Film Review: PRIDE & PREJUDICE (2005): A Gorgeous Jane Austen Adaptation Returns to Theaters for its 20th Anniversary
Pride & Prejudice Review
Pride & Prejudice (2005) Film Review, a movie directed by Joe Wright, written by Deborah Moggach and Emma Thompson and starring Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, Brenda Blethyn, Donald Sutherland, Judi Dench, Talulah Riley, Rosamund Pike, Jena Malone, Carey Mulligan, Claudie Blakley, Sylvester Morand, Simon Woods, Kelly Reilly, Pip Torrens, Sinead Matthews, Roy Holder, Rupert Friend and Tom Hollander.
Filmmaker Joe Wright must be a hopeless romantic. Several years back, he directed the perfectly amazing Peter Dinklage starrer, Cyrano. Now revisiting Wright’s Jane Austen adaptation, Pride and Prejudice, after 20 years, the idea that Wright knows romance like the back of his hand is completely and utterly evident. Though Cyrano is a slightly better film, there are many perfect things about Wright’s Pride & Prejudice that make it worth seeing on the big screen during what is most likely going to be a limited-time run.
Pride & Prejudice was always destined to succeed or fail based on who was cast in the role of Elizabeth Bennet, the central character of the story. Keira Knightley was placed into the sophisticated role, and the idea that another Elizabeth could even exist at the time this film was made would become non-existent. Knightley’s casting led the actress to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Actress from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Who was cast as Elizabeth was key, but if Darcy wasn’t played so superbly by Matthew Macfadyen, there would be a lot less beauty in the film despite its gorgeous cinematography. You can tell the chemistry between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy is genuinely there because of the performances which walk a careful tightrope between being overly cutesy and genuine. Knightley adds warmth, depth and precision to the part which results in the best characterization she’s done so far in her career. Macfadyen, aided by the costumes he wears in the film, sizzles alongside Knightley which makes their characters’ romance one of the most beautifully touching love stories ever told.
Everybody knows the story. Elizabeth and Darcy meet, and fight their feelings for one another due to being stubborn, but ultimately through a series of fateful events, they end up together. This film also examines their class differences. Darcy is richer than Elizabeth, but they find in each other the type of real love that drives them to become full of emotions whenever the other one is around. Isn’t that the best kind of love?
There are several Bennet sisters who live with Elizabeth. The main ones are played by Rosamund Pike(Jane), Jena Malone (Lydia) and Carey Mulligan (Kitty), and all the actresses come across perfectly as their characters on-screen. These three female stars would go on to appear in some of the best films of recent times (Gone Girl, Lorelei and Promising Young Woman). Playing the parents are Donald Sutherland and Brenda Blethyn, both of whom steal scenes in Pride & Prejudice. Sutherland, in particular, stands out in the next to last scene in the picture where Elizabeth hopes her father will give approval for her to marry Mr. Darcy. Sutherland wasn’t an actor known for his expressive emotions, but it’s hard not to be moved by the way he interacts with Knightley in this key scene within the picture. Sutherland truly was a master of the craft of acting.
Judi Dench comes on-screen in a couple of key moments as Lady Catherine de Bourg in the film where she all but steals the movie. Her close-up when she tries to convince Elizabeth to stay away from Darcy is some of the best work Dench has ever done. If Dench didn’t get Oscar love for her work in Shakespeare in Love, she may have found her role here earning her the acclaim she got for that other film for this emotional turn in Pride & Prejudice instead.
Potential suitors for the Bennett sisters include Mr. Wickham (Rupert Friend), Mr. Bingley (Simon Woods) and the “ridiculous” Mr. Collins (Tom Hollander in an amazingly annoying performance that fits the film in every way). These characters may take the pressure off Darcy and Elizabeth to confess their feelings for one another right away, but the two lovebirds will profess their love for one another by the time the end credits come up. You better believe it.
With one of the most heartfelt conclusions in modern day love stories, Pride & Prejudice is also noteworthy for its pleasurable dancing scenes, including those at the ball where the characters meet up. As far as the acting is concerned, Knightley’s Oscar nod was no fluke. She is immensely likable, respectable and sophisticated playing Elizabeth and the actress’s work lives up to the way Austen presented her character in the book.
One of the crowd-pleasing moments of this film has Darcy walking in a long shot as he gets closer and closer to Elizabeth. Macfadyen was born to play this role and wear the costumes that were designed for the movie. There’s no denying the heart the actor has brought to playing this part and, although the character hides his emotions for much of the movie, there’s a lot of substance that the actor brings to the role. Viewers will understand the way Darcy hides his true self behind the expectations of the time period the film sets itself in.
Pride & Prejudice is a sheer delight to behold. Wright crafted the definitive version of the source material which will live on for English majors to come and just about anybody who loves genuine emotions which end up leading to blossoming romance that could last forever. Or at least for 2 hours. Either way, this gorgeous movie is amazing to behold in all its beauty and splendor.
Rating: 9/10
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