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pensnestThere's a new 'Emma' film about the place somewhere. I have not seen it yet, though I'd like to. But Jane Austen's 'Emma' was being read on Radio 4 last week, and I think must have influenced my Beast into wanting to watch it again. We have three, oh yes, three versions of the story: the 1996 movie with Gwyneth Paltrow, the ITV made-for-television film version with Kate Beckinsale as Emma, and the 2009 BBC 4-part series starring Jonny Lee Miller and Romola Garai. (But I think we might be putting the Paltrow film into the charity box.)
It's been interesting, comparing the different takes.
Gwyneth Paltrow, for me, looks like Emma. I always imagine Emma as fairly pointy, and with hair of that pale brown colour that I call English Mouse. Romola Garrett is good colouring-wise, but not quite right in feature. Kate Beckinsale again isn't quite right, plus she is emphatically a brunette. Acting-wise, they are all fine, although I have some side-eyes for Paltrow's accent at times.
The Mr Knightleys are far more diverse. Jeremy Northam (from the film) is very good and I like him a lot; Jonny Lee Miller is just too good-looking, for surely an Emma with eyes must have had a teenage crush on him? Or maybe Isabella did? Otherwise life makes no sense! Also, he doesn't look old enough to have dandled her in his arms when she was three weeks old. But it turns out, my favourite Mr Knightley is Mark Strong. He looks plausible for the age he is meant to be, he's attractive (lovely eyes!) but not unreasonably so, and I believe him.
(Incidentally, in most romances I would not care for a 16-year age gap, and the idea of someone falling for a person he's known since she was an infant is icky! This one, however, does manage to work.)
The Mr Eltons, by contrast, are all very much the same type. I can't remember if he is described in detail in the book—probably not—but Alan Cumming (whom I adore) plays him in the film, and Blake Ritson in the BBC series, and either of them happily qualifies as 'my' Mr Elton.
I haven't yet seen a Harriet Smith who entirely works for me. My mental image of Harriet is a round-cheeked, wide-eyed lass with a big smile, who actually looks younger than 17. (Is she 17 in the book? I can't remember) All three look too old, and none of them either innocent or ignorant enough—they have to establish their innocence and, well, stupidity, through dialogue, and I'd like the casting to do more of the work. (Julia Sawalha's Lydia from the 1996 Pride & Prejudice would be closer.)
Jane Fairfax, though, is absolutely perfect in the ITV film: Olivia Williams has exactly the right kind of classic beauty. Which makes it more annoying (for me) that Emma was not cast as a blonde, just for contrast! Polly Walker (from the 1996 movie) is a bit more sultry than I imagine Jane, and Laura Pyper (BBC series) not as pretty. Laura Pyper's Jane looks miserable all the time, which is not unreasonable, but I liked the sly moments in the ITV film.
The Frank Churchills are quite a varied lot. Let us discount Ewan McGregor at once, for the simple reason that someone in the movie production saw fit to give him the most atrocious hairstyle, and nobody stopped them. Rupert Evans does a good job in the BBC series, but I think Raymond Coulthard works best (ITV film): he is definitely good-looking in the overtly handsome way Frank ought to be (and Mr Knightley ought not).
There are two performances—and, perhaps, interpretations—which I don't think could be bettered. The first is Michael Gambon as Mr Woodhouse in the BBC series. This is the first portrayal I have seen which makes Mr Woodhouse something other than the tiresome, twittering old man who has inexplicably never had arsenic added to his tea. In this version, we really see how much Mr Woodhouse has been affected by the early loss of his wife, how risk of all kinds actually frightens him, and why he is so determined against change of any kind. It's a really sympathetic portrait, without losing the annoying aspect of the character.
The other outstanding one is Tamsin Greig as Miss Bates, in the same BBC series. Bloody marvellous. She is just as witlessly irritating as the other Misses Bates, but we also see her fear, her desperation, and her pain. We see her talk and talk to shut out the pain of loss and the fear of the future, and in the scene on Box Hill, we really see her stricken. It's brilliantly done. I want to cuddle her and give her chocolate.
