A Spectacular Film

Rating: 10/10 (18 September 2006)

Although I rarely give out excellent scores for movies, Pride & Prejudice of 2005 seems to demand one. Whatever flaws do exist in the film aren't even noticeable, and once you're swept into the magic of the story the spell is not broken for one moment until the television is turned off.
The true surprise of this movie, for me anyway, was Matthew MacFadyen's excellent portrayal of Fitzwilliam Darcy. I am a huge fan of Jane Austen's book, and Colin Firth's Darcy (although momentous in its own ways) never quite seemed to match the written account to me. MacFadyen triumphs in bringing out the vulnerability that feeds the shell of pride and his awkward shyness that lurks beyond his disdainful haughty brow. His hesitation when it comes to sharing his feelings with Lizzie Bennet are exactly what I pictured from the book: an almost boyful and youthful embarrassment paired with the desire and strength of a man. He truly shone.
Keira Knightley was also superb. If you believed her career was stereotyped by her work in Pirates of the Carribbean, one glance at this film should prove you wrong. She has an incredible talent to play many different roles and to bring out many different moves. The happy, carefree Elizabeth that is by shades overcome with sorrow and regret is wonderfully brought to life by Knightley.
The other actresses and actors in this movie are quite excellent, especially Simon Woods, whom I had not heard of before. Something that makes Pride & Prejudice a treat for the eye is the delightful filming, which whirls you throughout ballrooms and across entry halls and from conversation to conversation, dance to dance, without you even noticing that you aren't there yourself.
The raw desire that makes the ending so satisfactory is something that is rarely found in a PG movie, but here it is pulled off with perfect decency just in the eyes of Darcy and Lizzie. I definitely suggest giving Pride & Prejudice a try.