Emma. (B or 3/4 stars)
'Emma.' (directed by Autumn de Wilde) is based on Jane Austen's classic 19th c. British novel & stars Anya Taylor-Joy (of The VVitch, Split) as aristocratic 20 yr. old Emma Woodhouse, who meddled & match-made the union of her beloved governess, Miss Taylor (Gemma Whelan), to widower Mr. Weston (Rupert Graves). Now bored, Emma looks towards her next matchmaker project. Living with her humorously anxious, widowed father (Bill Nighy), Emma befriends Harriet Smith (Mia Goth, of Suspiria), a young woman of unknown parentage who attends the village's boarding school for underprivileged girls. Emma views Harriet as a protege & is determined to pair her with town's young vicar Mr. Elton (Josh O'Connor, very funny).
To that, Emma convinces Harriet not to accept a marriage proposal from handsome, but 'lowly' tenant farmer, Robert Martin (Connor Swindells). Emma's dashing neighbor/critical friend Mr. George Knightley (Johnny Flynn) advises her against meddling, and he is also against Emma making goo-goo eyes at Mr. Weston's enigmatic, but handsome son, Frank Churchill (Callum Turner), who is set to inherit a mansion. But despite flirty bickering with Mr. Knightley over this, Emma is gonna do what she wants to do. All the while, other fanciful people arrive in Highbury, including Jane Fairfax (Amber Anderson), the accomplished orphan niece of chatterbox town spinster Miss Bates (Miranda Hart), bringing additional comedy & drama to Emma's social circle. Labyrinthine love triangles/entanglements, magnificent balls, social faux pas, marriage proposals, betrayals & whimsical weddings ensue.
I enjoyed 1996's Emma, starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Toni Collette, Jeremy Northam, Alan Cumming, Sophie Thompson, James Cosmo, Greta Scacchi, Juliet Stevenson, Kathleen Byron, Phyllida Law, et al -- what a cast! But I might just prefer this 2020 version a touch more. Both are little more than light, effervescent period costume dramedies. But as cinematic Jane Austen adaptations go, this might be the best one. Director Autumn de Wilde & screenwriter Eleanor Catton have infused 'Emma.' with wit, heart, humor, & a fresh sheen on the relationships in the story.
Anya Taylor-Joy's wide eyes, expressive face & spot-on period mannerisms turn the well-meaning, but 'in-over-her-head' heroine into a redeemable person who is much more than her superficial match-making suggests. And Johnny Flynn is a great choice for Knightley. He's not your typical tall, dark-haired, strong-jawed romantic hero, but he's suave, passionate, magnanimous & appreciates Emma for who she is; even if she, at times, cannot. The back-&-forth screwball banter btwn. Emma & Mr. Knightley is a joy to watch and, it's fraught with great sexual tension, as well. I mentioned earlier being amused by Josh O'Connor's giddily vapid Vicar, but best of all supporting players is Miranda Hart as the bumbling, hilarious Miss Bates. And yet, she quietly devastates us in a 3rd act picnic scene; where Emma delivers a verbal blow that levels the perpetually joyous Miss Bates into a puddle.
The 19th c. production design is top-notch, transforming England's sprawling countryside into a bustling town with its ornate abbey mansions, farmlands, village shops & more. The costumes are ... absolutely amazing; from Vicar Elton's overblown sleeves to his ostentatious bride's larger-than-life accessories to Harriet's simple-but-beauuutiful dresses and, of course, Emma's fabulously detailed gowns. You'll want to jump through the screen to be a part of this existence - lavish parties, tons of succulent food, luxurious locales, etc. And yet, even stripped of all the fineries of set, costume, hair/make-up, parties, food, etc., as well as 19th c. societal norms ... it is the relationships that are most important in this story. Those familiar with Jane Austen's work will likely appreciate 'Emma.' more than others, but that doesn't take away from the fact that this is a wholly delightful & charming film adaptation.
To that, Emma convinces Harriet not to accept a marriage proposal from handsome, but 'lowly' tenant farmer, Robert Martin (Connor Swindells). Emma's dashing neighbor/critical friend Mr. George Knightley (Johnny Flynn) advises her against meddling, and he is also against Emma making goo-goo eyes at Mr. Weston's enigmatic, but handsome son, Frank Churchill (Callum Turner), who is set to inherit a mansion. But despite flirty bickering with Mr. Knightley over this, Emma is gonna do what she wants to do. All the while, other fanciful people arrive in Highbury, including Jane Fairfax (Amber Anderson), the accomplished orphan niece of chatterbox town spinster Miss Bates (Miranda Hart), bringing additional comedy & drama to Emma's social circle. Labyrinthine love triangles/entanglements, magnificent balls, social faux pas, marriage proposals, betrayals & whimsical weddings ensue.
I enjoyed 1996's Emma, starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Toni Collette, Jeremy Northam, Alan Cumming, Sophie Thompson, James Cosmo, Greta Scacchi, Juliet Stevenson, Kathleen Byron, Phyllida Law, et al -- what a cast! But I might just prefer this 2020 version a touch more. Both are little more than light, effervescent period costume dramedies. But as cinematic Jane Austen adaptations go, this might be the best one. Director Autumn de Wilde & screenwriter Eleanor Catton have infused 'Emma.' with wit, heart, humor, & a fresh sheen on the relationships in the story.
Anya Taylor-Joy's wide eyes, expressive face & spot-on period mannerisms turn the well-meaning, but 'in-over-her-head' heroine into a redeemable person who is much more than her superficial match-making suggests. And Johnny Flynn is a great choice for Knightley. He's not your typical tall, dark-haired, strong-jawed romantic hero, but he's suave, passionate, magnanimous & appreciates Emma for who she is; even if she, at times, cannot. The back-&-forth screwball banter btwn. Emma & Mr. Knightley is a joy to watch and, it's fraught with great sexual tension, as well. I mentioned earlier being amused by Josh O'Connor's giddily vapid Vicar, but best of all supporting players is Miranda Hart as the bumbling, hilarious Miss Bates. And yet, she quietly devastates us in a 3rd act picnic scene; where Emma delivers a verbal blow that levels the perpetually joyous Miss Bates into a puddle.
The 19th c. production design is top-notch, transforming England's sprawling countryside into a bustling town with its ornate abbey mansions, farmlands, village shops & more. The costumes are ... absolutely amazing; from Vicar Elton's overblown sleeves to his ostentatious bride's larger-than-life accessories to Harriet's simple-but-beauuutiful dresses and, of course, Emma's fabulously detailed gowns. You'll want to jump through the screen to be a part of this existence - lavish parties, tons of succulent food, luxurious locales, etc. And yet, even stripped of all the fineries of set, costume, hair/make-up, parties, food, etc., as well as 19th c. societal norms ... it is the relationships that are most important in this story. Those familiar with Jane Austen's work will likely appreciate 'Emma.' more than others, but that doesn't take away from the fact that this is a wholly delightful & charming film adaptation.