Director: Ang Lee
Starring: Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant and Kate Winslet
‘A Captivating Classic’
Few authors in English literature have achieved the appreciation of Jane Austen. Following her rise to stardom in the 19th Century, Austen has become a world-famous female novelist that’s legendary. With their timely themes of identity, womanhood and economic security, her books are regarded highly today. Arguably, Austen’s greatest strength as a writer has always been her abilities to tell compelling stories regarding feminism. Through strong themes of feminism, Austen’s celebrated books have achieved a big following. A legendary icon in literature, Austen has penned several celebrated books readers treasure. Perhaps, Austen’s most celebrated book which readers regard highly is “Sense & Sensibility”. Ever since its publication in 1800’s, Austen’s book has stood the test of time as a literature classic. Despite being set during the 18th Century, the book’s timeless themes are still relevant today. Given its big impact on the profession of literature, it’s no surprise that the commemorated book has been adapted several times into movies. Each film adaptation has provided an authentic interpretation of a classic novel that deserves celebration.
I’m a huge fan of Jane Austen and admire all the films that have brought the author’s work to the big-screen. However, my favourite film adaptation is “Sense & Sensibility”. Ever since its release in 1995, Emma Thompson’s movie has stood the test of time as a classic. With his first ever literature adaptation, Ang Lee did an excellent job adapting Jane Austen’s beloved book to the big-screen. Packed with stunning production-design, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the finest book adaptations ever made. At the center of it all is a fantastic performance by Emma Thompson, who embodies a woman seeking to keep her poverty-stricken family afloat. Ultimately, what makes “Sense & Sensibility” a masterpiece is its message. Unlike most Jane Austen novel adaptations, it tackles universal themes which everyone would relate to. It delivers a universal message about social class inequality which would resonate with everyone. A mesmerizing Jane Austen masterpiece, there are countless reasons why “Sense & Sensibility” is a film that is worth watching.
Based on the celebrated book, “Sense and Sensibility” tells the story of a pair of sisters seeking to conquer poverty. Emma Thompson embodies Elinor Dashwood, a sensible woman that struggles to deal with poverty endured by her family. Elinor has always sought to assist her family overcome the hardships posed by poverty. She has always shared a strong bond with her sister Marianne (Kate Winslet), who is different in personality. However, Elinor’s life drastically changes when her father passes away leaving her household astray. Forced to seek marriage, Elinor is left with no choice but to marry in order to save her family from grim tragedy of poverty. Facing a dilemma, Elinor questions whether she would ever find love in the Victorian era. Drawn towards the sense and sensibility of her family, Elinor questions whether it’s possible for her to find romance in the 19th Century.
Ang Lee is a newcomer towards Jane Austen. Before he had directed “Sense and Sensibility”, Lee has never made an adaptation of Austen’s literature before. Lee was most known for his Chinese movies about Asian-American culture. With “Sense and Sensibility”, however, he had made his first Jane Austen literary adaptation. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to adapt a renowned Jane Austen book to the big-screen, but he succeeded tremendously. Through bold cinematography, Lee captures the journey of a pair of sisters to discover their identities during the 19th Century. Visually, the movie is a feast for the eyes. Lee successfully uses low-lighting to capture the strong bonds between a pair of sisters that seek romance in the 19th Century. For instance, low-key lighting enhances the bedroom scene. During this memorable scene, Elinor and her sister Marianne discuss strong views on men which they plan to marry. One admires lighting capturing the intimate bonds between sisters in the 19th Century. Low-key lighting is a tricky technique to use in movies. As David Fincher’s “Se7en” suggested clearly, low-key lighting elevates movies about serial killers. Nevertheless, it works tremendously in this movie. Through breathtaking visuals, Lee celebrated a legendary author that has built a legacy that’s enduring.
Another commendable aspect of “Sense & Sensibility” worth praising is the production. From a technical perspective, the movie is extremely well made. Ang Lee has always excelled at constructing sets for his movies, and “Pride and Prejudice” is definitely no exception. Lee effectively uses costumes to capture the social status of sisters living in painful poverty. Throughout the movie, the costumes play a pivotal role in showcasing social status of women. The bold dresses which are worn by the Dashwood sisters signify their social status. For instance, the costumes enhance the piano scene. During this unforgettable scene, Marianne plays a melody on the piano in front of a crowd at a home of an upper-class family. One admires costumes exhibiting strong social status of families. Through stunning costumes, Lee honours Jane Austen’s books that readers value. Moreover, the musical score is superb. Patrick Doyle’s music is integral towards the success of the film. It gives the film a joyous atmosphere capturing the burdens poverty-stricken women bear. Through phenomenal production-design, Lee celebrates an iconic author whose timeless books have never lost abilities to shine.
