Product: Becoming Jane [Blu-ray] (2007)
Rating: 4.0
Romance is a Novel Idea
"Becoming Jane" presents itself much like an actual Jane Austen novel, with a young girl caught in a struggle between love and security. There is, however, one major difference: unlike the characters in her novels, the real Jane Austen never married. This may partly explain why "Becoming Jane" works so well, going against the happily ever afters Austen made so popular. This is a thoroughly enjoyable film--witty, romantic, and heartbreaking, portraying Austen in a way that's compelling and understandable. She's a gifted young writer stuck in a world that refuses to acknowledge her talents, a world in which wealth and distinction were preferred over affection and independence. She often tells herself that she'll live by the pen, even in a time when it's expected for a woman to marry a rich suitor.Anne Hathaway plays the title character, and she gives her a soft-spoken yet determined quality that I found agreeable. The film opens during one of Jane's early morning writing sessions; when she struggles with an idea, she turns her attention to the piano and plays it loud enough to wake the entire household. It could be that the rhythmic nature of music helps her to think more clearly. Or maybe she vents her frustration by pounding a keyboard. Whatever the case, her creativity is more important than the restfulness of her family, which is just as admirable as it is annoying. It's a small act of rebellion against a group of people who love her but don't seem to understand her. This is especially true of her mother (Julie Walters), who desperately wants Jane to marry into a wealthy family. Being the wife of a poor minister (James Cromwell), Mrs. Austen tries to reason with Jane: "Affection is desirable. Money is absolutely indispensable!"Nonetheless, Jane refuses a proposal from Mr. Wisley (Laurence Fox), the timid nephew of the wealthy, overbearing Lady Gresham (Maggie Smith). This is because she's falling in love with Tom Lefroy (James McAvoy), a young Irishman working as a lawyer. Despite the genuine feelings they have for each other, a relationship seems out of the question; not only is Tom financially dependent on his uncle (Ian Richardson), he's also free spirited and reckless, spending time in rowdy gambling halls and competing in amateur boxing matches. Here's a character that effectively personifies romantic clichés: he's handsome, funny, and undesirable by society's standards. Quite simply, he's not good enough for Jane. Yet the two fall in love, much to everyone's disappointment.As I've already said, this material is very much like that of a Jane Austen novel. Consider the fact that Jane initially finds Tom unpleasant--not at all unlike the relationship between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy in "Pride and Prejudice." But that was probably the point; we periodically see Jane writing on large pieces of paper, and the voiceover narrations make it obvious that her stories are stemming from her life experiences. She's writing what she knows, like most writers do. Watching her engaged in a writing project was oddly satisfying, not only because she was accomplishing something meaningful, but also because her written words were beautiful to look at. These scenes rely heavily on close ups, each one focused on ink flowing from pen to paper; her handwriting is neat and tidy, yet personal and unique. It's almost as if the words are a natural extension of her imagination.But in early nineteenth-century England, imagination did not equal financial security, especially for a woman. As the youngest daughter of a poor family, Jane is expected to marry rich Mr. Wisley, despite her attachment to Tom, despite her passion for writing (which, according to Lady Gresham, is something to be "done about"). This matrimonial tug of war strains the relationship between Jane and Tom, especially as she learns more about his family. She eventually begins to question their love; will it be enough to carry them through life? The further the film progresses, the more obvious the answer becomes. It's this answer that most likely influenced the endings to her novels, in which the characters ended up happily together. We all know that life doesn't always work like this. Likewise, we all know that happy endings are more satisfying to read.Jane Austen understood this, which I think made the reality of her situation all the more difficult to accept, for both her and the audience. For me, this made the film much more enjoyable. While I can't say how historically accurate "Becoming Jane" is, I can say that, as a film in and of itself, it's a superb effort. The performances were believable. The chemistry between Hathaway and McAvoy is strong. The dialogue was an appropriate mixture of the humorous and the dramatic. Everything came together smoothly, allowing for a film that knows how to connect with its audience. How fitting that it was about Jane Austen, whose novels have connected with readers for over one hundred years.