danpatter2002

A superb script is perhaps the best reason to see this movie, but it's a splendid film on all counts. I saw it during its original theatrical release and once since then, but it's the kind of movie that sticks in the memory.

Brandauer gives his usual splendid performance. The man has never given a bad one as far as I know, and this is one of his best. The camera loves him and you can read this character's thoughts from his eyes alone. The sometimes uneven Dunaway is just wonderful here, and still very beautiful when this was made. David Eberts, as her son, is also very fine and believable.

The atmosphere created by this movie will haunt you. Yes, I suppose it is an "art film," whatever that means. There are no car chases and the themes are very adult and provocative in the best sense. Photography and settings are beautiful. Give this a look, it will stick with you.

The movie is reasonably enjoyable and often attractive to look at. The leading lady, Keira Knightley, is charming, lovely and frequently bewitching as Elizabeth Bennett, but this Miss Bennett is not quite Jane Austen's Miss Bennett, nor is this Pride and Prejudice quite Miss Austen's Pride and Prejudice. For one thing, the humor has been leached out and the whole story taken very seriously indeed. This has the effect of making Austen's affectionately caricatured folks (such as Mrs. Bennett or Mr. Collins or even Lady Catherine) into somewhat monstrous characters. Instead of seeming silly, they seem almost malevolent. The whole picture is very realistically depicted: the assembly ball feels claustrophobic, hot and stuffy; the Bennetts live on a working farm, with plenty of messy livestock. The whole emotional tone of the picture is serious indeed. Elizabeth's final interview with Lady Catherine is brutal, played with heightened emotion, far from the mannerly but cleverly hostile scene written by Austen.

Judi Dench is in her dowager duchess mode as Lady Catherine, effective but too little used; a treat nevertheless. Matthew McFayden's rather hangdog Darcy passes muster, but I think most fans will prefer Colin Firth in the A&E miniseries. Simon Woods as Bingley and Rosamund Pike as Jane are just perfect, the best ever. Brenda Blethyn is fine indeed as this particular kind of Mrs. Bennett, but I can't say as much for Donald Sutherland's Mr. Bennett; he seems miscast much of the time, and what in blazes is he doing at the assumbly ball? (He grins entirely too much, too).

I prefer the old BBC miniseries (with its limited production values) even to the very lavish, handsome and enjoyable A&E miniseries. The BBC version was scripted by Fay Weldon, who maintained the perfect Austen tone throughout. While A&E did not manage to do that all the time, the new movie doesn't even seem to try. The final tacked-on scene will be a real jolt for Austen purists: a romantic scene for the married Darcys in the garden at Pemberly, very atmospheric and purple dialog abounding. Why not just tuck us in bed for the wedding night?

But you know, maybe this will lead a few more people to the immortal book itself, so I wish the movie a huge success. I can't imagine anyone not enjoying it.

This stylish and refreshing take on Barrie's classic tale has a lot going for it. It is very faithful to the spirit of the original, and a lot of Barrie's matchless script has survived. Both the juvenile leads are charming and believable, but acting honors must go to Jason Isaacs, who gives Captain Hook both menace and malice, as well as a seductiveness I would not have believed possible. One fears him, pities him, loathes him and relishes him, as he rises to the tragic grandeur of the part. Just to hear him utter Barrie's wonderful line, "Back you puling spawn, I'll show you the road to dusty death," is itself worth the price of admission. Bravo, Mr. Isaacs. (I do wish Hook's monologue, "How still the night air," had made it into the film - it would have been nice to see Mr. Isaacs do this.)

And bravo to Mr. Hogan for giving us one of the most beautiful films ever made. It is a pleasure to look at and Hogan wisely never lets the special effects get in the way of the story. I've taken several batches of kids to see this movie and all were enchanted and excited. So was I, who grew up on the Mary Martin and Walt Disney versions and have seen both the play and the musical version many times live. This one's a winner. Go see it.