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Published On: Nov 14, 2005 08:54 PM
Total entries in this category:
Published On: Nov 14, 2005 08:54 PM
Pride & Prejudice
You had me at Judi Dench playing Lady de
Bourgh
As you may or may not know, I have a minor Dench
fetish. Her Elizabeth in Shakespeare in
Love was masterful, and her M in the
Bond movies is awesome. So, when I saw that she would be Lady de Bourgh in the
latest film
version of Pride and
Prejudice (which they have shortened via
ampersand), I was in. Not that I wouldn't have already been clamoring to see it,
for I love all Austen films because I love Austen. Simple
that.
I also love that I can talk freely about a movie since everyone knows the plot. If you don't, then, to quote Mrs. Landingham, "God, I don't even want to know you."
The film, frankly, is great. Let's get to the greatness and then minor quibbles. As usual, Keira Knightley is spot on: though some have complained that she is too good-looking to play Elizabeth, there's nothing wrong with her as Lizzy. Her crazy infectious smile is perfect for this mischievous, daring woman, and she's obviously smart enough to get Lizzy's paradoxes. The portrayal of Darcy is interesting, because I think most readers don't really get Darcy's appeal, and the film will evoke much the same reaction: the performance from Matthew MacFadyen is very subtle and reserved, leaving Darcy as something of a cipher for much of the film. In the wonderful (first) proposal scene, he shows how horrible Darcy feels about feeling so much for Elizabeth--loving against his (supposedly) better judgment. The Bennets are also superb. Brenda Blethyn channels some of the craziness from Secrets and Lies which was so amazing/annoying, but gives Mrs. Bennet some humanity and interesting motivation; readers (and of course viewers here) always want more Mr. Bennet and Sutherland doesn't disappoint, especially in the final scene (which actually was the final scene before the movie got tested in America and a cheesy though beautiful Lizzy/Darcy scene got tacked on) when he assents to Lizzy's marriage to Darcy. Supporting cast is all good as well.
More good stuff: they chose some really good things to keep, particularly when it comes to the settings. Pemberley is amazing, and they give the very important scene when Elizabeth visits and realizes (through visiting) that she loves Darcy a lot of time; I think we come to see Darcy in the same light as Lizzy in this scene, so kudos to the director there. The Bennets home is perhaps more rustic than is believable, but I think it's important to clearly set the class differences between the Bennets and Lady de Bourgh and Darcy, so I'm OK with it.
Some things I'm not so OK with, but are understandable. Second only to Mr. Bennet, Mr. Collins gets the most laughs from my students, so I would have liked more with him, especially his letter after Elizabeth refuses his hand. Also, Wickham is given the shaft. We never get an indication of how much he truly enraptured Elizabeth; here they merely flirt (this is one of the plot points that Bride & Prejudice nailed). Further, unless you're really pay attention and know something of the time, Wickham's truly horrible actions are underplayed--that he betrays both society and Elizabeth are what make him truly evil in the novel.
Some things I wish wouldn't have happened: the more I think about it, the more I'm disturbed by the ending, which Dave also mentioned in a brief review over emailed. I mean, I'm all about British estate porn (you'll see what I mean), but it was just too cute and hackneyed...besides not being in the book at all. And I'm also fine with not being too strict with the novel, but Lady de Bourgh would never have visited the Bennets to chew out Lizzy in the middle of the night! Sure, it set up the ridiculously beautiful scene with Lizzy and Darcy at sunrise, but come on! Even now, someone wouldn't barge in the middle of the night. So, even though Dench and Knightly act the hell out of that argument--one of the best of English literature, in my eyes--I was a little bugged.
However, those are quibbles. This movie rocks because it presents a pretty honest representation of the novel and thus is entertaining as all get out.
I also love that I can talk freely about a movie since everyone knows the plot. If you don't, then, to quote Mrs. Landingham, "God, I don't even want to know you."
The film, frankly, is great. Let's get to the greatness and then minor quibbles. As usual, Keira Knightley is spot on: though some have complained that she is too good-looking to play Elizabeth, there's nothing wrong with her as Lizzy. Her crazy infectious smile is perfect for this mischievous, daring woman, and she's obviously smart enough to get Lizzy's paradoxes. The portrayal of Darcy is interesting, because I think most readers don't really get Darcy's appeal, and the film will evoke much the same reaction: the performance from Matthew MacFadyen is very subtle and reserved, leaving Darcy as something of a cipher for much of the film. In the wonderful (first) proposal scene, he shows how horrible Darcy feels about feeling so much for Elizabeth--loving against his (supposedly) better judgment. The Bennets are also superb. Brenda Blethyn channels some of the craziness from Secrets and Lies which was so amazing/annoying, but gives Mrs. Bennet some humanity and interesting motivation; readers (and of course viewers here) always want more Mr. Bennet and Sutherland doesn't disappoint, especially in the final scene (which actually was the final scene before the movie got tested in America and a cheesy though beautiful Lizzy/Darcy scene got tacked on) when he assents to Lizzy's marriage to Darcy. Supporting cast is all good as well.
More good stuff: they chose some really good things to keep, particularly when it comes to the settings. Pemberley is amazing, and they give the very important scene when Elizabeth visits and realizes (through visiting) that she loves Darcy a lot of time; I think we come to see Darcy in the same light as Lizzy in this scene, so kudos to the director there. The Bennets home is perhaps more rustic than is believable, but I think it's important to clearly set the class differences between the Bennets and Lady de Bourgh and Darcy, so I'm OK with it.
Some things I'm not so OK with, but are understandable. Second only to Mr. Bennet, Mr. Collins gets the most laughs from my students, so I would have liked more with him, especially his letter after Elizabeth refuses his hand. Also, Wickham is given the shaft. We never get an indication of how much he truly enraptured Elizabeth; here they merely flirt (this is one of the plot points that Bride & Prejudice nailed). Further, unless you're really pay attention and know something of the time, Wickham's truly horrible actions are underplayed--that he betrays both society and Elizabeth are what make him truly evil in the novel.
Some things I wish wouldn't have happened: the more I think about it, the more I'm disturbed by the ending, which Dave also mentioned in a brief review over emailed. I mean, I'm all about British estate porn (you'll see what I mean), but it was just too cute and hackneyed...besides not being in the book at all. And I'm also fine with not being too strict with the novel, but Lady de Bourgh would never have visited the Bennets to chew out Lizzy in the middle of the night! Sure, it set up the ridiculously beautiful scene with Lizzy and Darcy at sunrise, but come on! Even now, someone wouldn't barge in the middle of the night. So, even though Dench and Knightly act the hell out of that argument--one of the best of English literature, in my eyes--I was a little bugged.
However, those are quibbles. This movie rocks because it presents a pretty honest representation of the novel and thus is entertaining as all get out.
Posted: Mon - November 14, 2005 at 08:43 PM |