For me, the above two are the performances that absolutely make the BBC series the best version of the story that I have seen. I'm sure they are also the result of script and directorial choices, and I applaud the lot.
The BBC series, almost four hours long, has obvious advantages over the film-length versions in terms of scripting the story according to the book. A film of less than two hours' length misses out a lot—though the ITV film does a very good job, overall. But there are silly choices in the Paltrow movie, most memorably Emma's first meeting with Mr Churchill. For some reason she is presented as a damsel in distress and he as a mannerless jerk. I don't see these as appropriate choices at all. And in both the films, the Woodhouses and Knightleys set out to dine with the Westons during a snowfall—which Mr Woodhouse would never do! It is the arrival of the snow (which Mr John Knightly so gloomily forecasts) that makes them leave in a hurry, and enables Mr Elton to make his horrid proposal. Only the BBC version gets it right—and it's such a trivial thing, why did they get it wrong? It must be more expensive to make it snow on a scene than not!
Something else I particularly liked about the BBC version was the appearance of the production. In this version, Hartfield is perfect. A lovely house—Emma in bricks and mortar! Donwell Abbey is more 'masculine' but doesn't feel so right; it may be (I think?) Jacobean but shows no traces of ever having an Abbey, where it could have had some interesting ruins (it's better in the ITV film). But the Bates' home is clearly very downmarket, small, dark and cramped. I approve.
Costumes are also more interesting and vivid in the BBC version. I really like the somewhat stronger colours Emma wears—the other productions show the tepid white and pastel stuff we always see in Austen productions (with some gorgeous brown velvet outerwear for ITV Emma), but Emma in the BBC version wears overdresses or coats in vibrant colours. She's quite a grown-up heroine, independent and mistress of an establishment, so I like seeing her in something other than insipid muslins all the time. And I love the way Harriet's clothes gradually come to mimic Emma's, even down to the little bead necklace that we see both of them wearing. Clever stuff.
I very much recommend the BBC series to anyone who loves the book. Has anybody seen the new film? What does it do? From the trailer. I like the look of the Harriet. Emma, too. Mr Knightley looks far too young and perhaps not . I like Mr Elton, again fits the 'type'. Having Miranda as Miss Bates looks like a good choice, though nobody will surpass Tamsin Greig, and the choice of actor suggest the part will be played up for comic ridiculousness. Valid, but eh.
It will be interesting to see the newest film. The trailers look frantic, and aimed at comedy, with even Mr Woodhouse looking for the laugh. Still, I like the look of the Harriet, and Emma, too. Mr Knightley looks too young and not quite purposeful enough. Mr Eltonis again the 'type'. Having Miranda as Miss Bates looks like a good choice—especially if she's to be played for laughs—but nobody will surpass Tamsin Greig. Has anybody seen it? What did you think?
A little Austen plum from YouTube: Elizabeth Bennet being iconic for more than 6 minutes straight. Very giggle-worthy.
It's been interesting, comparing the different takes.
Gwyneth Paltrow, for me, looks like Emma. I always imagine Emma as fairly pointy, and with hair of that pale brown colour that I call English Mouse. Romola Garrett is good colouring-wise, but not quite right in feature. Kate Beckinsale again isn't quite right, plus she is emphatically a brunette. Acting-wise, they are all fine, although I have some side-eyes for Paltrow's accent at times.
The Mr Knightleys are far more diverse. Jeremy Northam (from the film) is very good and I like him a lot; Jonny Lee Miller is just too good-looking, for surely an Emma with eyes must have had a teenage crush on him? Or maybe Isabella did? Otherwise life makes no sense! Also, he doesn't look old enough to have dandled her in his arms when she was three weeks old. But it turns out, my favourite Mr Knightley is Mark Strong. He looks plausible for the age he is meant to be, he's attractive (lovely eyes!) but not unreasonably so, and I believe him.
