Review: Pride and Prejudice

Austen Still Has Power…

Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFayden put a decidedly modern spin on the costume drama, with their impassioned portrayals of the reluctant lovers. But what's the final verdict?

If you need proof of why another adaptation of Pride and Prejudice is necessary, this is it. Raw, refreshing, reinvigorating, rustic, romantic – this is no chocolate box re-hashing of Austen's classic. In fact it reminds you that, like Shakespeare, Austen is so vital to our cultural heritage and that, akin to theatre, you find yourself actively wanting to see the sublime Matthew Macfadyen give HIS Mr Darcy and Keira Knightley HER Elizabeth Bennett (and it's her finest performance to date).

So what's new about this? Well début director Wright chooses to reinvent and contemporize the heroine Elizabeth Bennett by placing her flaws, dilemmas, lies and pride as central, whilst supplying her with barbed dialogue, a complete absence of ladylike accomplishments and the ability to have a blazing row when Darcy lets her down!

by Lorien Haynes

Read the full review in
Film Review (Oct)

Image © UIP
Review © Visual Imagination 2005. Not for reproduction

Taken from

Film Review (Oct)
#662, October 2005
ships from Sep 8 2005
News-stand Price
UK £3.99 / US $7.95

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