Sense & Sensibility (with Miss Austen Regrets) (BBC TV 2008)
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Movie Reviews of Sense & Sensibility (with Miss Austen Regrets) (BBC TV 2008)
Movie Review: 4.5, really
Summary: 4 Stars
This "Sense and Sensibility" has been sometimes compared unfavorably to Ang Lee and Emma Thompson's earlier "S&S", but I personally liked it. I've always been partial to Andrew Davies, so I admit I'm biased, but then I love Emma Thompson as well.
Hattie Morahan and Charity Wakefield are EXCELLENT. Wakefield's Marianne is right on par with Winslet's; there are no complaints from me on Wakefield's performance. Her protestations when Elinor refuses Willoughby's gift of a horse and her slow-growing affection for Brandon are well done.
I loved Hattie Morahan; she carried off the complexity of Elinor wonderfully. She keeps an even keel throughout, so when Morahan delivers Elinor's angry retort to Willoughby at the end and Elinor rejoices with Marianne over Brandon's offer of marriage, it's all the more effective given the usual tight rein over her emotions. I hate to sound shallow, but I will say that Morahan's youth worked better for me. It's not that Thompson wasn't a fantastic Elinor, but when a visually young Elinor is more logical and thrifty than her own mother, the impact of her character is greater. One sees how very young Elinor is and how quickly she must grow up.
My favorite scene is at the end, where Marianne tells Elinor she has accepted Brandon's offer of marriage. Beautifully written and beautifully acted, it sums up the changed Elinor and the changed Marianne perfectly. Marianne has learned to look past herself - she sees Brandon for the excellent man he is and loves him, AND although she is bursting to tell her news, she is reluctant to hurt Elinor with her own happiness. It's a beautiful, mature Marianne. Elinor's concern for Marianne marrying for love is touching, but her humor is a fantastic touch - she jokes that "I must get myself a colonel too!"
I have to admit to being surprised with the male characters here. I didn't like them, and I don't know why; I've always admired how Davies makes Austen's men very three-dimensional. Davies' "Northanger Abbey", "Emma", and of course "Pride and Prejudice" did the men very well, I think. It can't be the acting, at least not with David Morrissey as Brandon. I just didn't quite get them, and I can't put my finger on why. For some reason, the Bosco Hogan 1981 Edward Ferrars sticks in my mind. These three, not so much.
A very high point - this Edward is written MUCH better than the 1995. Sorry, Ms. Thompson, but Edward was not a Regency version of the sweet, bumbling Hugh Grant. (But that's a rant for another time.)
I LOVED John Dashwood and his wife. That comical opening where Fanny Dashwood talks John Dashwood down from his plans of generous help to his half-sisters is funny, and Davies does a fantastic job doing that couple. It's clear that John does care very much for his half-sisters, but he's basically a spineless twit dominated by his wife - and what a wife! Mark Gatiss is just so amusing to watch, and Claire Skinner is just so brilliant at being snide and rude.
Miss Lucy Steele was done well, but it was her sister, Miss Steele, I remember when she accidentally blurts out that Lucy is engaged to Edward. The entire scene is just brilliant - Fanny's furious, Mrs. Ferrars is furious, Miss Steele is blubbering away. I laughed out loud - it was just too ridiculous and it was fantastic to see Lucy get her comeuppance in a major, public way.
So, all in all, a very enjoyable production and the one I'd personally keep on hand.
Movie Review: An Epiphany
Summary: 5 Stars
For someone who hasn't seen or read but trivial bits of Austen since
undergraduate days, this was an Epiphany. I expected Austen's imagination and skills, but I am glad to have re-discovered this later in life, especially the civilized discourse, the concepts of politeness, discretion, kindness, etc.
Movie Review: One of the best, but wiuth reservations
Summary: 4 Stars
I recently watched this version of S&S while staying with friends in America, and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. It features the absolutely best Elinor of any screen adaptation, and most of the other characters are very well cast, although I couldn't help thinking of James Morrisey as the homicidal teacher in "Our Mutual Friend"! He was, however, leagues better for the role than Alan Rickman, in my opinion! All in all, a very faithful production, although the best in that respect remains the 1981 BBC production with Irene Richard as Elinor, who does a good acting job but just doesn't look the part; and Oh, those awful costumes the poor girl was made to wear! That production also boasted an excellent Col. Brandon and the absolutely best Willoughby, a very believable seducer looking the perfect Byronic (anti-)hero. I also liked the fuller portrayal of Mrs. Jennings in that version, as her real kindness and motherliness in remaining to nurse Marianne were shown.
The really big problem in this new version is the woefully miscast Willoughby; Marianne Dashwood would never have fallen for such a pug-nosed schoolboy! The actor had no dash or charisma, and these are essential to this character.
On the other hand, the Edward Ferrars was the first whom one could actually believe capable of making Elinor fall in love with him. The 1981 Edward was just too, too dull, and Hugh Grant, while better, played him as, well, Hugh Grant!
The cinematography in this production was beautiful and, except for the very first scene (seduction of Eliza), there's nothing to set Austen fans' teeth on edge. On the whole, an enjoyable and well-done production.
Movie Review: Very well done!
Summary: 5 Stars
This version of Sense and Sensibility by the BBC is very well done. The actors are very believable in their roles and do a very good job of drawing you into the story. Everyone is well cast for their role - Fanny and her mother are so evil - you just want to knock 'em in the head - they are so pretentious and evil. You can identify with Marianne and Elinor and their struggles in pursuing their loves and their heartbreaks along the way. The background music was well chosen to fit the mood of the scenes. We saw it on PBS recently and bought the DVD. It is one of mine and my wife's favorite versions of this story.Movie Review: My opinion
Summary: 4 Stars
Enjoyed this version very much, characters looked as I expected. Never could understand how Lucie Steele and Robert Ferrars got together. Too swift a denouement! Also found Miss Austen Regrets moving, not convinced of its authenticity.