Product: Becoming Jane [Blu-ray] (2007)
Rating: 5.0
An Exceptional James McAvoy!
The last memorable James McAvoy performance I recall is from The Last King Of Scotland, where he admirably held his own with Oscar winner Forest Whitaker, and turned in a poignant, accomplished delivery.While I wasn't really impressed with Atonement despite all its accolades, I am completely blown away by Becoming Jane, solely because McAvoy is absolutely amazing in this film.Watching it for the first time may not yield any treasures -- for me, it took a 2nd viewing to help me appreciate the movie a lot more -- but I strongly advise you to be patient, and to pay attention to any scene that McAvoy appears in.There're many to choose from, but 3 in particular stand out.At the 55th minute, his character, Tom LeFroy, surprises Jane Austen ( the luminous Anne Hathaway ) at a ball, flashing her a warm yet mischievous smile. The pivotal moment lasts only a couple of seconds, but it's extremely electrifying. ( Makes me wonder whether Hathaway's shy and flustered response was real rather than just acting. )In the last quarter, as LeFroy and Austen sit in a tavern discussing their options for the future, with a disastrous outcome, McAvoy beautifully conveys his character's torment and anguish with masterful aplomb.My favourite bit, however, occurs early in the film -- at the 35th minute, where Austen encounters LeFroy in a library and they engage in some witty repartee. The scene lasts only 3 minutes, but is perfect in its execution. The chemistry between the actors is breath-taking, and McAvoy is rakishly gorgeous. The way he locks Hathaway with his intense, blue-eyed stare is guaranteed to make any woman squirm ( though in a good way :)).I'm a huge fan of the recent Pride & Prejudice remake, but found myself loving this so much more, solely because of McAvoy's astounding performance. His acting chops and charisma more than make up for his diminutive stature.Little wonder then, that this has made him one of my all-time favourite actors, and perhaps my top favourite young actor, period.With the recent rise of similar youthful British thespians in high-profile movies ( Keira Knightley is another star to watch ), I look forward to many more updated versions of literature classics, preferably starring McAvoy as often as possible. :)Apologies for rambling on and on about James. But he really is the best reason to watch this movie, and definitely the only reason one should even consider buying the DVD.