. Some of their best intimate moments, in my opinion, were when he asked her the color of the clouds, when they were mixing paints together and when she trusted him to pierce her ear. I'm glad I bought this movie so I can watch it again.