Let's be honest: Jane Austen is fun. It isn't just the fact that she's a top writer of the nineteenth century; if that were the case, we wouldn't have nine movies and a miniseries of "Crime and Punishment." There's something else about Jane Austen that keeps us coming back.
There is something timelessly fun about following her characters, something deliciously nosy and simultaneously beautiful about her storylines. Luckily, this latest version of "Pride and Prejudice" remembers that, and while it may not always be faithful to the book, it is always faithful to the elements that make Austen's work so enduring.
The most important thing to remember when going into Joe Wright's new "Pride and Prejudice" is that it's an independent adaptation. Those who approach the movie ready to compare it to earlier versions or even the book itself are likely to be disappointed. But for moviegoers who can watch the film with fresh eyes and open minds, it is both beautiful and entertaining.
One of Austen's most beloved and well-known works, "Pride and Prejudice" follows the love story of Elizabeth Bennett (Keira Knightley) and Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy (Matthew MacFayden). The two fall in love early in the story but constantly ruin their chances for happiness through their own misgivings, judgments and blind pride.
Any good adaptation of "Pride and Prejudice" must, above all else, capitalize on the tension between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy so that audience members feel as relieved as the characters when things come together, as they should, in the end. But since the new "Pride and Prejudice" is so economic its length and selection of its scenes, the frustration this time lies in the fact that it's not actually frustrating at all.
The movie is just over two hours long, and although that's not short for the average movie, here it can sometimes seem like the director is skipping from one important scene to the next. The amount of screen time where Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy interact feels short, and there are few intimate moments between them, which leaves out important revelations about their feelings.
This alone can sometimes make the movie feel a bit disjointed, as if it were a "best of" instead of a full storyline in itself. However, several other elements of the film work to give it a sense of unity that, in the end, overpowers whatever plot omissions it may have. Perhaps the most important of these elements is the direction.
Director Joe Wright had a pretty short list of credits to his name before this movie. He is a new director without an established style, but that does not stop him from taking risks in his direction that truly enhance the quality of the movie.
The film is full of sweeping, gorgeous landscapes, which are beautiful alone but especially expressive within the context of Austen's story. Each landscape seems to take on the mood of the characters; a barren field can seem like the loneliest place in the world at one point, and gentle and warm only a few scenes later.
Wright, fully aware of the power landscapes can have as a mirror for character emotions, is unafraid to linger on a tree or field for as long as it takes to touch the audience. This also goes for other scenes, where he lets the camera remain on a face or two touching hands for several seconds. The time he takes with the camera is well spent; these moments are often so beautiful and full of meaning that they close the gap between scenes, creating a feeling of continuity that softens the harshness of any plot jumps.
Another element that gives the movie a sense of cohesiveness is the chemistry between the characters. This is probably the most important element in any rendition of "Pride and Prejudice," and it is not lacking here. Keira Knightley gives a surprisingly full performance, managing to embody the tension between regret and ego that plagues Elizabeth throughout the tale.
Though she is at times a bit inaccessible, Knightley is a good Elizabeth, and even better for her chemistry with Matthew MacFayden. MacFayden, as unknown as the film's director, is a new face, but this is perhaps necessary. Any better-known actor would be immediately compared to Colin Firth - but MacFayden is unknown enough to slip under the radar, and this is important.
Don't compare him to Firth: they are different, and MacFayden is a different Mr. Darcy. But that's not a bad thing. MacFayden has a sad humanity about him that makes him attractive and accessible, and renders him a good match for Knightley's aggressive Elizabeth.
Other characters in smaller parts shine too, especially Dame Judi Dench. Though her part is tiny, she is, as always, amazing, and she has the unique ability to cut through audience members as easily as she cuts through her characters. Along with the rest of the varied cast, she puts in a performance that is both unique and faithful to the feeling of Austen's work.
This may not be the best "Pride and Prejudice," and it may not be the most faithful. But for moviegoers who are willing to look at it as its own film, with its own cinematic intentions and style, it is beautiful, entertaining, and not at all disappointing.
