A splendid and moving period piece

Rating: 10/10 (25 May 2007)

I saw this movie for the first time on a premium channel, and bought the DVD shortly after. I also can't pass it up any time it's repeated on cable. I'll look forward the whole day to watching some program or another, but if I see that this movie is on, I'll forsake almost any other other program for it.
Though I've seen many cinematic interpretations of her work, I must confess that I've never read any Jane Austen. I generally have trouble plodding through the language from books published from the late 18th and early 19th centuries. I just tend not to have the patience for it. Anyway, I've finally, after watching this version of Pride & Prejudice for perhaps the 15th time in less than 3 months, felt compelled to share with you my tremendous love for the story, and I think - when I'm done here - that I'll go to my favorite bookstore's website and buy some of Ms. Austen's work. (Actually, I couldn't wait that long...I just paused from writing this to place an order for the literary Pride & Prejudice.)
The cinematography of this movie is fantastic, the locations very stirring, and the script brilliant - really lending itself to the actors' abilities to realistically interpret it with incredible depth and color. But the director, Joe Wright, deserves extra special commendation for getting such WONDERFUL work from the actors, especially Keira Knightley. Yeah, sure, she was great in Bend it Like Beckham and the Pirates trilogy, but I really didn't think she had it in her to lead a cast...much less a cast with Donald Sutherland and the mighty Dame Judy. But she really did prove me wrong. Much like Rachel Weisz did in the Constant Gardener. Keira did a fantastic job. Mind-numbingly so. Kind of scary that this is the same young lady that did Domino.
Matthew MacFadyen stormed into my world with a delicate grace that suggested a deep abiding talent with which I should further acquaint myself (I hadn't been aware of him before I saw this movie). The way he and Keira traded their characters' individual pride and prejudice (they both suffered from large measures of both) was a magic dance. I can't say with any certainty right now that I've seen a portrayal of two such lovers done better.
What MacFadyen REALLY did for me with Darcy was the sublime nuance of his expression. Though his face really didn't change much at all - whether he was stuffy, indignant or angry - when I first saw that dazed look and tentative smile of devout worship on his face when Elizabeth was about to have that profound, private audience with her father toward the end of the movie, it was wonderful. I could really FEEL Darcy losing himself in his love for Elizabeth, and I could feel almost as strongly his relief at not having to fight it anymore. The stoic, starchy, intimidating Darcy has been reduced to a fumbling child. I thought it was the truly naked face of the character madly hinted at, but so well hidden before just then. Bewitching.
Every well-fleshed portrayal in this movie was done really well (it will be the actors from THIS movie that I picture when I read and re-read the book), but I must make a point of saying that Tom Hollander's Mr. Collins is brilliantly pathetic, Mr. Bennett was TRULY one of Donald Sutherland's greatest roles, and it was a great thrill to see the Dame Judy's Lady Catherine put in her place when she made that late night visit to see Elizabeth.
I now understand that the story of Darcy and Elizabeth is one of the greatest love stories of all time, and it's one of those grand love stories that retains its delicacy without being smarmy or ridiculous. I treasure the privilege of being allowed access to this interpretation of Pride & Prejudice, and I'll recommend it to anybody. It's destined to become a legend.
Watch this movie. You'll be glad you did.