Pride & Prejudice

Emma, Sense and Sensibility, Pride & Prejudice. I've never been a Jane Austen fan, and as an adult in fact, I've never seen any of the TV or film adaptations (save for the P&P Bollywood musical last year) of any of her novels, but I might start now. They are showing the 1995/1996 miniseries tomorrow on TV, so I'm starting there, because I hear that Colin Firth is excellent there, and that the adaptation is the best ever made so far, reason why some people are rejecting the new Pride & Prejudice, directed by Joe Wright and adapted by Deborah Moggach. I'm happy though, because with no comparison possible, I fell in love with it, and I don't think that watching any other adaptation will change that.

The story I've known since forever of course, poor, strong and smart girl hates the rich tough boy to then fall in love at the end against the family and society's rules and traditions. But it's a lot more than that.
Keira Knightley stars as Elizabeth Bennet, the second in age of the Bennet sisters, who are five in total. Rosamund Pike plays Jane, the most beautiful and eldest sister, who is first in line to be married according to tradition. Jenna Malone is Lydia and Carey Mulligan is Kitty, the playful sisters who want love and be married even though they are too young. Talulah Riley is Mary, the youngest of the bunch, and the only one who doesn't care for marriage yet. She's kind of like the Goth girl if that existed back in the 18th century when the novel and movie take place. I know I mentioned marriage there a lot, and it's because that's what this is all about. The girls' mother and matriarch of the family, played by Brenda Blethyn, takes it as her job to get them wed to wealthy men. The first opportunity arises when young Mr. Bingley (played by Simon Woods) comes to town and moves next to the Bennet's house. Mrs. Bennet arranges for her daughters to meet Mr. Bingley at the dance, and puts Jane right in front of him, and even though their meeting is staged, they immediately fall truly in love. Elizabeth is next, and Mr. Bingley's best friend is Mr. Darcy who is played by Matthew MacFadyen (this is the character that Firth played in the miniseries). He is cold, rich and doesn't say good things about her after they first meet. She's very opinionated and dislikes the rich. But they fall in love too, even though they don't know it yet. Elizabeth will later have another love interest in Mr. Wickham (played by Rupert Friend), an officer who used to be Darcy's best friend in their childhood. She will also get a proposition to get married from Mr. Collins (Tom Hollander), an older man with some money her mother wants her to marry since Jane is already taken. He also talks a lot, and is a man of the clergy. Elizabeth declines with the help of her father (played by Donald Sutherland) after her mother goes crazy about it. Mr. Collins will then marry Elizabeth's best friend Betsy (Sinead Matthews). And Lydia will also get married, and Dame Judy Dench will appear in a villainy role before we get to the inevitable but well deserved and satisfactory conclusion of Elizabeth and Darcy's union.

I have to apologize to Mrs. Knightley first of all, I'm never been a fan, and I've even said before that I really don't like her. I've never said that about her performances though, she's always good to great. I've said that because I didn't think she was beautiful (of course, who am I to complain that about her), I'd never fell in love with her on screen, but that changed today. She was the most beautiful creature of the planet, and her performance is excellent. She smiled and I smiled, she was glowing, vibrant and radiating an amazing energy. Her Lizzy is also smart and funny. I loved everything about her. This is truly an Award worthy, perfect performance. The supporting actors are great too, with Brenda Blethyn and Donald Sutherland giving very strong performances. Rosamund Pike is also a highlight and makes me forget that she was in Doom and didn't get naked there, or here. Nobody does here (not that is needed).

The movie is also technically perfect. Gorgeous cinematography from Roman Osin, who gives a great look to the foggy English countryside. The costumes, makeup, sets and decorations, everything is great. The entire art department and production team have made a perfect job here. I love period pieces, so getting into the movie was not a problem to me as it is for some people. I hope everybody can get past that and give Pride & Prejudice a chance. Excellent work like this, with these amazing performances deserve to be watched and must not be neglected, and the movie is really one of the best of the year.