Beautiful, clever, and rich Emma Woodhouse is convinced she is good at matchmaking after her older sister and her governess both marry suitable husbands. No matter that as Mr Knightley drily observes, in reality, she had nothing to do with these relationships. Yet Emma, certain of her talents, plays a dangerous game as she persuades her new friend, the young, pretty and socially inferior Harriet to reject an advantageous marriage proposal to a local farmer in favour of dashing Mr Elton. So begins a story which challenges Emma’s naivety, her social preconceptions and her relationship with Knightley. Fresh and funny, this perceptive adaptation, featuring a stellar cast, brings Jane Austen’s comic masterpiece to life.Although Jane Austen’s Emma has been adapted for the screen many times before, including for an American version starring Gwyneth Paltrow, this four-part miniseries is the version to begin with. The story of Miss Woodhouse, a matchmaker and meddler whose wit and misdirection need to be carefully acted to match the novel’s complex character, is perfectly expressed through Romola Garai’s portrayal. Throughout the retelling of this comedic romantic drama, Garai not only conveys Emma’s strong-willed sensibility but also manages to update Emma for modern audiences without relinquishing the traditional manners and tastes that Austen fans love in her 1815 historical tale. Each episode, here, opens with a seasonal shot of Hartfield, the estate Emma rules while caring for her loyal and kind but protective father (Michael Gambon). Having lost her mother early, Emma feels a bond with two other unfortunate children in Highbury, Frank Churchill (Rupert Evans) and Jane Fairfax (Laura Pyper), whom Emma befriends as they return home from boarding schools abroad.
The dramas that ensue revolve around Emma’s attempts to pair lovers, with varied degrees of success. Episode One establishes Emma’s curious desire to marry everyone off except herself. John Knightley (Johnny Lee Miller), Emma’s childhood friend, is constantly by her side, coaching, supporting, and chiding her as she matures into an intelligent, regal young lady. Miller’s ability to portray Knightley as the respectable, patient man he is throughout the series also lends this Emma incredible strength. In Episode Two, after Emma’s beloved governess, Anne Taylor (Jodhi May), moves out to marry, Emma bonds with new girlfriend Harriet Smith (Louise Dylan), and from here we begin to see some of Emma’s plans backfiring. Part of this series’ genius is in how it manages, in keeping with Austen’s book, to express deeper love developing between Emma and her true mate while Highbury’s daily gossip continues. Though in Episodes Three and Four one weathers some minor emotional upheaval with aging parents, losses of wealth, and illnesses, this story is not tragic and most side plots point toward Emma’s final love realization, which does not arrive until the last 20 minutes of the last episode. Settings and costumes enhance the story greatly, and views of the village farmers’ market contrast with lavish balls and dinner parties hosted by the Woodhouse family and others to underscore Austen’s original emphasis on capturing the preoccupations of upper-class British society in her day. Some scenes, as in Episode One when Knightley and Emma squabble for much too long over whom Harriet should marry, drag on, allowing one to marvel at how much free time these people had to worry about other business besides their own. Still, the romance in Emma is quite powerful and humor throughout makes this series ultimately enchanting. –Trinie Dalton
January 3, 2006
#1
In the most recent TV adaptations of various Jane Austen, Thomas Hardy, and Bronte novels, a trend seems to have developed, that of poor casting. For example, the otherwise excellent 2006 BBC version of JANE EYRE was marred – if not ruined – by the casting of an actress who is endowed with extremely distracting, John Merrick (AKA the “Elephant Man”)-like lips in the titular role; the 2009 ITV adaptation of WUTHERING HEIGHTS featured a Heathcliff who has a cartoonishly small mouth and lips that are far too full for a man of his complexion (also, the Catherine Earnshaw character was portrayed by an actress with a very masculine jawline); the lead actress in the 2008 version of TESS OF THE D’URBERVILLES has a long lower face, lips that are far too thick for someone of her pigmentation, and a voice so shrill that it can puncture eardrums; and the 2007 ITV remake of MANSFIELD PARK starred Billie Piper, who has also has freakishly full lips for someone that fair-skinned and a mouth that is cartoonishly large and spaced unusually far from her nose (compared to the length of her chin) (NOTE: these comments aren’t meant to imply that I expect or desire indisputably good-looking actors to get all of the leading roles, BUT there is a BIG difference between a “normal-looking” face [be it beautiful, plain, or whatever] and a funny-looking one, which tends, as I alluded to above, to distract the viewer from the story and the performances – things were already bad enough having to put up with stick-figured Hollywood actresses and rail-thin runway models who have masculine facial features, such as wide, square jawlines, but this is too much; no wonder so many people have eating disorders or are addicted to plastic surgury).
