Product: Becoming Jane [Blu-ray] (2007)
Rating: 4.0
Becoming Jane
Beautiful performances by a highly talented cast. Anne Hathaway renders a loving, intelligent and vibrant portrayal of Jane Austen as a young woman. The story invokes scenes from Austen's novels but avoids the trap of drawing the whole story from them. Jane's parents and sister Cassandra are admirably drawn characters, as is her somber suitor, Mr. Wisley (sp?), who appreciates Jane's true worth and settles for her friendship when he can not gain her heart and hand. Tom LeFroy is not an appealing enough character as written to account for Jane's infatuation - but such is often the case in real life, and James McAvoy gets the most out of the part.The pacing seems a bit off at times, and some of the characterizations are a bit flat, but overall, it is well worth adding to any collection of Jane Austen novels and movies.