(Incidentally, in most romances I would not care for a 16-year age gap, and the idea of someone falling for a person he's known since she was an infant is icky! This one, however, does manage to work.)
The Mr Eltons, by contrast, are all very much the same type. I can't remember if he is described in detail in the book—probably not—but Alan Cumming (whom I adore) plays him in the film, and Blake Ritson in the BBC series, and either of them happily qualifies as 'my' Mr Elton.
I haven't yet seen a Harriet Smith who entirely works for me. My mental image of Harriet is a round-cheeked, wide-eyed lass with a big smile, who actually looks younger than 17. (Is she 17 in the book? I can't remember) All three look too old, and none of them either innocent or ignorant enough—they have to establish their innocence and, well, stupidity, through dialogue, and I'd like the casting to do more of the work. (Julia Sawalha's Lydia from the 1996 Pride & Prejudice would be closer.)
Jane Fairfax, though, is absolutely perfect in the ITV film: Olivia Williams has exactly the right kind of classic beauty. Which makes it more annoying (for me) that Emma was not cast as a blonde, just for contrast! Polly Walker (from the 1996 movie) is a bit more sultry than I imagine Jane, and Laura Pyper (BBC series) not as pretty. Laura Pyper's Jane looks miserable all the time, which is not unreasonable, but I liked the sly moments in the ITV film.
The Frank Churchills are quite a varied lot. Let us discount Ewan McGregor at once, for the simple reason that someone in the movie production saw fit to give him the most atrocious hairstyle, and nobody stopped them. Rupert Evans does a good job in the BBC series, but I think Raymond Coulthard works best (ITV film): he is definitely good-looking in the overtly handsome way Frank ought to be (and Mr Knightley ought not).
There are two performances—and, perhaps, interpretations—which I don't think could be bettered. The first is Michael Gambon as Mr Woodhouse in the BBC series. This is the first portrayal I have seen which makes Mr Woodhouse something other than the tiresome, twittering old man who has inexplicably never had arsenic added to his tea. In this version, we really see how much Mr Woodhouse has been affected by the early loss of his wife, how risk of all kinds actually frightens him, and why he is so determined against change of any kind. It's a really sympathetic portrait, without losing the annoying aspect of the character.
The other outstanding one is Tamsin Greig as Miss Bates, in the same BBC series. Bloody marvellous. She is just as witlessly irritating as the other Misses Bates, but we also see her fear, her desperation, and her pain. We see her talk and talk to shut out the pain of loss and the fear of the future, and in the scene on Box Hill, we really see her stricken. It's brilliantly done. I want to cuddle her and give her chocolate.
For me, the above two are the performances that absolutely make the BBC series the best version of the story that I have seen. I'm sure they are also the result of script and directorial choices, and I applaud the lot.
The BBC series, almost four hours long, has obvious advantages over the film-length versions in terms of scripting the story according to the book. A film of less than two hours' length misses out a lot—though the ITV film does a very good job, overall. But there are silly choices in the Paltrow movie, most memorably Emma's first meeting with Mr Churchill. For some reason she is presented as a damsel in distress and he as a mannerless jerk. I don't see these as appropriate choices at all. And in both the films, the Woodhouses and Knightleys set out to dine with the Westons during a snowfall—which Mr Woodhouse would never do! It is the arrival of the snow (which Mr John Knightly so gloomily forecasts) that makes them leave in a hurry, and enables Mr Elton to make his horrid proposal. Only the BBC version gets it right—and it's such a trivial thing, why did they get it wrong? It must be more expensive to make it snow on a scene than not!
Something else I particularly liked about the BBC version was the appearance of the production. In this version, Hartfield is perfect. A lovely house—Emma in bricks and mortar! Donwell Abbey is more 'masculine' but doesn't feel so right; it may be (I think?) Jacobean but shows no traces of ever having an Abbey, where it could have had some interesting ruins (it's better in the ITV film). But the Bates' home is clearly very downmarket, small, dark and cramped. I approve.
