A timeless adaptation of a timeless Novel

The fantastic romantic world of Jane Austen again makes its way to the
silver screen in Joe Wright's new adaptation of the classic novel Pride
and Prejudice. It is the first feature film to be adapted from it in 65
years, and believe me when I say it does not disappoint. This adaptation
is, for lack of a better word, a BRILLIANT achievement that keeps you
actively involved from the first scene to the very last scene, just about
consuming you with aching romance and it is sprinkled with humour and
intelligence.

Still taking place in the late 1700s and still interweaving its story with
timeless emotion, pride, narrow-mindedness and love, Pride and
Prejudice (2005) zooms in on the Bennet household in class-conscious,
stuck-up England. In this household, we follow five spirited sisters under
the idealism of their overbearing mother (a superbly neurotic Brenda
Blethlyn providing for the comic relief) who desperately wants them all
to marry and thereby secure the future of the family estate. But the
standout sister and protagonist in the film, Lizzie (Keira Knightley) is
clever enough to have other ideas, but alas too romantic to carry them
out... *sigh*

When reviewing period films such as this one, one often focuses on the
setting and costume design. I believe this is done because they are often
better crafted than the actual story. But in Pride and Prejudice (2005),
the stormy emotions of its characters bottled up but bubbling to get out
completely consume the entire film and places understated set designs
in the backseat. Only when it was consciously put forward, like when
Lizzie Bennet was admiring the beautiful architecture and Greek statues
of Mr. Darcy's estate, did I ever notice the background and it was, of
course, extraordinary. A similar state displaying the dynamics of its
central cast should be attributed to the grand dancing scene between
Lizzie and Mr. Darcy the two are so absorbing that when Wright
purposely fades out the the rest of the dancing crowd, you do not notice
a change. Your eyes are still solely Knightley and Macfadyen. It took me
three viewings to realise this.

As for acting performances then, the unspeakably lovely Keira Knightley

has finally done it. She has proved me wrong with a truly Oscar-worthy
performance and she does it without crying, worrying, moping and
sighing like the other nominees that year. Knightley is in fact all about
sweet subtlety here, bringing a fantastic presence to her high-spirited
character Lizzie. She is the type of character that every girl and woman
in the world can identify with and with Knightley behind her to give her
oomph, you will not find a more likable creature in films this year.
MacFayden is completely satisfactory as Lizzie's love interest Mr. Darcy,
but he is no Colin Firth lacking in charm and is a bit too wooden. But no
matter, because these two have the best on-screen chemistry I have
ever seen. I'm not kidding, this was sensational. Such magnetism. It is
highlighted from scene 1, playfully touching upon their sexual tension
and gradually turning it into feverish love that sends chills down your
spine.

Every last actor in the cast of Pride and Prejudice (2005) gets to shine in
their character from Dame Judi Dench (Lady Catherine) as a cold rich
lady to Donald Sutherland as caring Mr Bennet, all except Jena Malone
whose all too Valley-girl American attitude was distracting and
annoyingly anachronistic. But it is Knightley who is in focus and who
propels the film with her warm charisma. It is impossible not to fall in
love with the main characters, and I say this as someone who avoids
romance-themed films and who does not care for period films.

This is a truly timeless story and this film will hopefully be remembered,
celebrated and praised for breathing life into it with such passion.