An unexpected delight: Keira & Matthew own their parts as Lizzy and Darcy!

Rating: 9/10 (13 November 2005)

I admit that when I first heard news that this movie was in production, I automatically resolved on never seeing it, because it seemed like such an insult to make yet another movie adaptation of "Pride & Prejudice" so soon after the definitive A&E/BBC production.
I was very pleasantly surprised and thrilled with this movie. The central spirit of the novel has not only remained intact but has been brought alive in many ways. With the scenes of farm life, minimal makeup, worn clothing and lived-in interiors and exteriors, I could not help but be reminded of 1995's "Persuasion" and its gritty realism. However, this production thankfully had no shaky camera movement and felt much more cinematic with its lighting and mise en scène.
As for the script, I was surprised at how much was kept into the narrative by the screenwriter and director. While many lines were transposed and shortened, there were quite a few lines that came verbatim from the novel - more than most viewers might think. For an example of transposition, even though Darcy says, "You have bewitched me body and soul" in the movie and not in the novel, there is a line in the novel that describes Darcy as having been bewitched by Elizabeth's manners. For an example of a line taken verbatim, there is the scene where Darcy tells Lizzy, "You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings were what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever."
Despite the brevity of the movie in comparison to the 1995 adaptation, I feel that Keira Knightley added more gravity to her part than Jennifer Ehle. From Keira's performance, I got more of a sense of Lizzy's affection and respect for her mother despite her foibles. Her Lizzy is overall more introspective and melancholy  and yet she also able to demonstrate how she hides all of this under her smiles and vivacious wit. Also, Keira makes a more convincing twenty-year-old than Jennifer and her range in this part genuinely surprised me. I wonder if she'll get recognized come Oscar time.
I never thought I would ever see any actor equal Colin Firth's performance as Mr. Darcy. And yet, this movie's performance actually surpasses it! Matthew Macfadyen adds more layers to Mr. Darcy's prideful arrogance  it is actually the shield behind which he hides an insecure, shy heart of a person who has been used to getting his way until he meets Lizzy. His interpretation of Darcy is not only more emotional, but you get more of a sense of how misunderstood Darcy is by the world.
There are definitely echoes of the A&E production throughout  and I wonder if Joe Wright has done this intentionally. First, I noticed that Lizzy and Darcy's dance at Netherfield is the same  Mr. Beveridge's Maggot. Another scene  the scene where Darcy gives Lizzy a helping hand into the carriage at Netherfield  echoes the scene where Darcy does the same at Pemberley in the A&E version. The difference is, that we get a close-up of that hand being affected by that briefest of touches. One more echo: the proposal scene in the rain reminded me of the infamous "wet shirt" encounter in the A&E version.
The only elements that keep me from giving this production a perfect 10 out of 10 are the following: pretty-boy Wickham, who looks like Orlando Bloom, didn't really have enough of a presence to merit being an obstacle or object of jealousy and the Gardiners' reduced roles (which, I suppose, couldn't be helped due to time.
The elements that I absolutely adored: Donald Sutherland's Mr. Bennet (his tears of joy at the end made me cry too)  a wonderfully complex mixture; the fact that Mary, Lydia and Kitty were a little more individualized than even in the A&E version; Brenda Blethyn's Mrs. Bennet who still inspires affection and sympathy despite all her social faux pas; Judi Dench's Lady Catherine  her midnight call was not only intrusive and rude, it was also a way of emphasizing her capriciousness and controlling nature; the scene at the Netherfield ball where Darcy and Lizzy appear to be alone  emphasizing the fact that they stand as equals above the crowd as well as momentarily forgetting the world surrounding them (reminded me of Darcy's line in the novel: "We neither of us perform to strangers."); the dance scenes and how they seemed so authentic because they didn't look totally rehearsed and there was such a crush of people gathered together; Darcy and Lizzy's stolen glances in church during Mr. Collins's sermon; the way that Darcy delivered his letter and the way that Lizzy was in such a state that he becomes almost an illusion; Georgiana's knowing look at his brother after introducing Lizzy; that proposal scene that, despite Lizzy's rejection almost seems to end in a kiss; the entire reconciliation scene at dawn; Darcy and Lizzy's shared look before he enters Lizzy's father's library; the fact that the movie chooses not to end at the wedding.
There are definitely more Romantic elements in this movie...you can't help but think of the moors in "Wuthering Heights" when we see Lizzy on one of the peaks in Derbyshire. Some "purists" may claim that this movie contains some anachronisms. However, when reading the novel, there is not only the heart of a Romantic beating within, but also a tale of female empowerment, and all of this is wonderfully alive in this movie.
9.5 out of 10