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Before I go any further, I have a confession to make: I was (and, I suppose, still am) an English geek. I spent my college years camped out in the English department. Or sipping cappuccinos while discussing Shakespeare. Or hanging out with the girls and watching Jane Austen movies. So, as an English geek, there was no way I could resist this latest version of Austen’s Pride & Prejudice (check out our review of the book).
Pride & Prejudice tells the story of the five Bennet sisters—who, despite not being especially wealthy, spend their time like other Austen-novel women: visiting relatives, gossiping, and attending balls. The movie focuses on the two oldest daughters. The eldest daughter, Jane (Rosamund Pike), is a well-known beauty. The second daughter, Elizabeth (Oscar-nominated Keira Knightley), is an impulsive and fun-loving tomboy who’s forever sworn off men.
When Mr. Bingley (Simon Woods), a wealthy young man, moves into the mansion nearby, he immediately falls for Jane—to the delight of the rest of the family. But Mr. Bingley’s sister (Kelly Reilly) and his friend, Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen), are less than enamored with their country surroundings—and they definitely don’t approve of Bingley’s relationship with Jane.
Elizabeth and Darcy, a sullen, serious man, immediately get off on the wrong foot—and the more she hears about him, the less she likes him. But somehow, she can’t seem to avoid him. As the Bennet sisters search for happiness and love, their lives seem to become more and more connected to the mysterious Mr. Darcy, much to Elizabeth’s chagrin.
You might say that Jane Austen was the original chick lit author. Her stories are fantastical, filled with drama and romance. Yet, I love them. And this production of Pride & Prejudice—while it may not be perfect—is beautifully done. Sure, the story has been cut down, meaning that some things are brushed over without enough explanation. But the cinematography is stunning, and the costumes are magnificent. The story is light and fun and even amusing (in a lit-geek kind of way)—and you can’t help but get caught up in it all.
At the same time, though, Pride & Prejudice isn’t for everyone. If you can handle syrupy-sweet girly drama, you’ll love it. If you’re an English geek like me, you’ll want your own copy. But please don’t force a non-English-geek male to watch this movie. Not only will he not get it at all (thereby ruining it for you), but he could possibly be scarred for life.
