When people ask
me what my favorite film of the year has been I’m almost hesitant to tell them
for fear that it will reflect badly upon my masculinity, but if I were to be
completely honest I would have to say that it was Joe Wright’s take on Jane
Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. I have never been a fan of period films or Jane
Austen, but I was absolutely mesmerized by each frame of this adaptation. Not
one shot seems wasted and each detail is meticulously formed to create a
captivating and beautiful film. Each role is expertly cast and even more
impressively portrayed, and the only thing that is able to upstage the talent
is the breathtaking cinematography set to a simple yet poignant score. In
short, I would be hard pressed to find more than a few things that I don’t like
about Pride and Prejudice.
This version of
Jane Austen’s story focuses largely on Elizabeth Bennet, one of the middle
children in a liberal household. Elizabeth Elizabeth
The popularity
of the BBC miniseries of Pride and Prejudice put a great deal of pressure on
the new film, but it seemed to me that the material pulled from the classic
story formed a simple and coherent telling of Elizabeth Bennet’s involvement in
the plot. The dialogue is filled with wit that requires sharp attention or
multiple viewings while never losing the heart behind the material as well. I
was also extremely impressed with how well the film understood that simplicity
is sometimes best, and less can be more.
When I first saw
Keira Knightley it was in Bend it Like Beckham, a film that I didn’t care for
in most ways, but I was unable to take my eyes off this young new actress. I
have followed her since then, but none of her roles brought out the spark which
had attracted my attention in that first film. Pride and Prejudice allows
Knightley to spread her talent out in full force. She is both wildly engaging
to watch as well as subtly dedicated to the character. When Knightley feels
sadness, I feel sadness, and this allows me to care for Elizabeth Bennet as if
she were a member of my family.
Although
Knightley is certainly the center of attention when she is on screen, the other
actors are never overshadowed. This cast is filled with such an eclectic mix of
newcomers and veterans. Even extremely likable actors are able to make their
character irritating where appropriate and necessary for the good of the story.
Donald Sutherland plays each scene with the quiet defeat of a lone man in a
family of females, but when he speaks he is a joy to watch. The final scene
between him and Knightley is by far the warmest and most loving depiction of
father/daughter love I have ever witnessed on film.
What makes Pride
and Prejudice the most remarkable romance I have seen in years is its respect
for the preciousness of each moment in love. We are bombarded with images of
sex in film and television so that it all begins to lose any meaning. We don’t
truly feel what the character is experiencing with each kiss. Pride and
Prejudice makes certain that we see every time they have the slightest bit of
contact, even if it’s just a brush of the hand, and the sexual tension builds
up to the very last frame in which we are finally given the satisfaction of
witnessing a kiss. The simplicity of it is far more beautiful and romantic than
any convoluted story which has been onscreen in the past years.
Director of
photography Roman Osin captures the beauty in something as intricate as a
sunrise with such simplicity that it is a perfect fit for Dario Marianelli’s
soft score. These two elements weave us through a seamless world which is
filled with grime and texture that feels like life. It is real in a way that we
never could have experienced but it is also familiar even if it is something we
have only known through art, literature and music.
Entertainment Value: 9/10
Filmmaking Quality: 10/10
Historical Significance: 8/10
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