Great Movie

Rating: 9/10 (16 December 2005)

I think this is a great movie and many performances exceed the 95 version. Austen is renowned for her subtleties; too many modern actors over play her characters. Mr. Collins and Mrs. Bennett were over done in 95. Tom Hollander's Mr. Collin's is perfection, nicely elucidating his idiosyncrasies without overemphasising them. Likewise Brenda Blethyn. Too many web reviews of this movie exhibit prejudice towards Matthew Macfadyen. His performance is masterful in its subtlety. In the beginning we over look Darcy as we all did the first time we read the book. Yet as Elizabeth gets to know him, and we with her, he changes in the audiences eyes. Too many actors (Firth included) over emphasise Darcy's pride in the initial stages focusing our attention solely on it. In contrast, Macfadyen's Darcy is more complex and nuanced. Darcy's pride is there but it does not overwhelm the performance.The first proposal scene is very passionate and better than the 95 version (although in the beginning Macfadyen over acts by talking too quickly.) Keira brings a liveliness and youthfulness that is necessary for the role. Her eyes shine of there own accord making remarks on them unnecessary. However the script should have included Lizzy's defence of Darcy upon her mother's misinterpretation of his comments on the different level of society in the country. This is our first glimpse of lizzy's changing feelings towards Darcy and necessary to the plot. The script exploits Austen's humour; Austen purists should re- watch 95 and note marked departures from the book. Austen's novels should be redone every decade to give each generation its own interpretation.