Very Pleasantly Surprised; a star is born in Keira Knightley

Rating: 8/10 (9 February 2006)

The 1940 version of "Pride and Prejudice" has always been one of my favorite movies, despite the M.G.M. hokum, due to the great performances of Laurence Olivier and Greer Garson. However, I don't generally like English-themed costume dramas of the Masterpiece Theatre mode -- the last one I can think I liked, aside from Roman Polanski's "Tess" (decidely not a M.P.T. production) was Ang Lee's 1995 "Sense and Sensibility," due primarily to the acting. I didn't expect much from this (it was the only movie playing when I was visiting Peterborough, New Hampshire), but I was very pleasantly surprised by the film.
What struck me, aside from Keira Knightley's performance, was that for once, the actresses playing the roles of the Bennett sisters/Austen heroines were age-appropriate. The sisters even looked like sisters in this production. I found the acting to be good (if not as satisfying as that of Thompson, Alan Rickman, Tom Wilkinson and Kate Winslet in the '95 S&S, though Donald Sutherland gave a pleasing performance that should have won him an Oscar nomination) and the interchanges between the characters (and the ensemble acting) to be very well-directed. The detailing of the period seemed to be spot on also. The presentation of the story, though highly familiar, never lagged but propelled forward in a fine, natural rhythm. It was a very good movie-going experience.
What I wasn't counting on was the star power of Keira Knightley. At this stage in her career, she is a good though unspectacular actress (though it certainly would surprise me if she didn't develop into a very fine thespian in the near future as she gains more experience), but most importantly, she has a real STAR presence. She DOMINATED the movie. They say that a good actor must have good eyes, that the ability to express oneself on screen comes from the eyes. Knightley certainly does have good eyes. In fact, she has spectacular eyes, warm and luminous eyes that are incredibly expressive.
Keira Knightley has a beautiful face (though an immature, that is, undeveloped body, but it helps in this film as it bolsters her youthfulness), but beyond her physical beauty, she projects a true inner beauty. (Some actresses can be technically beautiful, but lack an inner warmth that is the root of true beauty. Some women not so pretty have that warmth that makes them beautiful.) Knightly displays a warmth that animates her face and that radiates on screen. What a remarkable gift, and it was most pleasant to experience.
I believe that this woman is going to be a major star soon and that her star will shine for generations. She reminds me of a young Julie Christie in the uniqueness of her presence and gift. Keira's acting will improve (as gains more control over her instrument), but her starpower -- something that cannot be learned, but simply is -- is in full-flower right now. Go see PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and you'll agree with me!