Persuasion

Rating:
Summary: Quietly entertaining
Review: I've seen this Austen adaptation three times, and it never fails to entertain. Austen has captured the era in which she lived so well, this film treatment seldom hits a false note.

I'm no Austen scholar, just a lover of costume dramas. I enjoyed this one more than most, principally because of Amanda Root. Let's face facts. Emma Thompson in Sense and Sensability, and Gwyneth Paltrow in Emma are just gorgeous women. Amanda Root is more plain, and as a consequence, more believable in the role. Yes, you can forget Thompson and Paltrow in their roles, but the just aren't representative of what I imagine English women a couple of centuries ago.

The acting is solid, the British accents understandable (some films out of Australia and Scotland, especially, really need subtitles!), and the sets fit what one would expect from that era.

I rate this film very highly. There are great characters here, and very good acting, even from minor roles. The film doesn't drag, and you really feel Anne Eliot's sense of loss and regret.

Also stars the wonderful Susan Fleetwood and Corin Redgrave. Ciarán Hinds as Captain Wentworth was also very good.

Highly recommended if you like Austen and costume dramas, as do I.

Rating:
Summary: wonderful:-)
Review: 'Persuasion' is one of the nicest movies I have ever seen. At the beginning, I was a little confused and dismayed when I saw the heroine - she didn't look like any movie star I'm really used to seeing- but at the end she was gorgeous. And the captain also, is played by a very attractive Mr. Hinds. I recommend this movie to anyone who is interested in a nice, plain, no-gimmick love story... and to anyone who might need their faith renewed that it is never too late for true love:-)

Rating:
Summary: Root and Hinds Carry Film
Review: A marriage prospect rejected years earlier due to money and class differences seems to be on the lovers' minds as they encounter one another once again. As with all Jane Austen tales, however, the path to marriage is littered with meddling family and friends and many moments of doubt.

This is a slow moving but very romantic movie. Heroine's struggle builds quietly to a very satisfying conclusion. Lead characters, portrayed by Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds, aren't meant to be the prettiest, youngest, or most unforgettable people you'll get to know; their story centers on the internal struggle of what's at stake in seeking a second chance. The movie, like the book, has an understated feel and includes several little twists and turns. Well acted, classic settings, and a gentle romantic air throughout: I heartily recommend this movie.

Rating:
Summary: A solid adaptation of Austen's quietest novel
Review: My copy of the novel "Persuasion" refers to it as having an "autumnal" tone, which has definitely carried over into this adaptation. It makes no pretensions to being another "Pride and Prejudice," or "Sense and Sensibility", lacking those books' underlying theme of warm friendship between sisters. Nor is it like "Emma" or "Northanger Abbey," both comedies featuring immature women and their self-discovery. In other words, "Persuasion" may be a disappointment to those who passionately love one of those other stories, and expect the same thing. This is ironic, considering that some believe "Persuasion" was based on an incident in Jane Austen's real life, where she apparently turned away a suitor in her youth, and later regretted it.

Again - the "autumnal" tone is picked up by the two leads, who are older and less conventionally attractive than, say, Kate Beckingsdale or Jeremy Northam. Ciaran Hinds has a quiet charisma that grows the longer you watch him, and has developed into a viable leading man. Amanda Root begins the film as a grey little mouse and transforms into a more lovely woman halfway through, solely through her skill as an actress, and not through a film of vasoline smeared on the camera.

Those who complain that Root is not pretty enough to fit their mental image are missing the point, and probably did not read the book, where Austen points out that Anne's beauty had faded with age. (As we read on, we realize that it's her love for life that's dimmed, which in turn has affected her attractiveness to others. Her handsome father certainly becomes less good-looking each time his prissy behavior is described.)

In the film, it would be easy to pull a "Grease"-like transformation - where, like Olivia Newton John, Amanda Root comes out all dolled up in makeup and a hot bodice, ready to jump on the Regency tilt-a-whirl. But the Captain and Anne regain their passion for another through their rediscovery of each other's hearts, not their good looks - although seeing each other's good character instantly brightens their countenance and puts a spring in their step, making them much more attractive. Neither Hinds nor Root need a gallon of makeup to make this transformation believable.

