Pride and Prejudice (2005)

[Willets Point]

Yet another Jane Austen novel brought to the screen, but one of the best I've seen and I think faithful to the time and the book (I think - Full Disclosure: Despite being an English major I've never read a Jane Austen novel in its entirety). Kiera Knightly and her big brown eyes star as Lizzie Bennet one of five Bennet sisters whose hyperactive mother is desperately trying to marry them off and move them up in gentile society. Knightly puts in a good performance as the young woman ahead of her time in that she actually realizes how ridiculous these societal expectations for women are. The director/cinematographer likes moving the camera about for long uncut scenes moving among people and rooms and picking up snatches of conversation which works to good effect. Everything's in soft-focus and lit by sunset making it a beautiful film, almost too beautiful in that it undercuts the satire of what could actually be a harsh society. Still, not everything's too nice - clothing is frayed, there's dust on the floor, and that wall needs painting making everything more lived-in instead of museum-quality. Except for a cheesy coda at the very end this movie avoids Hollywoodization. It's also very funny and well acted.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

There have been so many prior versions of Pride and Prejudice, as well as spin-offs of the story (Bridget Jones' Diary, Bride and Prejudice, the book Jane Austen in Boca, etc.) that I just can't bring myself to see this version. Enough is enough!

[Willets Point]

I should add that Donald Sutherland puts in a great performance as the befuddled Mr. Bennett. I can't remember ever seeing him in a costume drama before.

[Willets Point]

Here's a list of adaptations from wikipedia:
Film and television adaptations

Pride and Prejudice has been the subject of many film and television adaptations [1].

* 1940: Pride and Prejudice starring Laurence Olivier in the role of Darcy, and Greer Garson as Elizabeth.
* 1952: Feb 2nd to March 8th. The BBC broadcast a five-episode mini-series live. This starred Ann Baskett and Peter Cushing as Mr. Darcy.
* 1980: Pride and Prejudice, television series starring Elizabeth Garvie as Elizabeth and David Rintoul as Darcy, adapted by Fay Weldon.
* 1995: Pride and Prejudice, television series starring Colin Firth as Darcy and Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth, adapted by Andrew Davies. This version is usually considered the definitive adaptation of the novel.
* 2001: Bridget Jones's Diary, starring Renée Zellweger and Colin Firth as [Mark] Darcy.
* 2003: Pride and Prejudice: A Latter-day Comedy.
* 2004: Bride and Prejudice, the Bollywood version, directed by Gurinder Chadha and starring Anupam Kher, Aishwarya Rai, and Naveen Andrews.
* 2005: Pride and Prejudice, starring Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen.

There were three additional BBC television productions of Pride and Prejudice made in 1938, 1958, and 1967

[Guest Edgy DC]

I can't remember ever seeing him in a costume drama before.

Well, for costume comedy, see Start the Revolution Without Met.

NoW!!!!

[Willets Point]

Which Met is not participating in the revolution?

[Guest Edgy DC]

Darrell Sutherland stars under his stage name Donald.