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Sense and Sensibility | Description: Movie based on the novel of Jane Austen Year: 1995 Classification: Drama Country: UK Language: English Directed: - Ang Lee Actors/Actresses: - Hugh Grant - Hugh Laurie - Alan Rickman - Emma Thompson - Kate Winslet - Alan Rickman English Romance At Its Finest Jane Austen is a fine writer, but her wordiness tends to drain the life from many of her characters. Thankfully, Emma Thompson recognized the limitations of the novel and adapted her screenplay accordingly, enhancing the humor of the original story and adding more drama to make the film more enchanting. A cast was then chosen, made up of very talented thespians, including Miss Thompson herself. Add to that splendid English landscapes, excellent directing, and superb cinematography, and what emerges is a modern masterpiece. This is not a movie for action fans; it is far too cerebral and requires a serious attention span. For those who enjoy a good love story well told, this is it. The characters are three-dimensional and their dilemmas full of human drama, bound as they are by the morals and manners of the times. Three sisters and their mother are left virtually penniless by the stricture against females inheriting property then in place in English law. The half-brother to the Dashwood women receives it all, but his selfish wife talks him out of helping his stepmother and half-sisters. It is up to the two older girls---sensible Eleanor and passionate Marianne---to seek their fortunes in romance while lacking a dowry to help them. Eleanor finds her soulmate in shy, retiring Edward Ferrars, brother of the selfish sister-in-law. Her budding romance is shelved when his sister makes it clear that Eleanor is "unsuitable" for Edward. The sisters and their mother then go to stay in a cottage owned by a kindly relative, Sir John, and his mother-in-law, the irrepressible Mrs. Jennings. The old woman is a confirmed gossip and matchmaker, bound to see one of the two sisters hitched up to Colonel Brandon, the most eligible bachelor in the area. Brandon first sees Marianne singing a melancholy song and is incurably smitten. She in turn loses her heart to a dashing young man named Willoughby, who is her ideal of a Victorian-era gentleman, complete with a pocket book of sonnets. Brandon, who loves her more than his own happiness, steps aside and even encourages their relationship, despite his dislike for the handsome rogue. Things take an unexpected turn for the worse for both sisters---Willoughby drops Marianne and flees to London with no explanation and Eleanor discovers that Edward is engaged to a shallow young woman named Lucy Steele. The ensuing twists and turns in the plot make this film both agonizing and entertaining to watch. Mercifully, everyone winds up happy at the end with the right person as a spouse. The whole film is solidly done, but it is the acting that really shines. Thompson is perfect for the role of the calmer sister, while Winslett is brilliant as the mercurial Marianne. Grant is endearing as the gentle Edward; Rickman finally gets to display his considerable ability to act the part of a very good and unselfish man. The rest of the cast keeps pace with the leads, and Hugh Laurie is indescribably funny as the sarcas Loved It! Don't miss this movie! It's a brilliant adaptation of the Jane Austen classic and simply lovely to watch. Emma Thompson did an excellent job on the screenplay, and deservedly won an Oscar for her efforts. I agree that in the age department, Emma Thompson was not suited to carry the role of Elinor Dashwood (who's supposed to be only 19). However, Ms Thompson's acting was brilliant and flawless, and as the story unfolds and draws you in, you hardly remember to notice or care about the age factor anymore. I thought Emma Thompson's portrayal of Elinor was not unlike the character of Margaret Schlegel (which she played in "Howards End") who's also a kind gentlewoman who loves too much and suffers inwardly. As a story, "Sense and Sensibility" (S Buy Sense And Sensibility at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on Sense And Sensibility Search with the Priority Search Engine on Sense And Sensibility This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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