Jeri Jacquin
In England, Mr. Bennet (Donald Sutherland) and Mrs. Bennet (Brenda Blethyn) live a relatively quiet life in Hertfordshire. Along with daughters Jane (Rosamund Pike), Elizabeth (Kiera Knightley), Mary (Talulah Riley), Kitty (Carey Mulligan), and Lydia (Jena Malone), their home is always lively with the young girls as Mrs. Bennet attempts to find husbands for them all. She is thrilled when a ball is announced at Netherfield Hall and the young bachelor Charles Bingley (Simon Bingley) will attend with sister Caroline (Kelly Reilly).
The family gathers together for the carriage ride to the event where Jane is quite taken with Charles. Along with them is family friend Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen), who Elizabeth immediately sees as extremely full of himself, especially when she overhears him speaking so ill of her. The next day when Jane visits Netherfield Hall once again, she falls ill and Charles immediately wishes for her to stay until she is well. Elizabeth follows days later to check on her sister only to be met by Mr. Darcy and a very side-eyed Caroline.
At home, more pressing issues are about to arrive in the form of Mr. Collins (Tom Hollander), a clergyman who would be next in line to inherit the Bennet home and on the serious hunt for a wife to the advice of his patron Lady Catherine de Bourgh (Judi Dench). The girls also meet George Wickham (Rupert Friend), a soldier who has some ties to the Darcy family. After a bit of wife seeing, Mr. Collins and Elizabeth’s friend Charlotte (Claudie Blakley) seem to have hit it off. Jane is taken with Charles but there is someone in their way, the same someone who asks for Elizabeth’s hand with a swift rejection and a chastising regarding Mr. Wickham.
Darcy gives Elizabeth a letter to explain things she could not possibly know as she takes a trip with Mr. Gardiner (Peter Wight) and wife Mrs. Gardiner (Penelope Wilton). Turn after turn of events bring Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth in each other’s company, from a mother who can’t stay out of her own way, a father who is happy to allow the chaos and daughters who each are unique in their ability to love. Welcome to the Bennet home!
Knightley as Elizabeth portrays her as a young woman who has no problem speaking her mind regarding mostly anything. She is sharp witted, very attentive to everything that is going on around her and a bit amused by the actions of her own mother. Love is not a part of her life seeming happy with her books, long walks and time with sister Jane. Knightley is flawless in her portrayal and constantly makes me laugh under my breath because her character is so relatable.
Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy has basically ruined many a woman with his portrayal of this dark brooding man who doesn’t have time for folly of any kind. That is until Elizabeth catches his eye and he finds himself a bit stunned by her in the way he reacts when she is around. His idea of love is, in fact, not so dissimilar than that of Elizabeth, they just have different ways of showing it. One would be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn’t think that the scene of Mr. Darcy walking through a field toward Elizabeth is anything but pure magic and memorable. Yes, Macfadyen gives Mr. Darcy the right amount of being misunderstood mixed with moments where the puppy dog eyes give everything away to anyone paying attention. So well done and, to be truthful, makes us all want a Mr. Darcy in our lives.
Sutherland as Mr. Bennet is a character I always thought to be misunderstood as well. When I speak to people about the book, this character is always seen as not caring about the girls and their plight of being female yet, I don’t see that. I believe Mr. Bennet is the quiet in the storm of chaos who absolutely understands the predicament of his daughters but it’s hard to see that through the noise of – Mrs. Bennet. Blethyn as she is boisterous, loud, emotional, plotter and drama queen of the story. I just love her in that sense as her life is lived in a constant state of panic.
Friend as Wickham is exactly the man mothers warn about with his charm and constant compliments all wrapped up in a lie. That being said, I think Friend is such a fabulous character actor and he proves it time and time again. Pike as Jane is such a shy bit of a young woman but truly loves her family. I have seen Pike’s range over the years from good female characters to crazy ones, but in this film, it is an opportunity to see her play such a delicate side. Malone as Lydia is just as much a whirlwind of chaos as her own mother, it’s a mini-me if you will. Mulligan as Kitty is charming and a cross between her mother and father in demeanor.
Hollander as Mr. Collins is the most irritating character of all but it does prove one thing, that the woman of the 18th century had to keep their ladylike demeanor in the midst of a narcissist. That being said, I just love his inability to understand that only Lady Catherine has in interest in what Mr. Collins says. Woods as Bingley is the young man who has no problem showing his feelings and is completely enamored of Jane (and who wouldn’t be). I see his open heart as the tender mood of the film and so well done. Reilly as Caroline is using her stings early in preparing for the later role as Beth in the series Yellowstone!
Shout out to the grand dame herself, Dame Judi Dench as Lady de Bourgh. She has the amazing ability to make you love to dislike this character. The love part is her ability to throw a good glare and the dislike is pretty self-explanatory.
Other cast include Tamzin Merchant as Georgiana Darcy, Pip Torrens as Netherfield Butler, Roy Holder as Mr. Hill, Sinead Matthews as Mrs. Betsy, Meg Owen as Mrs. Reynolds, and Cornelius Booth as Col. Fitzwilliam.
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has just added an amazing film to their library and making it available for us to all experience and re-experience in our own home theaters. There are films of every genre available from scary to drama to family films. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.uphe.com.
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Bonus Features include Conversations with the Cast, Jane Austen: A Head of Her Time, A Bennet Family Portrait, HBO First Look: PRIDE & PREJUDICE, The Politics of 18th Century Dating, The Stately Homes of PRIDE & PREJUDICE and Feature Commentary with Director Joe Wright.
Deborah Moggach is the screenwriter of the film and she explains, “I tried to be truthful to the book, which is already a perfect three-act structure, so I haven’t changed a lot. It is beautifully shaped as a story – the ultimate romance about two people who think they hate each other.” Producer Paul Webster describes Pride & Prejudice as ‘the original romantic comedy’. Director Wright shares his thoughts that, “this is a film about love…like a fairytale on an emotional level, PRIDE & PREJUDICE is a true story worth telling again and again through the generations.”
Restored for the first time on 4K Ultra HD, the 20th Anniversary Collector’s Edition comes in a stunning and elegance sleeve with lovely artwork. Inside, a book that opens to the discs followed by pages of stunning photographs, and an introduction by Paul Webster, Deborah Moggach, the cast, costumes designs and music. This is a beautiful way to embrace not only a beloved Jane Austen story, but to see and experience it again and again.
PRIDE & PREJUDICE is, and it must be said Austen is one of my adored writers, pure stunning in every way. The cinematography by Roman Osin lends itself to a beautiful character in the film from the small home of the Bennet’s to the adorned home of Mr. Darcy, the color and sharpness that is just breathtaking. The cast fits into their characters with such depth, no matter if their characters truly have character or not. The set designs are a true compliment to the story and I am always in for a period piece. The costumes done by Jacqueline Durran are impeccable and embrace the 18th century. Now, the music, the luscious and intoxicating music created by the Italian composer Dario Marianelli and is joined by pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet and English Chamber Orchestra. The album of the music just brings one back to the story in its place and time while making the heart skip a beat.
It is time to gather up every Austen fan you know, every person who loves love for an evening of wine with a side of PRIDE & PREJUDICE. Let’s be honest, the last ten minutes of the film are everything to tender hearts everywhere and that is everything.
In the end – sometimes the last person on earth you want to be with is the one person you can’t be without!
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