A Delightful and Beautiful Film

Rating: 7/10 (4 July 2006)

In this adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel, Keira Knightley plays Elizabeth Bennett, a rebellious young woman who refuses to marry the wealthy man her mother (Brenda Blethyn) has picked for her, although it would save her family from poverty. Meanwhile, her four sisters deal with their own suitors, including the mysterious Mr. Darcy.
I'll admit that I have never read the novel and period pieces don't really interest me so I wasn't expecting much from this movie. However, Pride and Prejudice is a solid film with an engaging romance and strong characters. The best part about the film is probably the cinematography. The whole film just looks fantastic and it has a very engaging hook to it that just please the eyes. Director Joe Wright does a good job behind the camera. He captures the romance nicely and he moves the film at a nice pace. Sometimes, the film moves slowly but the actors get it out of the rough patches.
Out of the entire cast, I would say that Donald Sutherland gives the best performance. It seemed a little simple but it was still pretty nice. Keira Knightley also gives a good performance though I don't agree with her Oscar nomination. Her character is portrayed as a different girl and not one that giggles at everything. In the beginning of the film, Keira is too giggly and it didn't fit the character though she gets better as the film progresses. Rosamund Pike gives a good performance even if her character is a little dull. Jena Malone gives an annoying performance but it fits her character so I would say that she did a good job. Brenda Blethyn gives a funny performance as Elizabeth's mother and she has some memorable scenes with Donald Sutherland.
Matthew Macfadyen also gives a strong performance and he has great chemistry with Keira. The two of them make a predictable story engaging at times thanks to their performances. There were a couple of things that I didn't like about the movie though. There were a few cheesy scenes that were kind of unnecessary. For example, at the end of the film when Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth are kissing, there is this huge yellow sunset in the background and I felt that it was a little too much. Of course some things are just unavoidable in chick flicks. The screenplay is pretty good though I don't know how faithful it is compared to the book. The score is also pretty good and it's easy to tell why it got nominated for an Oscar. Most of the film is just top notch and it's defiantly a film for both girls and guys. In the end, this wonderful surprise is worth checking out. Rating 8/10