Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with my thoughts on the newest adaptation of Jane Austen's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE starring Keira Knightley, Rosamund Pike, Donald Sutherland, Brenda Blethyn, Jena Malone, Simon Woods and Matthew MacFadyen to name a few from the ensemble.
I must confess an ignorance to most of Jane Austen's work and I hadn't seen a performance or film version of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE before this film. In fact, I almost didn't go to this screening because I'm not a huge fan of costume dramas, however I couldn't justify missing the screening because I was just too lazy to trek all the way up north, so off I went.
And I'm rather glad I did. I was even chatting with a friend before about how much time we were going to give it before we walked out and snuck into CAPOTE. Luckily for us, we didn't have to cheat the theater out of a ticket.
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, for those who don't know, is about a family of 5 sisters. The matriarch of the family (played in this film by the absolutely wonderful Brenda Blethyn) is trying to get her marrying age daughters attached to rich husbands as the family is a breath away from poverty. There's the beautiful eldest daughter (Rosamund Pike), the apparently less beautiful central character (which is debatable), Elizabeth Bennet (Keira Knightley) and some younger siblings including the very cute Jena Malone, Carey Mulligan and Talulah Riley.
The story is about the troubled, but strong love Elizabeth has for the wealthy and handsome Mr. Darcy. He starts out the movie very cold, yet the attraction is there and their mutual attraction takes 2 hours to fully express itself, even if the very characters in the story seem set to stay apart.
Knightley really shines in the movie. There are some actors who can do classic play or book work really well, but still sound like they're reading (well) from said play or book. Then there are the select few who are able to deliver the rather stilted and old fashioned dialogue with such a natural ease you never doubt for a second that they could have existed in that time. With the exception of some of the sisters, especially Jena Malone I'm afraid to say as I'm harboring a rather large crush on her, all the actors in the film feel natural and never like they're spoofing the pattern of speech from a Shakespeare play.
I sometimes see a great actor doing a great performance in a film like this, but even then most of the time I feel like I'm watching that actor doing a great performance. I wouldn't say that Keira Knightley disappears into her role, but I can say that I didn't for a second get caught up so much in the classical dialogue that I couldn't see her character.
Matthew MacFadyen had a tough role, that of Mr. Darcy the kind of douchey main love interest for Knightley's Elizabeth. However, our perception of him (and other characters) changes quite a bit as the movie progresses and after the characters meet at a party, no matter how the characters react, you'll find yourself not only knowing that they're destined to get together, but you'll also find that you WANT them to get together.
MacFadyen plays the role with many layers, never feeling like a two dimensional character. Really liked his work in this.
Brenda Blethyn is fantastic as Mrs. Bennet, the matriarch of the Bennet family. Her desire to marry off her daughters and the lengths she'll go to do just that are often really damned funny and Blethyn plays the character perfectly. The mother could easily be seen as a terrible woman for what she's doing, but the way Blethyn plays her you can never really think ill of her. She's just sweet and funny, especially when she's doing pretty despicable things.
Dame Judy Dench also has an appearance as a truly despicable person, a wealthy woman who puts herself quite high above most of society, especially those that struggle to make a living. She's not in the movie long, but as always Dench proves she can be a Class A Bitch when she wants you to see her as one.
You couldn't convince me that Rosamund Pike was the same woman that deserved a punch in the mouth for her performance in DOOM. She's the doe-eyed elder sister here who is being hooked up with the exceedingly rich Mr. Bingley, played with childlike innocence by Simon Woods. Fortunately for her, she actually is attracted to Mr. Bingley and he to her, although their love is a quiet one beset by urgings from his upper-crust friends to avoid degrading his family by marrying into the poor one Pike belongs to.
Noticeably missing from the cast list are Keira's Knightleys, who have made grand appearances in her last few movies. I know saying that right now will mean that 80% of those reading won't go see the movie now, but oh well. It's true and it's sad that the movie is missing them, but it somehow survives their absence.
The film is Grade A all the way. The direction is fresh and keeps the film flowing and unstuffy. The cinematography is lush and shows the beauty of the English countryside, especially with its famous fog and rain. The acting is great, the story classic and the movie well produced. It made a fan of one guy who doesn't like these kinds of movies.
I wouldn't say this is a buyer for me on DVD, but it's certainly one that I greatly enjoyed watching at the theater, despite my previous doubts as to my enjoyment.
I'm gonna hit the sack now. Been working all day on my Holiday Shopping Guide... and I've got some really neat giveaways lined up for this year, including a rather geeky piece from Sideshow/Weta. Thanks for all who have submitted suggestions for the Guide. I've got some really great stuff. Keep them coming!!!
I'll be back soon with a pair of interviews and a few more reviews, including another film with Dame Judi Dench called MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS, a film I liked even more than PRIDE & PREJUDICE! 'Til then, this is Quint bidding you all a fond farewell and adieu.
-Quint
