Virginia (2010) User Reviews

Well worth watching

[Ed-Shullivan · 6/10 · 29 October 2013]

Virginia is an interesting movie with a good cast of characters. Jennifer Connelly carried each of her scenes with a true grasp of her character. Jennifer plays Virginia an unwed and mentally ill mother to a teenage son named Emmett, and mistress to Sheriff Richard Tipton, played by Ed Harris. Sheriff Tipton is a married Mormon who has aspiration of becoming Governor in the upcoming election.

Sheriff Richard Tipton likes his extra marital sex kinky which Virginia is more than willing to oblige but in return she expects Sheriff Tipton to express his true love to her by leaving his trusting wife played by Amy Madigan. Sheriff Tipton wants his extra marital affair to remain a secret between the two of them so that he can keep up his charade as a good Mormon family man.

What he does not know is that Virginia's son Emmett wants to marry the Sheriiff's only daughter Jessie, played by Emma Roberts. When he finds the two teenagers are getting too close, he threatens young Emmett to stay away from his family and he decides to break off his long standing sexual relationship with Virginia, and to cut her off from his weekly cash contributions.

With the financial support stopped Virginia wants to help pay for her son's Emmett wedding to Jessie so she attempts to rob a bank without success. Poor Virginia is so distraught that she has no cash coming in and no way of helping her son Emmett out that she chooses to believe she is pregnant with Sheriff Tipton's baby by faking it and telling anyone that will listen that the (pretend) baby is Sheriff Tipton's.

The superb actor Toby Jones plays Max a cross dressing amusement park owner who takes a liking to Emmett and offers him a job at one of his restaurants on the amusement grounds. Without spoiling the ending suffice to say, between Max, Emmett, Virginia, Mrs Tipton, and Sheriff Tipton there is a lot of love and confusion.

Virginia and Ed Harris are well worth watching. Their on screen chemistry works and their characters are very believable. The ending supports the movie well and I for one was not disappointed in the way the movie ends.

quirky unfunny

[SnoopyStyle · 4/10 · 3 November 2016]

Slightly disturbed Virginia (Jennifer Connelly) lives with her protective son Emmett in a Virginian town. She's in a long-term affair with Sheriff Richard Tipton (Ed Harris) who is married to Roseanna (Amy Madigan) and has daughter Jessie (Emma Roberts). Emmett is in love with Jessie. Richard uses his powers to keep them apart. Virginia tells Richard that she's pregnant. He's running for the State Senate and pays her out of the campaign funds. She's actually faking it. There is also a cross dressing Max (Toby Jones) with his pink ferris wheel. It all ends with a bank robbery.

This is filled with quirky characters that aren't funny. The story meanders a lot. There are a few surprises which don't do much. It's either a comedy that fails to be funny or a drama with too much chaotic quirkiness. Connelly projects a beautiful damaged soul which could be great for a sad drama. I'm just not sure what this movie is trying to be.

Confusing

[SwollenThumb · 4/10 · 2 May 2018]

It's always difficult to portray mental illness but the mixture of comedy and violence in this movie totally confused the issue.

There's nothing wrong with Virginia, but there might be a mormon boy in her closet!

[Benedict_Cumberbatch · 17 September 2010]

I was fortunate enough to attend the world premiere of Dustin Lance Black's highly personal, unique, and heartfelt new film, "What's Wrong With Virginia", in Toronto. The film owns a quirky charm that reminds me of Tony Richardson's "The Hotel New Hampshire" (1984, based on John Irving's novel), yet with its own very personal style. Jennifer Connelly, more beautiful than ever at 39, gives her best performance since 2003's "House of Sand and Fog". She plays Virginia Nicholaus, a mentally ill single mom who's had an affair with the local Mormon (and married) Sheriff Dick Tipton (Ed Harris, great as always) for 16 years. Her teenaged son, Emmett (newcomer Harrison Gilbertson, very convincing and simply adorable) is her only real love, and their relationship is the real core of the film (Black has stated the film is loosely based on his relationship with his mom). Things get complicated when Emmett - who may or may not be the Sheriff's son - starts dating Dick's daughter, Jessie Tipton (Emma Roberts), and how that and an unwelcome 'revelation' by Virginia can ruin Dick's political goals and marriage.