And, even when producers and casting directors don’t select lead actors who possess freaky-looking facial features, they still somehow botch it by casting actors who simply do not fit their roles in regard to appearance, as was illustrated by the actors chosen to play the lead parts in the 2007 ITV adaptation of PERSUASION (Anne Eliot is supposed to be a woman who was pretty in her youth, but is now well past her bloom yet the actress who portrays her doesn’t look like she’s EVER been pretty and Captain Wentworth is played by a “pretty boy” whose face definitely doesn’t look like it’s been weathered by years spent at sea).
Such is the problem with the recent remake of Jane Austen’s EMMA: the actress in the title role is, once again, sporting lips that are far too full for a woman with such fair skin (geez, no wonder collagen-related procedures are all the rage among consumers of popular culture) and has an absolutely crazed look in her eyes whenever she’s animated (she also appears to be more than a few years too old for the role) while this version of Knightly comes across as a priggish, boyish wimp, which is definitely not what Austen had in mind (not to mention the fact that this George Knightly definitely doesn’t look 16 years older than this Emma, which is supposed to be the case). Indeed, the casting of this film is very poor across the board (even Michael Gambon, whom I’ve enjoyed in several other movies, seems out of place here – and why exactly is someone as hypochondriacal as Mr. Woodhouse going for a walk outdoors?). There are, of course, many other problems with this EMMA (the re-working of Austen’s dialogue, the actors’ out-of-place mannerisms, etc), most of which have been noted by my fellow reviewers, so I won’t/didn’t bother going into them.
Fortunately, poeple who would like to see EMMA on DVD can always purchase the 1996 ITV version, which though abbreviated, is more or less true to the book AND is very well cast and acted, starting with Kate Beckinsale as Emma and Mark Strong as Knightly. And, not only is it a much better adaptation than the latest one, but it’s also sold here at Amazon for a lot less. Buy it.
January 3, 2006
#2
Hello fellow Austenites! This is a review of the reviews of the new Emma with Romola Garai, which I just ordered. I loved the reviews and I can’t wait to watch it myself. I now all the actors from previous works and the casting was brilliantly done, to say the least. There is one comment about Gwyneth Paltrow’s “fake British accent” which does not ring true. Gwyneth Paltrow’s British accent is not fake in any shape or form. Gwyneth was raised by her mother,Blythe Danner,an excellent British actor in her own right. Gwyneth’s British accent is flawless, to say the least. You will read more from me after I watch the new Emma!
January 3, 2006
#3
Romala Garai as Emma Woodhouse bugs her eyes out no less than several dozen times in four hours; you may depend upon it.
This version contains a plenitude of eye rolling, eye bugging, smirking, shrieking, giggling, slouching, and slang.
It also contains no subtlety, whatsoever. It spells out every implication of every plot and character shift out loud, in bland, modern English, as if the best they expect from the audience is for them to keep the drool wiped off their chins.
It lacks Jane Austen’s dialogue (nearly 75% of the script is new or altered), wit, and charm.
Mr. Knightly, Miss Bates, Mr. Woodhouse, and Harriet were all fine enough.
Jane Fairfax and Mrs. Weston were insipid dopes with two expressions a piece in their pockets.
Frank Churchill is so wretched that when this Emma hoots and delights, preening like a glittery peacock at his flattery, it is clear she is a woman who could never be worthy of Mr. Knightly. It is the first Emma where I actually hoped against all odds that he might end up with Harriet.
Badly done, indeed.
January 3, 2006
#4
Sorry, Ms. Garai, this is almost a complete waste of time . . . Kate Beckinsale and Gwyneth Paltrow have said all that needs to be said. This version interprets the heck out of this thing, and adds a lot of dialogue to clarify their interpretation while cutting much of Austen’s (superior) dialogue . Harriet’s voice is grating, although they do develop her character more than some of the other versions. Emma constantly echoes Gwyneth Paltrow’s portrayal–not surprisingly. I do like some of the points they make and some of the contrasts they draw: Emma’s childhood fate, Miss Bates’ poverty. All in all, though, not worth it. I would highly recommend either of the ’97 versions over this.
January 3, 2006
#5
I loved this movie!! Jane Austen is a favorite of mine. I would definitely have to say this is now my favorite Emma. I love the whole thing. I thought it did a great job following the book. There was a lot of detail and I loved the scenes. I thought all of the actors did a great job, they fit their roles! I just loved this movie. I have already watched it Twice and I have only had it about a week. I had seen the BBC version of Emma with Kate Beckinsale, I was not thrilled with that one, I thought the picture seemed dark like they never had enought lights for the scenes and the actors just didn’t fit their characters. (I mean Emma is suppose to be a blonde!!) Now the 1996 Emma with Gwyeth Paltrow I thought was just amazing. I have to say I think the 1996 version has my favorite Mr Knightly. He was just awesome. All in all this movie is great.
WATCH this movie if you just want a funny romantic movie because it will NOT disappoint!! The first time I watched an older version of Emma I had never read any of Jane Austen’s book, my friend started making me watch the movies and I just fell in love with the stories. Now I have read the books and watched many adaptations of the movies. Period films are just great!!!