when martin scorsese deign to adapt edith wharton novel the age of innocence for the big screen he obviously saw it a a highly stylized period piece . the age of innocence be a meticulous and beautiful film with glow production value and a pallet of production technique not see since citizen kane . although a stunningly beautiful film to watch and the story detracts from the edith wharton novel . the narration by joanne woodward be jar at first and yet give the modern viewer an idea of 1870 new york city more . daniel day lewis play newland archer with strong conviction and virtue . michelle pfeiffer performance a countess olenska seem a bit modern in this otherwise fine period piece . scorsese camera deftly flow through ballroom and mansion effortlessly and give the film a broad scope visually . i watch this film over and over when i need a break from the mundane film that be pump out on an assembly line know a hollywood . although lack in story and substance at time and it have some great support player and such a brit miriam margolyes and michael gough and jonathan pryce and sian phillips and and of course a wonderful bit by the great alec mccowen a the snobbish aesthete sillerton jackson . i highly recommend this film to the discern viewer .