The two performances that I enjoyed most, however, were that of Sophie Thompson and Fiona Shaw. Thompson, who was only vaguely boorish in "Four Weddings and a Funeral," as a woman despairing of meeting a quality mate, goes full-hog as a high maintenance mooch. Very funny.

Shaw, on the other hand, is one of the funniest things about the "Harry Potter" movies, as Harry's dreadful aunt. Here, she is positively vibrant as a happy naval wife. She just brims with love and vigor, believable as a woman who has travelled the seas to be with her husband, and who wishes happiness for her younger brother and all around her. Both the character and the portrayal make a fine contrast to Anne's waspish sisters and father, and the overindulgent yet loving Musgroves. Only five years older than costar Root, with what seems to be a great range, I wonder what charm Shaw might have brought to the role of Anne if she had been offered the part at an appropriate age.

This is a warm, and yes, subtle movie, which will chase away the blues on a winter day.

Rating:
Summary: Not a very good adaptation
Review: This adaptation is rather disappointing. It seemed as if under time pressure, the ending in particular was overly compressed. They would have been better served making a mini-series out of it. It's OK, but you won't be enthralled.

Rating:
Summary: brilliant and beautiful
Review: Persuasion is a masterpiece of subtlety, a fine example of
the kind of film that can be made when all involved place
quality over market value. The film is not for the dense, as it requires patience and the understanding of an era, challenging viewers to read the subtext and to listen to Austen's richly written characters. Notice (those who've seen the film many times) how lines giving away important details are thrown away, spoken in a matter-of-fact manner, so easy to miss if you're not paying close attention. It took me several viewings to
grasp every detail of the story (haven't read the book).

In fact, it took me a couple of viewings to even like the film, much less love it as I do now!
I wanted it so much to be as electrifying as Pride and Prejudice. I wanted fireworks from these two lovers, the kind of impassioned conversations you'd hear from Miss Bennett and Mr. Darcy. But it's just not that kind of romance. Anne and Wentworth have a private and painful history that nobody seems to understand but them. There is the surface knowledge between the other characters, but then such a heavy, quiet knowledge between the main two. They are NOT meant to engage in a battle of wits or lash out at one another in fits of anger. They are meant to rekindle the deep, meaningful feelings they once had for each other, but delicately, gradually, and almost as secretly as their initial engagement.

Amazing how this dashing, macho Captain of the Navy becomes stifled around Anne. Love is so much scarier to him than any sea battle. At first he is aloof, avoids her, downright ignores her. He comes around so gradually, yet so inevitably, as does Anne's soul. And nobody notices the reasons for their respective transformations, their growing attachment, but them. Their affection for one another is their own little secret shared only with the most sensitive viewer.

I urge those who didn't like it to watch it again. There is so much beauty and grace in this film. It is a rare and genuine treasure.

Rating:
Summary: A Trifle Disappointing
Review: I'm a huge Austen fan and take any chance to see movie adaptations of her novels. Persuasion is one of my all-time favorite novels.

This adaptation is rather disappointing. I was hoping for as beautiful a film as I'd read in reviews. Instead I felt the action was too hurried toward the end, the beginning painfully slow and the characters too exaggerated.

The novel was beautiful and subtle and made the reader ache for Anne. Instead, this movie makes you ache to watch. Ciarán Hinds is just too oafish (my opinion) to play the dashingly handsome Wentworth, Anne's father, Sir Walter, too much of a fop, when he really wasn't that bad, and Anne herself too plain and meek for her stronger novel-character.

The movie wasn't wholly bad, though. The slow, autumnal feel was glorious. I enjoyed Lady Russell's character as well as the scenes when there are in Lyme.
The ending was just odd, including the final scene when Anne and Wentworth are standing in the middle of a street parade. Where did that come from??
One thing that really bugged me was the treatment of Wentworth's letter to Anne. How that letter made my heart flutter when I read it! And in the movie, it was unintelligible!!! Don't have two voice-overs crossing each other: Half of what is said is lost. Where was the editing on this scene? It should have been his voice alone, or Anne's voice beginning and his picking up, but not overlapping as they alternated.
I'm still waiting for a truer adaptation.