Black, who won a much deserved Best Original Screenplay Oscar for Gus Van Sant's "Milk" (and gave a groundbreaking, already classic acceptance speech), is not just a terrific writer, but also a natural actor's director. He extracts great performances from his ensemble, and although this is clearly Connelly's show, other cast members deserve to be mentioned: Amy Madigan, married to Ed Harris in real life and in the film, gives a moving, understated performance that could've easily been overplayed/clichéd; she's one of our most underrated character actresses. Carrie Preston, of "True Blood" fame and the best thing about "Duplicity", plays Virginia's friend Betty with gusto, and Toby Jones ("Infamous") is great in a character that starts out as creepy to later become human and even endearing. Yeardley Smith, mostly known as the voice of Lisa Simpson, also has a small part and is one of the executive producers of the film (Christine Vachon and Gus Van Sant himself, who don't get involved with just any kind of material, are some of the others who helped bring this project to life).

"What's Wrong With Virginia" provides lots of laughs and a considerable emotional punch that almost made me sob by the end. It's humorous and outrageous, tragic yet optimistic; it made me feel a range of emotions that most films out there fall short of. Well done, again, Mr. Black! It's comforting to know real auteurs are still blossoming in the world of cinema.

tired

[williamtpace · 3/10 · 29 April 2013]

I watched Virginia in three parts, because it was slow enough that I kept drifting off. Jennifer Connelly did what she could with what she had. I found the overall story unmoving. I think if the focus had been more on Virginia, and had the story generated more chemistry between her and her son, it might have seemed more redemptive at the end. As it was, the film ranged from sad to emotionless.

I was told that I should see Virginia just for the shoot out alone. In fact, some of the reviews talk specifically about the amazing 'shootout', which consists of Virginia firing one shot, followed by a montage of the Sheriff's department shooting at her windows. If that's what passes for a 'shootout'...well...it left me tired. Very tired.

From the time the son put on the dress, I knew exactly where it was going.

Interesting film.

[Fludlerk · 7/10 · 15 September 2010]

I saw the premiere of this film tonight at the tiff festival in Toronto. Most of the starring cast was on hand for the premiere, which was nice, and they appeared very proud of the film.

In all, the film was a bit above average, but the pacing was a bit off in places and so it seemed that just when it sucked you in it let you go, and that repeated several times during the show. It's a good film though, with a great deal of humour and subtleties, but doesn't quite get there enough to make it a great film.

Jennifer Connolly gives a very inspired performance, and she's really the one who draws you in the most and really puts you through a bit of an emotional roller-coaster. She's over the top, silly, tragic, and lovable, though you never quite figure her out. Ed Harris plays a wonderfully complex and very understated role, but it's the underlying parts of his character that he brings out so well.

In the end, you don't quite come out with a feeling that you were completely happy, but you have a lot of good parts to look back on. I would have given this film an 8 if not for the uneven pacing of the film, and if you're into character driven stories then you'll likely enjoy this one.

YOU do the math

[blanche52 · 1/10 · 11 August 2020]

We are supposed to believe that Virginia started the affair with Richard when she was 24 and he was 44 and it's been going on for 16 years? Hollywood BS.

Off kilter, funny, dark, surprising movie--good stuff

[secondtake · 7/10 · 23 January 2013]

Virginia (2010)

An offbeat black comedy that is all charm and surprise. It plays off of a nostalgia for a simple middle America and inserts a woman who is both lovable and off her rocker. Her son is a precocious and tender teen with dreams of his own and he gets caught in the middle. The result is warm and funny and actually, in its comic way, tragic.

The star and an amazing star is Jennifer Connelly, but she is well paired with the young Harrison Gilbertson. Third in line is Ed Harris playing a cop or district attorney running for office. It's Virginia Beach, Virginia and there is for some reason a Mormon presence which adds to the humor because of course even Mormons can do outrageous things. Affairs fly against expectations, nuttiness becomes dangerous chaos, and innocence is shattered thoroughly. All in ironic good fun.

The story is key and it's written by the director, Dustin Lance Black. This is his first full fledged movie and it's too bad the responses are so negative. I liked it a lot. Even just appreciating the sheer acting prowess of Connelly is enough to last all the way through. Throw in a half dozen other good performances, some wonderful sets and locations, and really solid photography and it makes for something significant. Finally make the story as crazy as it is and you might have a good time here.

