Susan Granger’s review of “Pride & Prejudice” (Focus Features Release)
You may groan at another adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic novel but, actually, this is only the second movie version, the first dating back to 1940 with Laurence Olivier and Greer Garson. In class-conscious England in the late 18th century, Mrs. Bennet (Brenda Blethlyn) is determined to acquire rich, socially proper husbands for her five daughters: Jane (Rosamund Pike), Elizabeth (Keira Knightley), Lydia (Jena Malone), Mary (Talulah Riley) and Kitty (Carey Mulligan), much to the bemusement of her husband (Donald Sutherland). So when a wealthy bachelor, Mr. Bingley (Simon Woods), moves nearby and takes a fancy to beautiful Jane, his snobbish friend, Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen), seems like a match for feisty Elizabeth but he’s not impressed by her. Sparks fly – and soon a crisis of misunderstanding is precipitated by a thoroughly repugnant suitor (Tom Hollander) and Darcy’s wealthy, imperious aunt (Judi Dench).
Screenwriter Deborah Moggach has diluted Austen’s caustic social commentary into turgid melodrama, while director Joe Wright concentrates on the stunning costumes, sets and scenery, sumptuously photographed by Roman Osin. While Keira Knightley has a sly, coltish charm, stodgy, sullen Matthew Macfadyen stomps around; he’s supposed to be socially awkward but he’s also quite lacking in appeal – as is that scene involving a pig’s testicles. Donald Sutherland, Brenda Blethlyn and Judi Dench easily steal scenes from the novices around them. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Pride & Prejudice” is a stilted yet sentimental 6, leaving one feeling more depressed than elated. Instead, rent the 1995 BBC mini-series with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle or, for a bizarre Bollywood twist, Gurinder Chada’s “Bride & Prejudice” (2004).
