Director: Autumn de Wilde
Writer: Eleanor Catton (Based on Jane Austen’s novel, Emma)
Released: February 2020
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn, Josh O’Connor, Callum Turner, Mia Goth, Miranda Hart and Bill Nighy
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I took a little too long to get around to writing this review! So I’ll try to remember my first impressions…
I am a Jane Austen fan – despite reading all of zero of her books. But I do own the complete book series, which I might get around to reading one day.
It was actually the 2005 movie Pride & Prejudice featuring Kiera Knightley that got me hooked, followed with the 2007 movie The Jane Austen Book Club. Both movies have stuck with me ever since.
That’s why the movie Emma appealed to me so much. Also, the hilarity of Miranda Hart in the trailer.
Thanks to The Jane Austen Book Club, I knew the rough storyline already – that Emma was a match-maker who was too oblivious to notice her one true love was standing before her the whole time.
This version of the story certainly keeps the quirkiness and humour that I understand the book has, but the colour and dramatic stage play essence that director Autumn de Wilde brought to her debut film was brilliant.
I would have laid money on it that the director was Wes Anderson because of the similarity between Emma and The Grand Budapest Hotel. Identical in terms of pastel colours and swift camerawork.
I thought this was the debut movie for Anya Taylor-Joy who played Emma as well. But then I realised that I had seen her before; she’s in Split/Glass!
The only downside of Emma was that the funniest moments were in the trailer. The pacing was also a lot slower than I expected.
Nevertheless, the costumes were spectacular and the characters were all bright and bold!
Jodie’s rating: 5/10