It's not perfect, for sure. They pull the same trick that was used in another, better Connelly film, "The House of Sand and Fog," where the opening scene is the end of the story, and the rest is filling in all the facts. This means a certain surprise is removed, and an expectation raised. You might also say this is all just so frivolous and sensationalist--it means nothing and you take nothing away from it (unlike "Sand and Fog" for example again). And that's true. It's an entertainment, and maybe even a bit of a fairy tale fantasy. Certainly the very last scene, which is after the moment that opens the movie, is a comic (improbable) euphoric conclusion to it all.

Check it out? Yes, if you like offbeat films.

# 03 : When dark turns blonde (web)

[lamegabyte · 1/10 · 3 June 2019]

This movie has good things but at the end, its defects are too important. The first thing I dislike is the photography and set design because as a 2010s movie, world has become blue / orange ! I'm fed up with those blue props, blue clothes, yellow skin, yellow light. When my mind focuses on the story, i see an jobless mother which is indeed a change from the usual upper classes but one more time, this kind of family is plagued ! In a way, it's like being jobless and poor in America is the trademark of fragile, unstable people ! The kids stories could have been interesting if the daughter wouldn't have lost her faith at once, which is not really believable ! The use of flashback at the start of the movie is useless as well as the sheriff's wife part ! On the positive side, the cast plays really well : Jennifer as a deranged mother, Harris as a pervert sheriff In conclusion, it's like Hollywood wants to do a tearing drama but as it has never experienced real life, the final release is more a collection of clichés.

Great cast. Great acting. Movie was good but I was hoping for better. Depressing but very much worth watching. I say B.

[cosmo_tiger · 7/10 · 21 August 2012]

"Dear Lord please let each of us come out of this in one piece." Virginia (Connelly) is a single mother raising her teen son in a small town. She is not sure of who the father is but she has been having an affair with the local married sheriff (Harris) for almost 20 years and wants it to be his. When he announces his run for state senate things begin to get tricky. This is a very hard movie to explain there seems to be a lot of sub plots going on but it is not hard to keep up with them. Connelly plays the character perfect and while she is psychologically disturbed it is not over the top at all and very believable. I enjoyed this but to me this is another example of a movie's cast being better then the movie. This is still very much worth watching and is one of the better indie movies to come out in a long time it is still a little slow. This movie is very emotional though and really runs you through as many as it can before the ending which is great. Overall, great acting really helps this movie out and this is a good movie that is worth watching but not really one you can see over and over. Amanda liked it more then I did but I give it a B.

Undertones of mental illness, religion and politics take Virginia to interesting places

[napierslogs · 8/10 · 20 August 2012]

Virginia (Jennifer Connelly) is one seriously disturbed woman. One possible look at it is that she was screwed over by having an affair with an aspiring Senator, Dick Tipton (Ed Harris), who left her pregnant and alone to raise her son as a single mother. "Virginia" has a number of story lines, some in present time, some in flashbacks, but all resulting from the affair between Virginia and Sheriff Tipton.

The first is one of a teen romance. Virginia's son, Emmett (Harrison Gilbertson) is in love with the Sheriff's daughter, Jessie (Emma Roberts). The problem is they are half-siblings and they're told they're not even allowed to see each other let alone be friends with each other. Nobody is supposed to know of the affair so their forced separation can raise a few eyebrows. Interestingly, it's Emmett who starts questioning what's really going on.

What's really going on is that nobody is stable. The Sheriff is a devout Mormon and extreme conservative. In his Senatorial bid campaign, he needs a photo-op with a red, white and blue Ferris wheel, but the town's only Ferris wheel is pink and it's owned by an out-and-proud gay man. It is the simple conflicts like this which are resolved on the surface which lead to the very interesting dynamics in the film.

Dustin Lance Black is a relatively young filmmaker who is making his directorial debut with "Virginia" and previously wrote the screenplays for "Milk", "J. Edgar" and the HBO series "Big Love". He was raised in a Mormon household and community and was worried about his sexuality. Most of his filmmaking career has been spent inspiring people to become LGBT activists.

What is interesting about "Virginia" is that while none of the main characters are outwardly gay, the film appears to still be very personal with the boardwalk town likely doubling for Black's hometown of San Antonio, Texas. The religious undertones are very present but never over-powering.

The overall plot of "Virginia" definitely has places to go but the story hasn't been too well received. What is more interesting is what the film is trying to say without actually saying it. Black is such a talented writer that there's lots to read in between the lines.

