Sense and Sensibility Review
Sense and Sensibility (2026) Film Review, a movie directed by Georgia Oakley, written by Diana Reid and Jane Austen and starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, Esmé Creed-Miles, Caitríona Balfe, Bodhi Rae Breathnach, James Carcaterra, Tom Brooke, Stacy Martin, George MacKay, Herbert Nordrum, Fiona Shaw, Thea Beyleveld, Turlough Convery, Chloe Pirrie, Frank Dillane, Bethany Slater and Eliot Sumner.
Filmmaker Georgia Oakley’s moving Jane Austen adaptation, Sense and Sensibility, features a lot of familiarity and bears a striking resemblance to 2005’s Pride and Prejudice in more than ways than one. Daisy Edgar-Jones and Esmé Creed-Miles portray the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, who represent those two central words showcased in the new film’s title through their respective characterizations. Both actresses excel in their performances, making the viewer want to become invested in the film’s story, even if the pacing of the new film can feel a bit sluggish at times.
Anyone familiar with the story on which this film is based knows the basic structure of the film’s straightforward plot. Those Dashwood sisters end up losing their father and, soon, must adapt to a more modest lifestyle. Marianne is the younger one who has the most passion while Elinor, the older sister, wants to follow her heart, but always finds a way to avoid doing so.
This film’s male lead character, Edward Ferrars, is played by the always reliable George MacKay of The Beast fame. In typical Jane Austen fashion, the two central destined-to-be lovers must stay apart for much of the movie until they eventually figure out that they’re perfect for one another, which is easier said than done. Edward is pretty much on the same wavelength as Elinor. Edward is sophisticated without being rich and he’s caring and sincere without being suffocating. It’s a match made in heaven that may not happen until the very last moments of this movie.
Daisy Edgar-Jones embodies her role with great sensitivity. She’s a remarkable choice to play Elinor, given her character’s sweet nature and pleasant appearance. Edgar-Jones immerses herself in the role, and does a fine job playing off Esmé Creed-Miles. This pair of actresses will light up the viewer’s heart with joy as their characters go through their paces as they try to discover true meaning beyond financial status in their lives. Creed-Miles and Edgar-Jones are both equally strong in their portrayals and it’s hard to pick a favorite.
Caitríona Balfe plays Mrs. Dashwood pretty superbly, too, in just several key scenes of the film. She’s an emotional character, and thinks with her heart above all else. Balfe captures the essence of the mother to perfection, and it’s an accomplished piece of acting in a film full of earnest performances.
Also featured is Bodhi Rae Breathnach as Margaret Dashwood, the younger sister, who is pleasant on-screen and the actress is right on the money in terms of how she portrays the innocence of this character. She doesn’t have a lot of screen time, but makes the most of the moments in the film that she does have, adding some needed charisma to the literary mix.
Fanny Dashwood, played by Stacy Martin, is quite manipulative and insincere and is the one who stands in the way of happiness, romance and prosperity for Elinor. Martin truly has a grasp of the character, and plays it appropriately, providing dramatic tension within the storyline at given moments.
However, the real scene-stealer is the legendary Fiona Shaw as Mrs. Jennings, a widowed older woman who offers much-needed companionship to the Dashwood sisters in their time of despair as they express longing for a better life. Shaw flat-out steals many key moments in the picture as she tries to do what’s best for our struggling Dashwoods. Shaw’s keen sense of humor is on display in large quantities here.
What, exactly, does money buy that makes people so happy, anyway in the time period this story is told during? One female in the movie talks about theater and music and all the wonderful things that money can provide, but it can’t truly buy happiness if one longs for true love. That’s what Sense and Sensibility is all about. It’s mainly about the quest for that one unforgettable romance that will help define our lives. How long must one wait for that love to happen if it does, indeed, exist?
Although this film is certainly on familiar Jane Austen territory, the performances make it feel a lot different than the 1995 version. There’s not a lot of similar imagery in the two movies. Both films rest on the basic premise, which has been lifted from the novel. Though the 1995 version seemed a bit brighter and more distinguished, this new movie is still a compelling take on a tried-and-true story for literary fans. A few slow spots dampen the new film, but it overcomes them with a sweet-natured ending.
This new Sense and Sensibility is a lovely romance for the fall movie season that will have fans of Pride and Prejudice lining up for more of the same. The Keira Knightley Pride and Prejudice is much better, but the stars of the new film from Oakley have a lot to offer viewers. Sense and Sensibility has a lot of heart as a result.
Rating: 7.5/10
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