Friday, August 10, 2007

Becoming Jane



The Becoming Jane movie is here much to the delight of Jane Austen fans everywhere. But will it satisfy the way that Emma and Sense and Sensibility did?



There is no question that the photography is beautiful. Anne Hathaway acts the part of Jane with grace, style, depth and honor. I can think of no better actress to portray her. Just as Gwyneth Paltrow became Emma, Anne Hathaway was Jane.



The movie is a fictionalized account of Jane Austen's life. There have been rumors that she suffered a disappointment when she was young. Maybe the reality was very close to this account. I admit that with the turns and twists in the plot I did not know until the very end how the movie and Jane's life would conclude. The final scene is one that will make you gasp wtih surprise.

Though a little bit surprised at some of the bawdy humor and a rather suggestive discussion, I have to say the costumes, the storyline- which was exciting, the fine acting of Jane and her parents, and the strong support for duty won me over. Naturally it is a must see for any Jane Austen fan but I would recommend it for young adults and up.

4 comments:

Rebecca said...

Ditto :-)

Lily said...

I cannot wait to see it! Maybe next weekend. thanks for your review!

I didn't like the Paltrow version of Emma as much as you did. I thought she did fine in it, but thought the movie, overall really shortchanged the book. It was entertaining, but the Hollywood version of Austen novels rarely satisfies me. I usually always prefer BBC. I think it is a matter of national pride to do British classic literature well.

I'm really looking forward to the jane movie. I like Hathaway. I would have seen it this past weekend, but it isn't playing in either of our two local theaters, I would have had to go into the city :-( I will wait.

Heather said...

How did I miss this one??!! I didn't even know that there was a movie in the works about Jane Austen's life let alone one that was at the theatres!!! Good grief, what kind of an Austen fan am I anyway? LOL!

Thanks for this, Mary. I can't wait to see it ;-)

Heather (by far the biggest Jane Austen fan on EARTH! ;-) )

Anonymous said...

We saw the movie, last night, and I feel like I watched two separate movies. As a whole, I cannot recommend it. The first half of the movie was so vulgar. There was more than one suggestive conversation, and several inappropriate scenes. The hero was all Wickham and Willoughby.

However, the second half of the movie I recommend whole-heartedly. It was a very sweet love-story; where the hero had somehow morphed into Darcy and Henry Tilney with just a hint of Willoughby, thrown in.

As for production, the script writing was excellent, the costumes superb, and Ann Hathaway did an amazing job; much, much better than Gwyneth Paltrow in Emma. However the photography was a little weird at times.

This movie is a home rental, where you can fast forward a lot.