Well Deserved Praise

Really Surprised!

A Brilliant Conflict

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

I am marking this only with a 6, mainly because of 2 things: a) The plainness of the leading actress's appearance that I know it was the director's decision. You are going to tell me that the leading man was not exactly Prince Charming... Correct! However, it was very bothering watching for two hours a supposed 26 year old young woman appearing and behaving like she is 46!!! OK, at the start of the film she was on the edge of becoming a spinster... However, near the end of the film she was more appreciated and confident and she also had two suitors literary running after her... Not even THEN could the director let the poor actress put on some make up, wear something else than those old curtains and do something with that bloody hair of hers?b) Why the director wanted every character that he wanted us to dislike TALK WITH THEIR MOUTHS FULL? Anne's sister Elizabeth, her father, Ms Pain, Mary, Louisa, ALL of them are at some stage doing that. However, is was not them that I wanted to slap, but the director - that believed that having people behaving like this he would have a worthy Jane Austen novel adaptation... What's next man? Directing a Shakespeare play adaptation, where the villains defecate in frond of us? Having said all that, the performances and the overall production were OK. The story could had been told with more lively pace (=less boring), though... and Anne could had been portrayed less than a cold "Plain Jane" girl... The only time we see her laugh is when she visits that widow, and to be honest I am not very well convinced that her heart was in it :)If you ignore all these, it is actually a watchable film :))

I really enjoy period movies; I really enjoy Jane Austen stories. It's hard for me to dislike anything that falls in these categories. I would not say that I did not enjoy this movie; Ciaran Hinds is wonderful, the Crofts are immensely lovable, I was amused by Sophie Thompson as the self-centered Mary Musgrove, I even liked to dislike Sir Elliott. But Amanda Root as Anne Elliott sometimes gets on my nerves, with her "poor me" expressions and her sad puppy eyes. It was too much; Jane Austen heroes - and heroines - are all about hiding true emotions in public in order to appear as composed as possible at any time. I had a really hard time to believe people would not have seen through Anne's displays of emotion. However, I must say that as I've watched the movie several times, I notice it less, and it doesn't get on my nerves as much anymore. But I have to say it's the one thing that stuck out for me on first viewing, and I found it very distracting, and hard to identify with her because of that.

I watched this adaptation only yesterday and watched it again today. I simply fell in love with it. It is not as lively or modern as the version from 2007 which is why I like it so much. I love the pace of the story and how every frame is carefully planned. The director and producers have taken the time to really tell the story with beauty and respect. We have the time to really get to know the characters.The problem with the newer adaptations of Jane Austens works is that they almost force the story and characters upon us in the most obvious ways. There is no authenticity and natural flow. In this film we get to know Anne very well even though she is silent and drawn back throughout most of the film. That is great acting and great storytelling. What is really important to understand is that you cannot always compare the adaptations to the original source as they are two completely different forms of art but as long as the film or TV series is true to the characters and spirit of the book it usually turns out very well. Reading other reviews I am amazed that some people comment on the characters looks and appearances, saying they are not pretty enough. I think that Amanda Root does an amazing job portraying Anne. She has an inner glow and intelligence, that has died and he has lost her bloom, but it slowly comes back as the story progresses. It has nothing to do with looks and looks aren't that important. Of course the film has it's flaws. It's doesn't stay true to all the characters and the two leading actors might be a little to old but I am willing to overlook that because of their wonderful performances. Avoid the 2007 version. This is the one to watch.This is without a doubt one of the best Jane Austen adaptations out there alongside Pride & Prejudice from 1995.

Ann (Amanda Root) is the daughter of a spendthrift aristocrat (Corin Redgrave). When funds run low, the family is forced to vacate their stately mansion, rent the house to a retired Navy admiral, and move to smaller quarters in Bath. Ann's sister and father run off blithely, leaving Ann to tie up the loose ends of the arrangement. A kind and wealthy neighbor lady offers help but Ann, who once followed the lady's advice in rejecting a worthy man's proposal, confides to the neighbor that she should have accepted the offer. Nevertheless, Ann is impressed by the new tenants of their house and is startled to learn that the admiral's wife is the sister of the man Ann rejected long ago. As Ann trots off to visit another sister (Sophie Thompson) and her two young boys, she runs into her former admirer, Captain Wentworth. Only now, their situations are reversed, for the Captain has gained wealth and reputation while Ann's monetary funding is in decline. And, he ignores Ann for the most part and concentrates his attentions on the pretty younger sisters of Ann's brother in law. Ann, however, soon realizes she still loves him. What's a poor girl to do? This is a very fine movie, lovely to look at and featuring great performances, too. Thompson is an absolute stitch while the the other cast members, including Redgrave and Fiona Shaw, are first rate. Root is a conundrum, giving a very nice, quietly thoughtful performance but she does not have the dazzling appearance of most leading ladies. Perhaps, that is what Austen would have wanted. Costumes and scenery are of the put-your-eye-out variety. The main problem of the film is that it assumes too much, that the viewer is familiar with the book. Instead, the movie watcher is thrown into the Georgian world, without sufficient explanations of what is occurring or why. Most other adaptations of a well-loved book will, subtly, inform the viewer of the reasons behind the action, but not this one. Therefore, one may have to view the film a second time or sit down and read the wonderful book to feel the full impact of the movie's story. But, then again, nevermind. This is a lovely, classy film with an amazing set of characters and situations. Do not let anyone, even this reviewer, persuade you from getting this film tonight. It is totally worthy of much praise.