A well crafted and acted historical romance

Rating: 9/10 (13 September 2009)

Having not previously read the book or seen the mini-series (a limited education and no time for television), I saw the movie with no pride or prejudice. With cinematic preferences tending toward contemporary life, plots and action, my wife had to drag me to this film. I'm glad she did. The movie transports you to a time and place where you feel the moods and care about the characters. Beautiful scenery, emotive music, great architecture and excellent acting made for thoroughly enjoyable entertainment. Keira Knightley, perfect for the role, transparently illuminates her thoughts and emotions. Others in the cast fit their parts well, except for Donald Sutherland's pearly white teeth, an intrusion of this century into the 18th, which the film otherwise believably transports us into. Great scenes include the dance hall sequences, the proposals, and Judi Dench's nighttime visit. The final scene, however, seemed unnecessary. After seeing the movie, I watched the five-hour television series and read the four hundred page book. What's clear is that more can be shown in five hours than two and a book is a different experience than a film. The film is great on its own and, in two hours, is as good an adaptation as the novel will probably ever get.