Review of Jane Eyre (2011) by Blake P — 26 Oct 2013

"Jane Eyre" is a title that to me, is synonymous with the word boring. A mega-important bore-fest, but a bore-fest all the same. Yet this 2011 adaptation makes one instantly forget about the terrible time in the past, in which it was required to read the book for a grade in high school. It's plenty stylish, dramatic, and romantic to a point where it feels modern and fresh. That's a triumph in itself, considering the countless adaptations there have been in the past.

This time, Jane is portrayed by Amelia Clarkson (as a child) and Mia Wasikowska (as a young woman), both of which turn in knockout performances. The film follows the titular character from her abusive and tragedy-struck childhood all the way until her romantic entanglement with her employer, Edward Rochester (Michael Fassbender), at the gloomy Thornfield Hall.

"Jane Eyre" the novel, may seem a bit more dusty as it ages, but even as one reads it, you can't help but feel the sense of underlying doom and darkness, with the barren moors of Thornfield Hall as a mysterious background. At times, it feels like a ghost story, considering the images of pitch-black hallways, luminous candlelight, and enigmatic occurrences that plague the story.

The film captures the imagery the book brings up perfectly. Cary Fukunaga is a young director that certainly has a grasp of his vision; "Jane Eyre" hits the combination of romance and gothic chills without a doubt, leaving the viewer almost in a trance of beauty. Whether or not the film is indoors or out, the atmosphere is heavy, bringing the expressions of the actors out more, and making the story more suspenseful and thought out.

What certainly is exciting though, is how fresh and unfamiliar the film feels as a whole. There have been 17 film adaptations, yet none have truly captured what has been captured here. The story has been told so many times, but this time around we actually are glued to the screen; it seems as though something we haven't seen before could happen at any moment.

In the meantime, no other actress has been quite as memorable as Wasikowska in the main role. An extremely talented young, Australian-born actress only in her mid-'20s, Wasikowska has proved her range time and time again, whether it be in box-office fluff like "Alice in Wonderland" or stylish, art-house productions like "Stoker". In "Jane Eyre", she goes sans makeup and glamour, and her face, already beautiful enough, is full of expression, and her eyes can tell a story all by themselves.

But the character of Jane is passionate, fiery, and isn't afraid to stand-up for herself - Wasikowska effortlessly captures Jane's ferocious persona, while still remaining quite elegant. She completely overshadows the rest of the cast, which includes the buzzy Fassbender, who is slowly making a gigantic name for himself, and grizzled veteran Judi Dench. Had the film come out later in 2011, Wasikowska easily would have been a great deal more considered for an Oscar nomination.

It's a shame that this particular adaptation of "Jane Eyre" has been so little seen, but it's understandable. But even as much as we've heard this story time and time again, Wasikowska and Fukunaga do something extra special that just can't be ignored.