A Pride and Prejudice for our day

Rating: 7/10 (28 December 2008)

I see that Joe Wright's filmography as director is fairly short: apart from Atonement he has made a few historical mini-series for TV. This was his first feature film, and he keeps things going at a brisk enough pace. The ballroom dances are mostly done well, although his camera doesn't move much.
The acting ranges from good to mediocre. I didn't expect much from Keira Knightley but she surprised me with some spirited exchanges with Mr Darcy. Matthew MacFadyen looks a little defeated by the demands of his part; he's following two magnetic actors, Lawrence Olivier and Colin Firth, and cannot match them for charisma. Donald Sutherland shows no commitment to Mr Bennet, it's a lazy performance. Charlotte Lucas is played by Claudie Blakley who makes you believe in her desperation. All in all, it is two hours fairly well spent.