Well done, Emma!
I just felt like watching this movie a few days ago...so I decided to write a review.
It is always difficult to translate literature into film. But this lavish production, starring Gwenyth Paltrow as Emma, manages to do it justice. It's true that Jane Austen's novel is somewhat truncated (the Frank/Jane subplot is more complicated in the book), but it is not dumbed down, either.
The story is the same. Emma, having successfully married off her former governess (Greta Scaachi), sets her sights on bettering the prospects of her friend Harriet (Toni Collette). Harriet loves a sweet farmer, Mr. Martin (Edward Woodall), but Emma decides that he is not good enough for her. She tries to get the snobby Rev. Elton (Alan Cumming) interested in Harriet, but he loves Emma instead. Througout the story, Emma's friend and brother-in-law, Mr. Knightley (Jeremy Northam) gives her advice, which she ignores. Paltrow's Emma is just as she is in the novel- stubborn and a bit snobbish and selfish, but of course she grows up and everyone ends up with the person they should.
The story is the same. Emma, having successfully married off her former governess (Greta Scaachi), sets her sights on bettering the prospects of her friend Harriet (Toni Collette). Harriet loves a sweet farmer, Mr. Martin (Edward Woodall), but Emma decides that he is not good enough for her. She tries to get the snobby Rev. Elton (Alan Cumming) interested in Harriet, but he loves Emma instead. Througout the story, Emma's friend and brother-in-law, Mr. Knightley (Jeremy Northam) gives her advice, which she ignores. Paltrow's Emma is just as she is in the novel- stubborn and a bit snobbish and selfish, but of course she grows up and everyone ends up with the person they should.
The film was pretty to look at. The costumes were perfect. Rachel Portman's Oscar-winning score was lovely, and I enjoyed hearing music of the period used as well.
I was slightly disappointed in the story of Frank (Ewan McGregor) and Jane (Polly Walker). Frank was much sneakier in the novel, and McGregor does not play it well. However, the other characters were well cast- especially the nasty Mrs. Elton (Juliet Stevenson), and the chatty Miss Bates (Sophie Thompson, sister of Emma Thompson).
I loved the opening sequence, with Emma's painted globe representing her little world. Mr. Knightley's proposal to Emma was one of the sweetest, most romantic scenes I've ever seen. I wish there had been a little more about Harriet's final happiness, but the movie is called Emma, after all.
I recently re-read the novel. It's one of my favorites, and I love this adaptation. It's hard to turn a long novel into a two hour movie.Things were left out. But I loved it anyway.
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