Storytelling is one of the reasons why “Sense & Sensibility” is a Jane Austen adaptation which is compelling. The movie is beautifully written, and effectively translates Jane Austen’s book on the big-screen. Emma Thompson’s greatest screenwriting strength is capturing the beauty of Jane Austen’s celebrated book by dramatic monologues. It isn’t easy to effectively adapt Jane Austen’s beloved books into 2 hour movies, but Thompson succeeded tremendously. Throughout the film, Thompson expertly uses dramatic monologues to capture the strong themes of Jane Austen’s beloved book. For instance, the dramatic monologues elevate the love scene. During this memorable scene, Elinor confides in her sister about her romantic relationships. One admired dramatic monologues capturing romantic relationships of women in the 19th Century. Monologues are a tricky technique to use in most movies. As Gil Junger’s “10 Things I Hate About You” claimed clearly, dramatic monologues enhance literary adaptations. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through a fantastic screenplay, Lee celebrates legendary literature penned by one of the most celebrated authors in literature today.
One appreciates astonishing performances.
Emma Thompson delivers one of her greatest performances as Elinor Dashwood. Thompson achieved appreciation for playing women in Merchant Ivory period pieces. With “Sense & Sensibility”, however, she took on her most meaningful role. It isn’t simple to embody the personality of a woman seeking marriage in the 19th Century, but she succeeded tremendously. This is the actress unlike you’ve ever seen her before: intense, charismatic and emotional in her most memorable role. It’s a role which gave the actress chance to showcase natural charisma as an icon in Cinema. With mesmerizing expressions, she captures angst, desperation and romantic nature of a woman seeking marriage during the 19th Century. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the most commemorated actresses that’s currently working in Hollywood today.
Kate Winslet is wonderful as a woman which faces a dilemma when she falls in love with a man which is hard to forget. While Thompson gets the showier role, Winslet is also excellent as a woman whose doomed romance spirals out of control. Winslet is one of those gifted actresses that has often excelled at playing characters that are madly in love, and “Sense and Sensibility” showcased her steenths as an actress. As Marriane, Winslet effectively used her body language to capture women which are madly in love. Whether she is flirting with Willoughby or confiding in her sister, Winslet effectively uses engaging body language to create a lover that’s compelling. It’s a terrific performance from one of the best actresses which is currently working in the film industry of Hollywood today.
The supporting cast is sensational and also worthy of appreciation. Alan Rickman is astonishing, capturing the compassion of a wealthy man that falls in love with a lower-class woman he regards with affection. Hugh Grant is tremendous, bringing humour to a wealthy suitor that feels socially awkward interacting with women he grows up to value. Lastly, Imelda Staunton merits appreciation. As a snobbish upper-class woman, she brings comical relief to the movie.
Finally, “Sense & Sensibility” would achieve the appreciation of everyone for capturing books with sensibility. Unlike most Jane Austen book adaptations, the movie tackles strong themes which everyone will relate to. The film covers powerful themes of identity, social class and romance which would resonate with everyone. Viewers aren’t required to be fans of the book to appreciate the movie. It delivers a powerful message about social class which would truly resonate with everyone. Therefore, “Sense and Sensibility” is one of those rare Jane Austen adaptations everyone would adore.
Fans of Jane Austen will definitely appreciate “Sense & Sensibility” and so will movie-goers seeking heartwarming entertainment. An awe-inspiring Jane Austen adaptation, it celebrates an author whose timeless stories deserve appreciation.
Centuries following the publication of a renowned piece of literature about women with sense and sensibility seeking to overcome poverty causing danger, it’s a beautiful tribute towards a legendary author whose timeless stories about larger-than-life women have stood the test of time achieving a huge fan following for their powerful depiction of social barriers that deserve to be adapted into memorable movies attracting audiences to the theatre.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 