Click here to enter my other blog: Jane Austen's World.

Friday, August 17

Becoming Jane

This weekend I am going to see Becoming Jane, which has finally come to our city. In my small Janeite group people are skeptical about the film. "What are the chances that Hollywood's take on her life will be accurate?" asked one. "I don't see how they can make an entire movie about a minor youthful romance," said another. "I didn't like that last (2005) interpretation of Pride and Prejudice," remarked a third, "so I don't hold out much hope that this movie will be any better."

"Anne Hathaway?"" I asked, my artist's sensibilities slightly ruffled and offended at this mismatch of visual cues. Seeing Anne's dramatic, gorgeous features disguised as Jane Austen, and watching her romp about the country side like a frisky young filly and making moon eyes at the actor playing Tom Lefroy in previews, well, it all seems anachronistic to me. In fact, to my eyes, watching Anne as Jane is like watching a parrot disguising itself as a thrush. Both birds are beautiful in entirely different ways.

I like my Jane Austen just as she is, thank you, no more and no less. In fact, I rather like the quiet, mysterious side of her and I don't need to see her life glammed up by Hollywood types whose main mission in creating a film is the bottom line. So I will see this movie with some trepidation.

Nevertheless, I'll try to see Becoming Jane with open eyes, since so many people are reporting that they like it and because it has garnered a number of good reviews, but something deep inside tells me to remember as I watch, "It's only a movie." As for my review of Becoming Jane, don't expect to see it soon. I intend to see the film twice and will take my time digesting what I have seen before writing my opinion.


Links to Becoming Jane

Did you intend to jump onto the Becoming Jane bandwagon, only to have stumbled across my quiet site? Here are some important links:
  • Becoming Jane Fansite: An unabashed fan site of the film that contains an enormous amount of information about the movie and actors, and speculations about Jane's romance with Tom.

4 comments:

Tina said...

I hope you'll enjoy the film! It's fraught with historical inaccuracy, yes, but it's visually stunning and awfully sweet. I was shocked by my own tears at the end.

Linda Merrill said...

I'm dying to see your review! I saw it on Sunday and I agree with tina - probably not accurate, but I loved it anyway and did shed some tears at the end. But then, I've been accused of being one to cry at supermarket openings, so that's not saying much...

Anonymous said...

I just finished watching 15 min ago... To be honest, I don't have a good background, information, biography... of Jane Austen as you have, But I do adore what I have read from her... I still experience the same feelings I experienced the first time I read Pride and Prejudice, and ever I have the time, I would go for it, even though besides my heart will be touched I enjoy it the most... Back to movie, I really enjoyed all the movie and could go through the feelings, may not precisely perfect; however the passionate was more than clear, where Jane left Tom while they were running away so wisely but bitter than imaginations, I just couldn't help it, I wanted to shout "give him a choice, please..." my tears were running and my voice was gone... Just came back to that feeling... I love jane Austen!

Anonymous said...

I just finished watching 15 min ago... To be honest, I don't have a good background, information, biography... of Jane Austen as you have, But I do adore what I have read from her... I still experience the same feelings I experienced the first time I read Pride and Prejudice, and ever I have the time, I would go for it, even though besides my heart will be touched I enjoy it the most... Back to movie, I really enjoyed all the movie and could go through the feelings, may not precisely perfect; however the passionate was more than clear, where Jane left Tom while they were running away so wisely but bitter than imaginations, I just couldn't help it, I wanted to shout "give him a choice, please..." my tears were running and my voice was gone... Just came back to that feeling... I love jane Austen!