PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (2005)
STARRING: KEIRA KNIGHTLY, MATTHEW MACFAYDEN, JUDY DENCH
DIRECTED BY: JOE WRIGHT

Sometimes I see a movie and am not all that moved. Sometimes it just kind of lays there, pleasant but largely forgettable. I don't know if I was just in a 'mood' the first time I saw this adaptation of the Jane Austen novel or not, but now I think I must have been daft. Now, it makes me warm all over and goes down in my book as one of the most unabashedly romantic movies in years.

For Jane Austen fans, who like to see a faithful and detailed accounting of her work , the BBC Mini-Series starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle may be a more satisfying film. However the romantic girly side of me just loves this one. Keira Knightly was a great choice for Elizabeth, though I'll admit I thought at first she would be too pretty for the role. Jane was supposed to be the pretty one, after all, and Elizabeth was the witty, personable sibling. However, Rosamund Pike-as Jane- was a clever casting choice because she's just beautiful enough to stand out beside Knightly and the wardrobe and lighting lend her an ethereal glow throughout the film so that we are never astonished that she would naturally be the showier of the two. Matthew Macfayden was a handsome, sufficiently brooding pick for Darcy. He isnt given a whole lot to say but he does so with feeling and comes off as a quiet intellect-as we know him to be. The chemistry between Knightly and Macfayden works excellently as well-a good thing since without it, the film would fail miserably. Dench also turns in a small but impressive performance as the powerful Lady Catherine DeBourg. Another surprising casting choice was Donald Sutherland as Mr. Bennet but I was very much amused by his patriarchal demeanor and English accent. And of course, Brenda Blethyn was a perfect choice for the neurotic, flighty Mrs Bennett.

For the romantic movie-goer, there is plenty to offer. Lots of lovers walking in and out of misty landscapes, gorgeous vistas bathed in golden sunsets, a lovely piano score that stays with you, and even one quiet intake of breath that lends itself to a key scene. The direction truly mesmerizes as Wright attempts to put the viewer into the story instead of just telling it. The cinematography, muted colors, and intimate camerawork all provide a truly satisfying film experience-one that becomes increasingly harder to overlook with each viewing.

Last night, after catching it on tv for the 4th time, I've decided that it's pretty silly of me not to have bought it yet. The lead characters have always reminded me of my husband and I-such different personalities but somehow such perfect compliments of each other. No wonder it makes me sigh.

My Rating: 9/10