A Regency Rom Com.

Rating: 8/10 (18 February 2006)

PRIDE AND PREJUCIE is a lovely English movie that is immaculately written,shot and acted. It takes Jane Austen's 18th century novel and turns it into a Regency Rom Com for a 21st Century audience.
The plot revolves around the Bennett household in the late 18th century English countryside. Women had no role in that society then other than as wives and mothers. So the Bennet girls need husbands -particularly the headstrong and independent Elizabeth (Kiera Knightly). The story charts her relationship with Mr Darcy (Matthew MacFaddyen), who seems initially humourless and unapproachable - but also very rich.
The film opens on sunrise and twittering blackbirds in the English countryside and from then on the English countryside has never been this beautiful since FAR FROM THE MADDENING CROWD (It was shot entirely on location at various stately homes and houses in Kent, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire, with no studio work)
The other standout are the performances, which are uniformly good. Even the small roles - check out the way Tom Hollander makes the most of every moment as Reverend Collins. But at the centre is Kiera Knightly, who illuminates the screen like no other actress since Gwyneth Paltrow first appeared in EMMA, a decade ago.
The cinematography, art direction and costumes are exquisite. Best of all, Joe Wright's direction feels confidently cinematic (look at the use of a Steadcam shot capturing moments at the ball). The film is lighter and more cinematic than Ang Lee's soporific 1995 SENSE AND SENSIBILITY (which got by on good acting and a charming script).