Movie Review: Becoming Jane

Movie Review: Becoming Jane

Starring: Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy

If you don't love Jane Austen, there really is no point to seeing this movie, I don't think. Some may say that the story is fascinating and valuable without any interest in Jane Austen, but I think if you don't love Jane, you'll just be angry at this sad story.

I think its fair to warn everybody that Becoming Jane doesn't end like you want it to; any Austen fan would know this from the beginning, anyway.
Jane never found her Mr. Darcy. But what was it, then, that led her to write such clever, beautiful, and happy novels? Becoming Jane shows exactly how her writing developed, what led her to write what she did, and all she went through and sacrificed.

I loved the film for Jane's snappy dialogue, so cleverly showing Jane's talent for words in her conversation. Its a prim, stylized speech, much like Pride and Prejudice, where the audience has to pay close attention to understand the underlying meanings of the spoken words.

I also loved the way the director had of weaving in scenes and moments that later showed up in her books: a smarting conversation during a country ball, Darcy's run through the rain, etc. Watch carefully!

The movie is well done, with talented actors and actresses bringing these people of the past to life. The settings and costuming is fascinating of course, with all the old fashioned trimmings.

If you can take the sadness, do watch and enjoy. Otherwise, save your movie time for something easier on the heart.
Personally, I find the happy ending in the loveliness of her novels, that have lasted all the way into this new decade.