on the whole very good, but weak in places

Rating: 8/10 (2 September 2005)

With the mid-90's TV adaptation of Jane Austen's classic still a favourite in many fan's memories, the motivation for this big screen adaptation is not entirely clear. Nonetheless, it is a very faithful and ultimately enjoyable film. Director Joe Wright presents a visually stunning period piece. The choice of locations provide the ideal backdrop for the drama that unfolds around the central character of Elizabeth Bennet (played surprisingly well by Kiera Knightley) and her sisters. With American film investment, there is the occasional American star. Most notably, Donald Sutherland has been questionably cast as Mr Bennett, the calm father in the centre of the storm created by all the hysterical women in his family. Sutherland plays a different Bennet senior than we are used to, but brings such subtle humour and warmth to the role, you cannot help but appreciate his presence. The women in this film are all fairly standard. The younger and sisters simper and giggle as well as can be expected, and another American Jena Malone as Lydia copes admirably (if a little immaturely) when her character develops a brief storyline of her own. Rosamund Pike plays older bashful sister Jane with a quiet elegance, complimented very well by her suitor Simon Woods, charming to the last as Mr Bingley. By comparison, it is unfortunate the leading male role of Mr Darcy should have gone to Matthew MacFadyen. Comparisons to a certain Mr Firth aside, Mr MacFadyen delivers such a disappointing portrayal of Darcy, that it is only the sheer strength of the other cast members that save him from ruining the film entirely. It is all very well to look moody and raise an eyebrow occasionally, but this is not enough of a performance to give the character any depth, particularly as his love for Elizabeth blossoms. Perhaps it is the fault of the script, but since the rest has been so thoroughly written, this does not seem too likely. And in a standard little cameo, Dame Judi Dench thoughtfully refrains from stealing the scene as Lady Catherine De Bourgh. Having played Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria, Lady Bracknell, and 'M' all within recent memory, her performance comes across as a stodgy mix of every formidable battle-axe rolled into one. Hardly stretching her acting muscle, but she is clearly an obvious choice to play her. Take from it what you will. The film has all the right ingredients to do the book justice, with the vast majority of the cast performing brilliantly, no matter what the role. Nearly let down by one or two, it manages to salvage itself from any real embarrassment, and eventually emerges as a very good film indeed.