Austen Pride

A Tribute to the Books and Characters of Jane Austen

New “Emma” Doesn’t Quite Hit the Mark

January 21, 2010 by virgvv

emma2009I felt as if I were watching “Emma” 2009 through smudged glass. I found it entertaining for the most part, but it never deeply engaged my emotions and it didn’t make me laugh enough.

PBS’ “Masterpiece” will air the BBC’s latest version of “Emma” (which debuted in the UK in fall 2009)  in three weekly episodes (a 2-hour episode and two 1-hour episodes), starting this Sunday, Jan. 24.

I’ll start by admitting that I wasn’t sure why we needed a remake of “Emma” anyway. We already have three filmed takes on Jane Austen’s comic novel: the very good 1972 BBC “Emma” with Doran Godwin, the excellent 1996 BBC version with Kate Beckinsale , and the wonderful 1996 Miramax feature film starring Gwyneth Paltrow. Then there’s “Clueless,” the cute 1995 movie starring Alicia Silverstone that transports Austen’s meddling heroine to modern times. Then again, it’s been 13 years since the last Emmas aired, enough time for a new generation to need introduction to Austen’s clueless anti-heroine.

In the new “Emma,” Romola Garai mugs her way through the title role; at any moment I expected her to say, “Omigod!” This version of “Emma” was no doubt designed to appeal to viewers younger than I. After the first half hour or so, I got used to Garai’s interpretation of Austen’s comic heroine, though I can’t say I ever fell in love with it.

While my heart will forever belong to Jeremy Northam’s Mr. Knightley,  Jonny Lee Miller’s performance in the new version probably comes closest to the Mr. Knightley of Austen’s novel. Northam (Miramax 1996 film) played up Knightley’s sense of humor. Mark Strong (BBC 1996) emphasized his more serious side. Miller skillfully blends the two.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Emma, Movies of Austen Novels Tagged With: bbc, Emma, jonny lee miller, mr. knightley, romola garai

Jane Austen Popular as Ever with Filmmakers

June 5, 2009 by virgvv

Next to Shakespeare, Austen is one of the most widely adapted English writers. The plots of her novels have been modernized, satirized, idolized, and revised every which way. And she’s as popular as ever, judging by projects in the works:

  • The BBC is once again filming a mini-series of “Emma,” for release this fall. The four-part series stars Romula Garai (“Atonement”) in the title role, with Jonny Lee Miller (who played Edmund Bertram in 1999’s “Mansfield Park”) as Mr. Knightley. We last visited “Emma” in 1996, which saw the release of both a BBC miniseries (starring Kate Beckinsale and Mark Strong) and a feature film. I’m not sure anyone can top the latter, with Gwyneth Paltrow’s delightfully dizzy Emma and Jeremy Northam’s devastatingly charming Mr. Knightley, but more of “Emma” can never be a bad thing. Thanks to the folks at Pemberley.com, you can see set photos of Romula Garai and Jonny Lee Miller. And there’s a video slide show of the filming in Kent on YouTube.
  • After having fun with the popular and highly regarded “Bride and Prejudice,” Bollywood is tackling “Ayesha,” the Indian equivalent of “Emma.” “Slumdog Millionaire” star Anil Kapoor is producing, and his daughter, Sonam Kapoor, plays the title role and Abhay Deol is her Mr. Knightley.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Emma, Movies of Austen Novels, Romance and Austen Tagged With: bollywood, Emma, jonny lee miller, lost in austen, movies, pride and prejudice, romula garai

Jane Austen Movie Men Stand Tall

April 26, 2009 by virgvv

Want to play one of Jane Austen’s male romantic heroes in the movies? Don’t bother to audition unless you’re at least 6 feet tall. (Well, maybe you can squeak by at just a shade under.) Consider the evidence:

  • Colin Firth (Mr. Darcy, “Pride and Prejudice”), 6’1”
  • Jeremy Northam (Mr. Knightley, “Emma”), 6’2”
  • JJ Feild (Mr. Tilney, “Northanger Abbey”), 6’1”
  • Matthew McFadyen (Mr. Darcy, “Pride and Prejudice”), 6’3”
  • Mark Strong (Mr. Knightley, “Emma”), 6’2”
  • Ciaran Hinds (Captain Wentworth, “Persuasion”), 6’1”
  • Rupert Penry-Jones (Captain Wentworth, “Persuasion”), 6’2”
  • Alan Rickman (Col. Brandon, “Sense and Sensibility”), 6’1”
  • David Rintoul (Mr. Darcy, “Pride and Prejudice”), height unknown but it’s obvious that he’s pretty tall
  • Elliot Cowan (Mr. Darcy, “Lost in Austen”), 6’2″

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Movies of Austen Novels Tagged With: alan rickman, austen, ciaran hinds, colin firth, david rintoul, hugh grant, jeremy, jeremy northam, jonny lee miller, mark strong, matthew macfadyen, movies, mr. knightley, rupert penry-jones

Categories

  • Austen Biographies and Criticism
  • Austen Book Adaptations
  • Austen Characters
  • Austen Novels
  • Austen Quotes
  • Biographies and Criticism
  • Early Works
  • Emma
  • Events and News
  • Jane Austen
  • Jane Austen's Life
  • Mansfield Park
  • Movies of Austen Novels
  • Parodies and Other Fun
  • Pride and Prejudice
  • Romance and Austen
  • Sense and Sensibility

Pages

  • About Me
  • Contact Us

Tags

1940 alan rickman amanda price austen biography books bronte chick lit ciaran hinds colin firth dashwood david rintoul edmund bertram elizabeth bennet elliot cowan Emma greer garson heathcliff henry crawford hugh grant jane jane eyre jemima rooper jeremy jeremy northam jonny lee miller laurence olivier lost in austen marianne dashwood mark strong marriage matthew macfadyen movies mr. knightley mr. darcy novels parody pride and prejudice romance rupert penry-jones Sense and Sensibility wickham willoughby wuthering heights zombies

Copyright © 2023 · Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in