RomComs - the target of perfection at which we shoot in vain
Or a movie version of it, at any rate. :P I wrote about probably my favorite adaptation of Emma (which is Clueless) a couple of years ago, in what was I think my first "movie of the day" series. But very close to that one in my affections is Douglas McGrath's wonderful period adaptation, with Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeremy Northam, Toni Collette, and the devilish wonderful Alan Cumming.
Emma
I had a professor once who was convinced that Jane Austen was the illegitimate daughter of Henry Fielding, and I think there's something to that. Not literally, obviously, but there is a definite similarity in their styles (though I believe Austen exceeds her "father" in many respects, especially in her subtlety - Harmonians have nothing on you, Jane!). It's not always easy to capture Austen's subtle and often stinging wit - I think Clueless, strangely, does a better job of this than today's film. But what McGrath's Emma captures better than Clueless, I think, is Austen's warmth, which may be hard to discern through her crisp Englishness, but is probably what I love best about Austen's works on the whole. There are few things, for example, more moving to me in the novel Emma than Austen's description of Mr. Knightley greeting his brother John, and the sincere warmth of feeling between them that is buried "under a calmness that seemed all but indifference." I think of that every time I see this movie, because it too has a tremendous warmth of feeling underneath "the true English style."
This was the first movie that Gwyneth Paltrow really carried on her shoulders, and I think it shows why she became a genuine star. Say what you want about her celebrity persona and overexposure, most of which I think is not her fault, but I find her a very engaging actress and it's very difficult not to feel what she's feeling at any given moment. A sterling example of this in Emma is the scene just after she insults Miss Bates. Mr. Knightley admonishes her quite sternly ("Badly done, Emma!"), and I ca-- dude, I'm tearing up right now just thinking about her absolutely CRUSHED expression there. There are performers that over the years I have classified as "ugly criers" - actors who, when they cry on screen, make me feel a sense of horror rather than pity. Jerry O'Connell and Julia Stiles are currently my reigning king and queen of "ugly crying." But, silly a classification as it may seem, Gwyneth is at the opposite end of the spectrum there. I don't know that I ever feel more pity for any characters on screen than I do for hers, her Emma Woodhouse in particular.
This was pretty much Jeremy Northam's first big role as well. I'll spare you most of my gushing, though, and simply say that he is brilliant, and there are not one men in a hundred who have "gentleman" so plainly written across him as Mr. Northam. And after seeing this, I find it a bit unsettling to see him in other kinds of roles, such as villains and ... you know, other people who don't wear waistcoats. :P
There's always been something a little off to me about the casting of Toni Collette as Harriet. She certainly plays the part tremendously well, but she's a bit too old. Or at least she seems that way - she's actually the same age as Paltrow, but she looks older. And she doesn't have the kind of vacant prettiness that I associate with Harriet. She's certainly hilarious, but she seems too much like an intelligent actress playing dumb, and that kind of cuts into the sympathy I feel I ought to have for the character. Not much, mind you, but it does. Alan Cumming was another interesting casting choice. I had only seen him before this in Circle of Friends and Goldeneye, so I associated him with a rather sleazy, insincere kind of character. Which sort of fits, I guess, but I think Mr. Elton deserves at least a bit of sympathy.
I love some of the smaller roles in this - Greta Scacchi as Mrs. Weston, Juliet Stevenson as Mrs. Elton, and the sublime Sophie Thompson as Miss Bates (her mother, Phyllida Law - who also happens to be Emma Thompson's mother :P - plays Mrs. Bates). Polly Walker is "very elegant" as Jane Fairfax. And who is more fetching than Ewan McGregor as Frank Churchill? He's wonderfully charming in this, but his disastrous haircut is a bit distracting. :)
I have to say something about the music as well. McGrath really did his homework on this (no music supervisor is listed in the credits, so I'm guessing McGrath chose the non-score music). I was pleased to actually recognize a couple of tunes. The waltz that Emma and Knightley dance to at the ball is the same one Lizzy and Darcy dance to at the Netherfield ball in the BBC Pride and Prejudice - and the steps to the dance are even mostly the same. I also remember, after seeing this film, studying the novel in college and hearing my professor (the one with the Fielding theory) play some period tunes. I instantly recognized one of the songs as the one Emma plays and sings (partly with Frank) at the Coles' party.
But of course the real music magic is Rachel Portman's delightful (and Oscar-winning) score. I used to have a sort of obsession with film scores, and this has always been one of my favorites. The opening theme is just so heartbreakingly perfect and simple and really sets the tone for the rest of the film. Like Miss Woodhouse herself, it has a graceful and restrained dignity, while still occasionally lapsing into the absurd. I think Portman also composed the rousing ball tune that Harriet and Mr. Knightley dance to, which turns out to be one of the more joyous moments in the film.
Lots of love for this movie. It really captures Austen's compassionate heart and the novel's themes of friendship.
Great Moments in Dialogue:
Emma: She'd never seen him before, and she called him Knightley!
Harriet: I saw her at church. She seemed...
Emma: Vulgar? Base? Conceited? Crass? She actually seemed pleased to discover that Mr. Knightley was a gentleman. I doubt he'll return the compliment and find *her* a lady. She proposed that we form a *musical club*. Is it possible that Mr. Elton met her while doing charitable work in a mental infirmary?
Emma: (sighs) There is only one thing to do with a person as impossible as she.
Harriet: What?
Emma: I must throw a party for her. Otherwise everyone will feel at once how much I dislike her.
