-- I'm not saying that the story behind Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer's most famous work couldn't be interesting, but it failed to reach this humble viewer. The film is beautifully shot, well-acted, and meticulously detailed, but it seemed a bit shallow and kept me at an emotional distance throughout. I am a fan of art (no fag jokes Jonny), and I acknowledge that it is extremely difficult to convey the artistic process on screen. Still, I failed to connect with any of the characters and too often felt as if melodrama dictated the course of events rather than anything tangible. It might make waves come awards season, but only because it has the look and feel of an "art film," rather than having any real substance.