Costumes are also more interesting and vivid in the BBC version. I really like the somewhat stronger colours Emma wears—the other productions show the tepid white and pastel stuff we always see in Austen productions (with some gorgeous brown velvet outerwear for ITV Emma), but Emma in the BBC version wears overdresses or coats in vibrant colours. She's quite a grown-up heroine, independent and mistress of an establishment, so I like seeing her in something other than insipid muslins all the time. And I love the way Harriet's clothes gradually come to mimic Emma's, even down to the little bead necklace that we see both of them wearing. Clever stuff.
I very much recommend the BBC series to anyone who loves the book. Has anybody seen the new film? What does it do? From the trailer. I like the look of the Harriet. Emma, too. Mr Knightley looks far too young and perhaps not . I like Mr Elton, again fits the 'type'. Having Miranda as Miss Bates looks like a good choice, though nobody will surpass Tamsin Greig, and the choice of actor suggest the part will be played up for comic ridiculousness. Valid, but eh.
It will be interesting to see the newest film. The trailers look frantic, and aimed at comedy, with even Mr Woodhouse looking for the laugh. Still, I like the look of the Harriet, and Emma, too. Mr Knightley looks too young and not quite purposeful enough. Mr Eltonis again the 'type'. Having Miranda as Miss Bates looks like a good choice—especially if she's to be played for laughs—but nobody will surpass Tamsin Greig. Has anybody seen it? What did you think?
A little Austen plum from YouTube: Elizabeth Bennet being iconic for more than 6 minutes straight. Very giggle-worthy.
no subject
Date: 2020-07-02 07:02 pm (UTC)I did find Emma herself very unlikeable at times, but that's the character and to be expected really. I know a lot of reviews after mentioned the bum baring scenes, and I get why as months later, they're some of the details that have stuck in my head.
I was impressed with Miranda, yeah, she is played for comic effect at times, but she also shows utter shock and betrayal well later in the film.
So yeah, I really liked it, James was bored stiff, but it's really not the kind of film he likes so that wasn't surprising.
no subject
Date: 2020-07-03 09:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-07-04 08:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-07-02 07:18 pm (UTC)Having googled, have you seen this?
http://lostinbritishtv.blogspot.com/2011/07/emma-cubed-four-emma-adaptations-all.html
no subject
Date: 2020-07-03 09:52 pm (UTC)That is a most interesting link, thank you!
no subject
Date: 2020-07-02 07:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-07-03 09:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-07-07 07:55 pm (UTC)I did like Johnny Flynn as Mr Knightley (both acting and looks)! I checked and there's a 13 year age difference between the actors, but I guess he looks young for his age, and they don't really mention his age/background much (or if they did I already forgot) so I can see how he might seem too young for the part though.
no subject
Date: 2020-07-03 06:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-07-03 09:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-07-04 06:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-07-04 06:55 pm (UTC)Sorry, you know all that! It's just - isn't it annoying when someone goes to all the trouble of making a telly or film version of a book without actually understanding the book!
no subject
Date: 2020-07-05 09:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-07-04 11:29 pm (UTC)I saw the new Emma just before lockdown started, and for the most part, I liked it! It really focusses on the friendship between Emma and Harriet, almost positioning it as Emma's most important relationship -- more important than even her romance with Knightley, and honestly? I was there for it.
They kind of downplayed the Jane and Frank stuff in a way I wish they hadn't, but then, I think a lot of other productions have done that, too. And of course, the Box Hill scene made me wish I could sink into the floor.
But -- pretty colors!
(Also, I hate that I'm bogged down by something so shallow, but the girl they've got playing Harriet? Has absolutely NO eyebrows. It's very distracting.)
no subject
Date: 2020-07-07 03:19 am (UTC)