Pride and Prejudice (2005, Joe Wright)

Happy birthday Joe Wright! To celebrate the occasion, I decided to review one of my favourite films, Mr Wright’s version of Pride and Prejudice. I also happen to be reading the book at the moment, so thought it would be fun to compare the film to the classic work of Jane Austen. Okay, so the film may have been released 7 years ago, but it’s truly fabulous and if you haven’t seen it then I suggest you get up and go see...but not before you’ve read this!

The story of Pride and Prejudice revolves around the heroine Elizabeth Bennet (Keira Knightley) and how she has to overcome her prejudices of the handsome – and conveniently rich – Fitzwilliam Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen). But as well as this, he must cast his snooty pride aside and bring himself to accept Elizabeth and her family, despite their poorer background and “indifferences”. Aside from Lizzie and Mr Darcy, the story focuses on the theme of marriage and the events encountered on the quest to finding a husband. So anyway, here’s what I had to say...

I love the opening of this film. The piano, the sunrise, the countryside setting – it’s lovely to watch and puts you in a good mood for the rest of the film. For all you filmmakers, look out for the variety of camera angles used – there’s a lot to say here about cinematography, so well done to Wright for that. Also, after the camera ‘explores’ the house (where we are introduced to all the Bennet family), no time is wasted – similar to the book, the news of Mr Charles Bingley arriving at Netherfield Park is immediately spoken of, sending the girls into a giggling frenzy. The final establishing shot of Longbourn completes the opening sequence, and not long after, we are thrown straight into a bustling ballroom, in which Mr Darcy, Mr Bingley and his sister Caroline are introduced.

Mr Bingley is one of my favourite characters in the story. With bouncy ginger hair, a tendency to start babbling and many a goofy grin, he is such a loveable character, and the complete opposite of his snobby sister. However, in the book Mr Bingley has another sister, Mrs Hurst, yet she doesn’t exist in the film – I think it may have been more interesting if she was there to see if she acted similarly to Caroline. Another character worth mentioning is the amusing but irritating Mr Collins (played brilliantly by Tom Hollander), the cousin of the Bennet sisters who is to inherit Longbourn when their father dies – this is why it is essential that the girls find husbands, as they must keep a roof over their heads. The Bennet family’s first dinner with Mr Collins when he arrives gives a clear image as to what they think of him – Mrs Bennet (Brenda Blethyn) looks bored out of her life and the girls are moments away from bursting into fits of giggles. Aside from them, his comments sent me into fits of laughter; “what excellent boiled potatoes...many years since I had such an exemplary vegetable.” He is annoying, but a great character to watch on screen.

One of the best parts of the film? There’s a few to choose from, but the scene with Darcy and Elizabeth in the rain, when he declares his love for her, certainly deserves a mention; “I love you! Most ardently.” I think I actually cheered at this moment – it’s a major turning point in the film for several reasons, but I won’t tell you why or the rest of the plot, as that’s for you lot to find out for yourselves. All that’s left for me to say is, go and give Pride and Prejudice a go – it is Joe Wright’s birthday today, after all! It’s a fantastic film and I think Jane Austen herself would be thoroughly pleased with how her novel had been transformed. Oh, and Mr Bennet (Donald Sutherland) has a slightly odd English accent, given that he is actually Canadian, but we’ll forgive him due to his great acting.

Rating: 4 stars – yes, buy the DVD, or challenge yourself even further and read the book!

Georgie