Pride and Prejudice
Keira Knightley, Matthew MacFadyen, Judi Dench; Directed by Joe Wright
Here we have the timeless story of the too-proud Mr. Darcy and the too-prejudiced Elizabeth Bennet, who eventually overcome their own faults and the faults of each other to fall madly and deeply in love. When the very handsome and very single Charles Bingley moves into town, Mrs. Bennet sets her sights on making him a husband for one of her five daughters. Through mishap and mis-matchmaking, the Bennet girls fall in and out of love. Lizzie and Darcy’s first meeting is less than a success, however, and by the end of it, Lizzie has made up her mind that he is "the last man in the world she could ever be prevailed upon to marry". As various characters move in and out of the lives of the Bennet family, it is revealed to Lizzie just what kind of man Darcy really is, and how she had woefully misjudged his brusque and impudent manner. There is the deceptively ideal Mr. Wickham, and the ridiculous clergyman, Mr. Collins, who only resolves to make Lizzie his wife because the marriage would "suit everyone". After Darcy comes to her rescue more than once, and especially after saving her younger sister from a potentially never-ending shame, Lizzie comes to see that Darcy has really loved her all along, and is even more surprised to realize that she genuinely loves him back.
Here we have yet another visual interpretation of Jane Austen’s much beloved and much filmed classic. There is the restrained and joyless older film with Sir Laurence Olivier, the four hour BBC version starring Colin Firth, and a host of others enough to satisfy a Pride and Prejudice Fest. But this version, directed by relative newcomer Joe Wright, gives us something different. It’s called a breath of fresh air. This film is filled with so much life. All of the realities, the joys, and the struggles of it. Darcy and Lizzie are surrounded by families as crazy and exasperating as any we can find today, and it is a hard struggle (inwardly and outwardly) we watch the characters go through to eventually come together. But it is precisely the kind of eccentricities and flaws that make us fall in love with the characters, and eventually with the story itself. Special credit must go to Tom Hollander, who plays Mr. Collins to the most awkward and creepy extent. The direction was pure brilliance at times. A particular scene comes to mind where Darcy and Lizzie are dancing together. The music culminates into a sweeping wave of passion until it seems to them that they are the only ones in the room. So many romances lack true chemistry between the leads, and I am happy to report that this film was able to steer clear of that pothole. Matthew MacFadyen (as Darcy) and Keira Knightly (in her first Academy Award nominated role as Lizzie) are perfection. And the direction of the films is so tastefully and cleverly done that mere glances at each other will tell you that their hearts are beating to burst.
A wonderful score by Dario Marianelli accompanies the mood impeccably, and Roman Osin’s cinematography is nothing less than amazing. Mr. Donald Sutherland was a great addition to the film as Mr. Bennet, and the last conversation between Knightley and Sutherland is one for aspiring actors to study. There were no bad performances, and I found myself rooting more for MacFadyen’s Darcy more than I have rooted for anyone else’s. It was nice not to see a Hollywood pretty boy get this role. That just wouldn’t be worthy of the character (and I’m not saying that MacFadyen isn’t good looking, quite to the contrary). Dame Judi Dench was spot on as the bitterly disagreeable Lady Catherine. I want to particularly wish Ms. Knightley all the best in her career, as it can only grow and flourish from here. She and some of her fellow present-generation actors are stepping things up and surpassing even some of the older talents of the day.
Most people are inclined to criticize a movie for being too long, whereas I myself tend to criticize a movie for being too short. While there is plenty of conflict and depth here, I did find myself wishing to see more of the finer details of Ms. Austen’s book dramatized here. I understand how difficult it is to translate novels to film, and I understand that studios try to keep the run time down in order to avoid boring their audiences (as Gods & Generals did), but in my wishful fantasizing, the run time would have been something I would have liked to have seen prolonged. I wanted more.
This is a first rate film in every way. I happen to be an unashamed sap for classic romance stories like this, and particular sap for Jane Austen novels, so I was heartily please and surprised with this film. Nothing ever can nor ever will rival the greatness of Ang Lee’s Sense and Sensibility, and I know it will be high treason to state this, but this version (to me) is definitely preferable to the much-beloved four-hour BBC version. This is a high quality and intelligent work, and a must see for any hopeless romantic. And if you need to, make your husband or boyfriend sit down with you to watch and show him what a real gentleman is.
Story = A
Acting = A
Visuals = A
Originality = A
Enjoyability = A
Overall Grade = A
DVD Extras = A
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