Delightedly surpassed my expectations

Rating: 8/10 (5 November 2005)

I took many prejudices into my viewing of this film. I, like numerous others, am a huge Jane Austen fan and 'Pride and Prejudice' is a favorite, as is the Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle BBC version. I was critical of the need for a remake of this classic, since I thought the BBC couldn't be topped and Colin Firth was the quintessential Darcy Â– let me tell you, I was wrong and proud to admit it!
Deborah Moggach has written a screen-play which competently allows both newcomers and Jane Austen buffs plenty of enjoyment. The time limit for film (127 minutes) means that Moggach had to develop Darcy and Elizabeth's affection fairly quickly, so that it doesn't seem strained when they begin to make doe eyes at each other towards film's end. Moggach makes clear their liking from the get-go, Darcy shyly eyes Elizabeth at his introductory ball and Elizabeth is clearly wounded when she overhears Darcy's sharp remarks about her to Bingley. From there it is easy to see, through carefully placed side-ways glances and meaningful quick touches that Darcy and Elizabeth have chemistry, though both are too stubborn to admit it in the beginning. This immediate attraction will no doubt make the rest of the story more plausible for first time viewers.
The cast is perfect, and I say this having previously had deep concerns about the very young, very modernly attractive and somewhat inexperienced Keira Knightley playing Lizzie, and the very un-Colin Firth, Matthew MacFadyen as the infamous Mr. Darcy. Keira Knightley is absolutely wonderful as the rebellious and quick-witted Lizzie Bennett; she has a certain charm and warmth that radiates and immediately seduces but also a deep wisdom behind those almond eyes which gives her a fine maturity. I honestly do not have enough praise; this is her first lead in a movie and she carries herself with perfect grace, her role also clarifies that despite her exceeding beauty, it is her talent which will see her survive longer than any other current 'it' girl in Hollywood. I still have a somewhat mixed attitude towards MacFayden, who is little known outside of the U.K for his role in the TV series "Spooks". No doubt he exceeded my expectations, but I still wouldn't give him boundless praise. He did bring a sweet, alluring shyness to the often stiffly stern character of Darcy, but there were still some moments when his delivery was cardboard and his voice monotone. Undoubtedly and unfortunately MacFayden won't please everyone, perhaps through no fault of his own but rather audience unfairness; but for my part I think he gave a satisfying performance but wasn't able to really set himself apart from any other former or future Darcy's, his performance simply wasn't 'remarkable' or really individual. However, the character of Darcy is very much adored, and MacFayden did have big riding boots to fill, sometimes the character is just too gargantuan for any actor to really do them justice, this is no doubt the case in this film.
Lizzie and Darcy aside, I was really impressed with the minor cast for this film. Brenda Blethyn as the effusive social-climber Mrs. Bennett is absolutely fabulous and hilarious, while Donald Sutherland beautifully portrays a very loving and kind-hearted Mr. Bennett. The two of them together are a perfect match, and I particularly liked seeing a real affection between Mr. and Mrs. Bennett in one small scene, which beautifully and subtly explained why they put up with each other. Simon Woods's Mr. Bingley is so fantastic; he was clumsy and awkward but so sweet and adorable, his performance got many laughs out of me. Tom Hollander was very funny as Mr. Collins, not through outlandish slap-stick as some actors feel necessary for such a character, but through subtlety; scenes which showed his short 5' 5" stature beside 6' 2" Matthew MacFadyen or when he bought an earnestness to Mr. Collins's ridiculousness. I also feel the needed to praise Claudie Blakley as Lizzie's friend Charlotte who marries Mr. Collins; Deborah Moggach included a very poignant and telling scene in which Charlotte tells Lizzie of her engagement, to which Lizzie replies with shock and horror. Illuminating the undercurrents of novel and film, about social hierarchy and the role of women in the Georgian era, Charlotte near tears expresses her fear at being 27 and unmarried with no prospects but Mr. Collins, and her guilt at still being a burden on her parents. Moggach does well at including these small but intricate scenes, another is when Lydia (Jena Malone) kneels in the carriage as she waves her family goodbye, but is quickly pulled down by Wickham (Rupert Friend), the scene is shot through a dirty window, but we can glimpse for a moment the sort of life Lydia will lead with the devious Wickham, as we watch him tersely tell her off.
If I have any complaints about the film it would be Joe Wright's direction. Sometimes the grandeur of the sets is lost and unable to be admired as he has an obsession with close-ups; certain scenes (like the ball-room ones) would be better done in wide-lens. Also, the close-ups are sometimes shaky and not of the best quality; the ball-room Darcy and Elizabeth dance sequence gave me a headache as it remained on both their faces as they relayed in a lengthy and taut conversation while the blurry tops of other dancers heads in the foreground whizzed by. Though Wright's camera techniques are questionable, the cinematography by Roman Osin is not. The sets are beautiful- sweeping English countryside assure that this is most definitely the world of Jane Austen, and one particular scene of Lizzie atop a mountain rock (I thought that billowing dress would blow her ass over tit!) is absolutely glorious!
This really is a delightful film; fans of Jane Austen's novel will be pleasantly surprised and newcomers to Pride and Prejudice will be seduced- highly recommended!