Hagar's story

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 11 November 2016]

Jennifer Connelly's performance in the title role is the best and most interesting thing about this quirky film. Dustin Lance Black's story and direction examine all kinds of things about what ticks in the great heartland of America who just inflicted Donald Trump on the world.

Virginia casts Jennifer Connelly as one most disturbed mother who for almost two decades has had a clandestine relationship with the local sheriff Ed Harris who now has political aspirations. Harris is a Mormon who would not have liked to see polygamy abolished. Essentially it's a question of him being Abraham having Sarah and Hagar. And we know what kind of raw deal Hagar got.

But Virginia might be cast in the role as Hagar, being given the heave ho because Harris is running for State Senator as of course a law and order conservative. Choice between Connelly and the Sarah of the story Amy Madigan it's crazy Connelly coming up short.

Complicating all this is Harrison Gilbertson Connelly's son who might be Harris's also. He's gotten interested in Harris's daughter by Madigan, Emma Roberts. That could really screw up things for Mr. Law and Order/Family Values.

It ends in tragedy for some, just desserts for others, and escape for some more.

Writer Black has created some colorful characters for director Black to work with. Virginia starts out slow, but the characters do grab you and hold your attention.

I love that scene in the end with traveling Mormon Elder Lucas Grabeel caught in the middle of some madness and Connelly getting him to surrender that enchanted Mormon underwear for her son. We need all the help we can in this life and I guess it can't hurt.

If you like quirky movies don't miss Virginia.

Get out the hankies boys and girls!

[michael-335-141594 · 10/10 · 9 September 2012]

Few actors today have the breadth of Jennifer Connelly. She never shirks from difficult roles. From Mullholland Falls to Little Children or The House Of Sand and Fog and now this, she plays her characters convincingly as though she owns them in her heart. She never takes it over the top. Ed Harris' character is a cardboard cop and is well done given the parameters of the role. This movie is a brilliant portrait of a mentally challenged mom trying to make the best in this world for her son. Harrison Gilbertson is very good as her boy. Emma Roberts as his girlfriend does a great job as a dutiful Mormon 16 year old. Amy Madigan is convincing as Ed Harris' wife. See it with an open heart and this movie will transport you. Brilliant.

Jennifer Connelly is AMAZING

[jakebabee · 10/10 · 27 August 2012]

After 2 years of waiting, I finally had the chance to see "Virginia" last night, and I'm glad I did!

The film starts of one year before the opening scene where Virginia (Jennifer Connelly) is being carried out of her house by the local sheriff Dick (Ed Harris). Go one year earlier we have Virginia, A mentally ill but loving mother. She's been having a 2 decade long affair with local sheriff/Mormon Dick and has a 16 year old son in which she hopes is his but is doubtful. Virginia's son Emit has no clue who his father is but knows it is not the sheriff's in which his daughter he is dating!

There is not one, but four main characters in this movie which sometimes makes it a little hard to follow. We watch Virginia go on a downward spiral into schizophrenia. Dick covering his little secret about his addiction to S&M. Last but not least Emit and Jessie love for one another which is portrait beautifully in this film.

I'm surprised this film had so much trouble getting a distributor, Yes its not perfect but we have movies like VAMPIRE SUCKS and THE Dilemma (sorry Connelly) hitting screens all over the world yet this little gem got shelved.

OVERALL I really liked this film. Jennifer Connelly was amazing and really showed her off her acting abilities. The young cast were great in there roles as well. 7/10

Thought provoking and incredibly sad!

[JustUs2001 · 8/10 · 20 May 2022]

My heart breaks for Emmett, his mother Virginia, Jessie, and especially Mrs. Tipton as her tragedy is especially heartbreaking. The damage of being raised by a schizophrenic person like Virginia despite the obvious fact that she loved him dearly is also heartbreaking as is the tragedy of Virginia's life period. This one man destroyed so many peoples lives with his disgusting perversion's and narcissistic behavior! Which unfortunately is true more often than not. What is it about men like that, ones so morally bankrupt that they would carry on a 20+ year adulterous affair (which was actually pedophilic initially as he was a married adult and she was a mentally ill teenager) all while pretending to be religious? Why do they even pretend to know God or care in the least about Him when they clearly do NOT. How is it that this sort of hypocrisy by men is overlooked? Anyway good movie but be warned it is quite depressing...