Movie Review: Sense And Sensibility Essay, Research Paper

Movie Review: Sense and Sensibility

Ang Lee, who directed, and Emma Thompson, who adapted the screenplay, have

done an excellent job of bringing Jane Austen’s Victorian novel, Sense and

Sensibility, to the movie screen. The movie’s collection of actors are a joy to

watch as they bring out the emotions of an otherwise polite and reserved era in

time. The production work is top notch with bright, cascading photography that

sets a romantic “I wish I was there” setting. The purpose of the Sense and

Sensibility is to bring out the romance in all of us and show us that Austen’s

philosophy of love exists today as much as it did two centuries ago.

Sense and Sensibility could rightly be classified as a love story, but

that would just scratch the surface of what this movie has to offer. It is also

a period piece, giving us a chance to visit English society in the nineteenth

century. Director Ang Lee brought us to this historic time with beautifully

constructed sets and sites that drop us right into the country cottage of our

heroines. This natural scenery, with its wide sweeping camerawork warps us back

to a time without the loud annoyances of TV and machinery. By this example Lee

sets the stage for the story to begin..

If there is one thing that keeps this movie constantly going is the work

of the superb actors. The talent of the actors suited the roles they played,

and their mastering of the characters bring personality and feeling to the

screen. The story of the movie bases around two of these such characters who

happen to be undergoing the same feelings of love but in strikingly different

ways. Kate Winslet plays the wild, fatally romantic Marianne who cannot control

her feelings. Opposite her is the experienced Emma Thompson who plays the

reserved, intelligent Eleanor who is far more sensitive than she ever lets on.

These two sisters embark on a romantic adventure that finds them searching for

the right man. The two actors compliment each other with their opposite nature

which balances the story perfectly.

Yet, as wonderful as these two characters are, Alan Rickman’s Brandon is

the core of Sense and Sensibility. His performance is eloquent and beautifully

controlled but you can tell the torment he fights inside. His voice may be

confident and steady, but his eyes alert you to his true emotions. Brandon’s

heartache touches you at the core but this heartache makes him more regal

because of his perseverance.

Hugh Grant compliments this array of actors by giving the film some

classical slapstick comedy. He fits perfectly against the reserved Emma

Thompson who will occasionally bring out that wide smile after one of Grant’s

humorous anecdotes. Grant brings just enough charisma to his character of

Edward to bring a little excitement to the movie.

Although the film did not need use the blockbuster special effects of

more recent movies, they satisfy the needs of the movie and there are no errors

to distract the moviegoer. By doing this Ang Lee forced the watcher to envelop

themselves into the emotions of the actors and not glitzy special effects. The

story sweeps you away, and the added quality production work was just bonus to

an already outstanding film. All the pieces of the film all seemed to fit in

place and this is thanks to the work of the director. Ang Lee made sure that

everything was perfect, from the historic costumes to the accents of the actors.

This is also a compliment to Emma Thompson who had the trouble of constructing a

screenplay that would honor the book, but would also move at a fast enough pace

to entertain the reader.

Sense and Sensibility shows us exactly what a movie should be. The

movie’s witty romanticism helps illustrate the Victorian era whose love is not

so different from our own. This success is due to the actors who brought the

story to a personal level. Without them we would not have felt the emotions of

the characters, which made us long to love as they did.

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