My Favorite Movie!

Rating: 10/10 (18 October 2013)

The 2005 British romance movie, Pride and Prejudice is based on Jane Austen's novel about five sisters in Georgian England. Keira Knightly stars as the main character, Elizabeth Bennet and Matthew MacFadyen plays her romantic interest. The story follows the second oldest of the Bennet sisters, Elizabeth, as she encounters issues of manners, morality, and marriage in the early 19th-century England society.
Pride and Prejudice is about the Bennet sisters finding suitable gentleman to marry and living their lives in Georgian England. Mr Bennet, an English gentleman and his overbearing wife continually look for suitable husbands for their five daughters. When Elizabeth "Lizzy" Bennet, a spirited young woman and a single, wealthy Mr Darcy (Matthew MacFadyen) meet for the first time, a connection is made even though she swears that he is the last person on earth that she'll ever marry. Their fate become intertwined in a journey that they never expected.
I really liked the acting in the movie. I think the Bennet family interactions made the whole film more interesting to watch because in Jane Austen's novel, the characters seemed flat to me. Keira Knightly did a wonderful job portraying Lizzy because she is headstrong, stubborn, and graceful as well. Matthew MacFadyen really brought out Mr. Darcy's aloofness and his rigid manners. We can see a physical chemistry between the two characters when they touch hands and their eyes interlock.
This film makes the audience voyeurs. The story begins with the opening shot of Elizabeth walking home reading what is assumed to be Austen's First Impressions. It is like a story within a story. The viewers also look over her shoulder to see her turning the page. Through the camera's lens, we follow her into her home and through the rooms. The audience also sees characters through the windows, eavesdrop on them through doors, and stand behind them during conversations. It gives the film another layer to depth and transports the viewers into the story. The director, Joe Wright, uses a variety of camera angles and shots to portray Darcy and Elizabeth's chemistry and eventual love. One of the amazing shots that we see is when Elizabeth faces the mirror after turning down Darcy's proposal and the passage of time can be seen by the techniques involving the soft and dark lighting. The viewers can gain an insight of Elizabeth's internal confusion by the use of blurred long shots, close ups of the characters and the letter that Darcy writes to Elizabeth after their argument. After Elizabeth realizes that she has misjudged Darcy, her best friend, Charlotte (Claudie Blakley), comes into the room and asks if she is alright. Elizabeth responds with, "I hardy know." It leaves the audience questioning what she meant by that response.
The background music and the setting was a very important aspect during the powerful moments in the film. *SPOILER* When Mr. Darcy was coming toward Elizabeth in the misty field at dawn, I was moved by that scene because they were finally together and what Mr. Darcy's aunt tried to do actually confirmed their feeling for one another.
I really enjoyed this film and I have watch it many times. It never fails to emotionally move me. It is a beautiful movie filled with beautiful scenes, intense moments, and love. It is my favorite movie and if you are a fan of romance, then I highly recommend it!