Becoming Jane
Anne Hathaway, James McAvoy, Maggie Smith; Directed by Julian Jarrold
Jane Austen is the daughter of a poor preacher in rural England. The Austen’s must tend their animals, dig up their own vegetables, and pray with all of their might that the two girls in the family will marry wealthy husbands. While poverty has begun to take it’s toll on Jane, and she begins to feel the suffocating pressure to marry rich, she still holds to revel in the solace of the country, clinging to the dream that she may one day be able to support herself through her writing. Meanwhile, Tom LeFroy, a brash and undisciplined law student, is devastated to learn that his uncle is sending him to the country in order to temporarily separate Tom from his worldly vices and distractions. When Jane and Tom meet, sparks of witty insults against one another eventually ignite a mutual attraction that will come to move them towards a love that will put their families, happiness, and dreams in danger.
Jane Austen has reached extraordinary heights of fame and achievement. A great number of her books have been brought to the screen, and as author of some of the most acclaimed and adored works of fiction in the English language (Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Persuasion…) she has also reaped a slew of hardcore fans so devoted to their beloved authoress/heroine/warrior princess that they would gladly challenge any critic to an old-fashioned 18th century pistol duel to defend her genius and honor. This remarkable writer has a story full of tragedy and heartache. Worthy, to be sure, of her very own biopic.
The story itself is surprisingly dark, and (small spoiler alert!) the unhappy ending is even more appalling with all things considered. If only the film itself could have rose to the full challenge of what was being demanded of it. I did say the story was dark, and the cinematography went to match that mood, but ultimately went too far. The color tones were gray, bleak, and murky at best. Even the light of sunny days seemed to have been filtered down. There was very little contrast. The direction was also not very inspired, and the style kept changing. There were a lot of silhouette shots, Jane reading, Jane writing, and so on. Then there was a scene were Jane and her sister, Cassandra, were walking along a rocky beach, and the handheld work was so incredibly shaky that it felt like the camera operator was jogging up and down as he moved along ahead of them. Very inconsistent. The performances were adequate, though Ms. Hathaway could have spent a great deal more time with her dialect coach.
Overall, Becoming Jane was a disappointment. The plot was enriched neither with subtext nor the driving rhythm of good pacing. It was very dull in some parts, while other moments would surprise us with a sudden outpouring of passion and intensity. Misapplied energies plagued this film. A more clever eye and a tighter script may have saved Jane, but the mire of bad pacing, missed opportunities (Did you know Austen had a brother who was deaf? They hardly even mentioned him!), and mucky visualization drew the story to a virtual standstill.
It is fascinating to see Austen draw her inspiration for her well-loved novels from sources around her, and we are even there to witness her record the famous first words from Pride and Prejudice. But ultimately, there is not much difference between Austen’s most famous work and her own life story (besides the ending). So to those who love ballroom dances, dinner scenes (you know those dinner scenes can be brutal), and a good battle of wits, I would much rather recommend Joe Wright’s version of Pride and Prejudice. Sumptuous storytelling that will not make you wish your eyes had been dilated before going in.
Grading:
Story = B
Originality = B
DVD Features = N/A
Acting = B+
Enjoyability = B-
Visuals = B-
Overall = B-
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