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Amazon.co.uk Review
Most people didn't mind Gwyneth Paltrow's English accent in this charming, 1996 adaptation of Jane Austen's novel (which also inspired Clueless). But even if it doesn't sound quite right to you, there are plenty of authentic and wonderful Brit thespians in this film by screenwriter-turned-director Douglas McGrath (co-author of Woody Allen's Bullets Over Broadway), including Juliet Stevenson (Truly Madly Deeply), Alan Cumming (Buddy), Phyllida Law (Much Ado About Nothing), Ewan McGregor (the Scots star of Trainspotting), and Sophie Thompson, outstanding and finally heartbreaking as the chattering Miss Bates. Paltrow plays Austen's benign busybody, Emma Woodhouse--so busy trying to arrange the lives of others that she is sidestepping her own. McGrath brings a kind of pretty and light touch to the production, his best move the wise delegation of creative authority to the actors themselves. --Tom Keogh
Amazon.co.uk Review
Most people didn't mind Gwyneth Paltrow's English accent in this charming 1996 adaptation of Jane Austen's novel Emma. There are also plenty of authentic and wonderful Brit thespians in this film by screenwriter-turned-director Douglas McGrath (co-author of Woody Allen's Bullets Over Broadway), including Juliet Stevenson (Truly Madly Deeply), Phyllida Law (Much Ado About Nothing), Ewan McGregor and Sophie Thompson who offers an outstanding and finally heartbreaking turn as the chattering Miss Bates. Paltrow plays Austen's benign busybody, Emma Woodhouse--so busy trying to arrange the lives of others that she is sidestepping her own. McGrath brings a kind of pretty and light touch to the production; his best move the wise delegation of creative authority to the actors themselves.--Tom Keogh, Amazon.com
Emma Thompson scores a double bull's-eye with this marvellous adaptation of Jane Austen's novel. Not only does Thompson turn in a strong (and gently humorous) performance as Elinor Dashwood--the one with "sense"--she also wrote the witty screenplay. Austen's tale of 19th-century manners and morals provides a large cast with a feast of possibilities, notably Kate Winslet, in her pre-Titanic flowering, as Thompson's deeply romantic sister, Marianne (the one with "sensibility"). Winslet attracts the wooing of shy Alan Rickman (a nice change of pace from his bad-guy roles) and dashing Greg Wise, while Thompson must endure an incredibly roundabout courtship with Hugh Grant, here in fine and funny form. All of this is doled out with the usual eye-filling English countryside and handsome costumes, yet the film always seems to be about the careful interior lives of its characters. The director, an inspired choice, is Taiwan-born Ang Lee, who brings the same exquisite taste and discreet touch he displayed in his previous films. Thompson's script won an Oscar.--Robert Horton, Amazon.com
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
39 of 43 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Quite nice and enjoyable, but ...,
By Lili_K (Hungary) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Emma [DVD] [1996] (DVD)
The Paltrow version is really quite nice and enjoyable, but I can't help feeling that something is slightly amiss, a bit out of place. As if the actors - though very good ones at that - couldn't wholly identify with the characters they played. Sometimes they just seemed to be telling their lines without their hearts being in it. There is one exception and that is the excellent Jeremy Northam. Although his Mr Knigthley is certainly not as charismatic as that of Mark Strong in the other version of Emma, he was great. Toni Colette, though a very good actress, was really miscast as Harriet Smith and not just physically. She is a modern actress and couldn't fit into this period drama. The same is true for Ewan McGregor: a great actor, but not one for period drama, or at least not for regency drama, I fear. The film is not strictly faithful to the plot, which in itself wouldn't be a problem, but it weakens the performance even further altogether. Still, if you do not have too high expectations, you may enjoy this film without further ado.
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
As Good as it Should Be.,
By
This review is from: Emma [DVD] [1996] (DVD)
I've read the book twice and seen all the film/tv versions(and I include "Clueless" in that)that I know of. As a book I would say it is both superb and comparable(in quality) to "Pride and Prejudice" and "Sense and sensibility" so since books are usually better than their adaptations the film has a lot to live up to.
Well this is very well done. The film will stand or fall on the quality of its Emma and Gwyneth Paltrow does an excellent job. It's a difficult role as she has to be annoying, at times, while never actually making you lose all sympathy. There is a key scene, which I won't spoil by describing to you, where Mr Knightley has cause to chide Emma for her behaviour and this is done perfectly, as are all the crucial scenes. The supporting cast is excellent as you would expect, and while any film version will require some cutting and a little inventiveness with dialogue, I feel It has all been done as well as it could be. I would say that the ITV Drama version starring Kate Beckinsale is good, and manages to squeeze in some extra scenes,so I can understand if people already familiar with that version prefer it(and maybe it's a little more patriotic to do so) but I must say that I can't fault this Emma. It is one of those rare films that upon each watching has left me with an unexpectedly warm glow of pleasure inside.
27 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Oh! Mr Knightly!,
By littlemissbee (UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Emma [DVD] [1996] (DVD)
I haven't seen both versions of Emma so I can make no comparisons, however I love this version of the film.I'm not a huge fan of Gwyneth Paltrow but I found her thoroughly likeable as Emma, for an American actress she made quite a convincing English Rose. And I cannot possibly review this film without mentioning how incredibly gorgeous Jeremy Northam is as the dashing Mr Knightly, he is the perfect English Gentleman. Emma is a wonderfully romantic and uplifting film and is one of the first that I reach for when I fancy a girly night in front of the TV accompanied by the biggest bar of chocolate I can find.
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