"Awwww!" Moment: There are several, but probably my favorite is "Marry me, my wonderful, darling friend." The line is wonderful, and Northam's delivery makes me melt every time.
Emma
I had a professor once who was convinced that Jane Austen was the illegitimate daughter of Henry Fielding, and I think there's something to that. Not literally, obviously, but there is a definite similarity in their styles (though I believe Austen exceeds her "father" in many respects, especially in her subtlety - Harmonians have nothing on you, Jane!). It's not always easy to capture Austen's subtle and often stinging wit - I think Clueless, strangely, does a better job of this than today's film. But what McGrath's Emma captures better than Clueless, I think, is Austen's warmth, which may be hard to discern through her crisp Englishness, but is probably what I love best about Austen's works on the whole. There are few things, for example, more moving to me in the novel Emma than Austen's description of Mr. Knightley greeting his brother John, and the sincere warmth of feeling between them that is buried "under a calmness that seemed all but indifference." I think of that every time I see this movie, because it too has a tremendous warmth of feeling underneath "the true English style."
This was the first movie that Gwyneth Paltrow really carried on her shoulders, and I think it shows why she became a genuine star. Say what you want about her celebrity persona and overexposure, most of which I think is not her fault, but I find her a very engaging actress and it's very difficult not to feel what she's feeling at any given moment. A sterling example of this in Emma is the scene just after she insults Miss Bates. Mr. Knightley admonishes her quite sternly ("Badly done, Emma!"), and I ca-- dude, I'm tearing up right now just thinking about her absolutely CRUSHED expression there. There are performers that over the years I have classified as "ugly criers" - actors who, when they cry on screen, make me feel a sense of horror rather than pity. Jerry O'Connell and Julia Stiles are currently my reigning king and queen of "ugly crying." But, silly a classification as it may seem, Gwyneth is at the opposite end of the spectrum there. I don't know that I ever feel more pity for any characters on screen than I do for hers, her Emma Woodhouse in particular.
This was pretty much Jeremy Northam's first big role as well. I'll spare you most of my gushing, though, and simply say that he is brilliant, and there are not one men in a hundred who have "gentleman" so plainly written across him as Mr. Northam. And after seeing this, I find it a bit unsettling to see him in other kinds of roles, such as villains and ... you know, other people who don't wear waistcoats. :P
There's always been something a little off to me about the casting of Toni Collette as Harriet. She certainly plays the part tremendously well, but she's a bit too old. Or at least she seems that way - she's actually the same age as Paltrow, but she looks older. And she doesn't have the kind of vacant prettiness that I associate with Harriet. She's certainly hilarious, but she seems too much like an intelligent actress playing dumb, and that kind of cuts into the sympathy I feel I ought to have for the character. Not much, mind you, but it does. Alan Cumming was another interesting casting choice. I had only seen him before this in Circle of Friends and Goldeneye, so I associated him with a rather sleazy, insincere kind of character. Which sort of fits, I guess, but I think Mr. Elton deserves at least a bit of sympathy.
I love some of the smaller roles in this - Greta Scacchi as Mrs. Weston, Juliet Stevenson as Mrs. Elton, and the sublime Sophie Thompson as Miss Bates (her mother, Phyllida Law - who also happens to be Emma Thompson's mother :P - plays Mrs. Bates). Polly Walker is "very elegant" as Jane Fairfax. And who is more fetching than Ewan McGregor as Frank Churchill? He's wonderfully charming in this, but his disastrous haircut is a bit distracting. :)
I have to say something about the music as well. McGrath really did his homework on this (no music supervisor is listed in the credits, so I'm guessing McGrath chose the non-score music). I was pleased to actually recognize a couple of tunes. The waltz that Emma and Knightley dance to at the ball is the same one Lizzy and Darcy dance to at the Netherfield ball in the BBC Pride and Prejudice - and the steps to the dance are even mostly the same. I also remember, after seeing this film, studying the novel in college and hearing my professor (the one with the Fielding theory) play some period tunes. I instantly recognized one of the songs as the one Emma plays and sings (partly with Frank) at the Coles' party.
But of course the real music magic is Rachel Portman's delightful (and Oscar-winning) score. I used to have a sort of obsession with film scores, and this has always been one of my favorites. The opening theme is just so heartbreakingly perfect and simple and really sets the tone for the rest of the film. Like Miss Woodhouse herself, it has a graceful and restrained dignity, while still occasionally lapsing into the absurd. I think Portman also composed the rousing ball tune that Harriet and Mr. Knightley dance to, which turns out to be one of the more joyous moments in the film.
Lots of love for this movie. It really captures Austen's compassionate heart and the novel's themes of friendship.
Great Moments in Dialogue:
Emma: She'd never seen him before, and she called him Knightley!
Harriet: I saw her at church. She seemed...
Emma: Vulgar? Base? Conceited? Crass? She actually seemed pleased to discover that Mr. Knightley was a gentleman. I doubt he'll return the compliment and find *her* a lady. She proposed that we form a *musical club*. Is it possible that Mr. Elton met her while doing charitable work in a mental infirmary?
Emma: (sighs) There is only one thing to do with a person as impossible as she.
Harriet: What?
Emma: I must throw a party for her. Otherwise everyone will feel at once how much I dislike her.
"Awwww!" Moment: There are several, but probably my favorite is "Marry me, my wonderful, darling friend." The line is wonderful, and Northam's delivery makes me melt every time.