Rating:
Summary: Strong start, odd finish
Review: This video adaptation of my favorite JA novel starts wonderfully, features a near-perfect cast and sets, and even wardrobe. But about halfway through the story the script takes a couple of odd turns, departing from the spirit of the novel in ways I found irritating. These departures seemed designed to hustle things along to fit a movie timeframe, which is unavoidable, but they didn't have to be quite so obvious.

For instance, Wentworth stiffly requests a private interview on a street corner to ask on behalf of "my admiral" whether she'll want to move into Kellynch after marrying Mr. Elliot?! And declares his intention of marrying Anne right in the middle of Sir Walter and Elizabeth's party--to everyone?!

Overall, the first half is worth the annoyance of the second. Someone who hasn't read the book over and over won't notice much wrong, but brace yourself, dedicated Austen fan, for a few bumps along the road. The perfect video adaptation may come along someday.

Rating:
Summary: This is The Best Jane Austen movie ever!
Review: I think that this is the best adaptation ever done of a Jane Austen book. It shows the delicate, scathing and halarious language of Jane Austen in the matter in which it was intended...by portraying the manners of the times, the situations that could create this irony it really gives us a fully realized adaptation. I think that Amanda Root and Cieran Hinds are marvelous along with all the players. I cannot watch this movie and be bored. I wish that it had shown more of what happened in the end with her shoolgirl friend as I always thought that Austen put in these characters as a small reflection on what she thought her financial situation was at the time but other than that, it is perfection!

Rating:
Summary: Watch it a second time
Review: Although I have read several Jane Austen books and then saw the movie, that was not the case with Persuasion. I didn't know the story and so didn't know what to expect.

I watched it the first time and was a little let down because at first it really DID seem a little boring as other viewers have mentioned in their reviews. But then on a rainy Sunday afternoon (isn't that the best times to watch romantic movies??) I watched it again and LOVED it this time! I think I had just missed a lot of the subtleties the first time around and think that must be the case with the viewers who submitted poor reviews...they just missed all the undercurrents and subtleties.

The first time I saw the movie I did not see the handsomeness or beauty in the Captain or Anne but by the end of the second viewing I was in love with the Captain and finally noticed that although Anne is mousy, she is the prettiest female in the movie. Especially at the end when they both were just glowing. Is that glow, especially on Anne's face, just a good makeup artist's trick or fine acting...or just a projection of how you, yourself feel about the characters by the end of the movie?? All the characters are really not very attractive looking in this movie, but I loved that because it seemed mover REAL. How many times have you heard how beautiful some historic figure (Anne Boleyn, Marie Antionette??) was supposed to be, then saw a picture of them and thought...uggg! Different time periods have different ideals of beauty. From pictures that I have seen of this time period, the women really DID look like this, not like so-called modern beauties like Gweneth Paltrow as she was in Emma.

A couple of the scenes that I absolutely adore are where Anne is at the opera. She is there with Mr Elliot, who wants Anne also, but only for what a marriage with her can do for him. She is ignoring Mr Elliot, who is trying to tell Anne of his feelings and intentions, because she can see that Captain Wentworth is leaving because he can see what is going on between them. She runs to stop the Captain from leaving begging him to stay which he will not due because of his jealousy of Mr Elliot, who is also standing there with them having this very passionate conversation. Everyone is watching them instead of the singer! Little, meek, spinsterish Anne now has TWO men wanting her! The other scene I love is the one where the Captain is coming over to ask Anne's father if he can marry Anne. Her self-absorbed sister who seems to despise Anne and lords over her, and almost treats her as a servant throughout the movie, actually tells her to try not to monopolize the Captain's time when he arrives...probably so that she may have a chance at him. And when the Captain asks for Anne's hand in marriage, her father is actually in disbelief that it is Anne the Captain wants.

So, if you watch this the first time and didn't like it, watch it again and you will be very pleasantly surprised.