Review of Sense and Sensibility (1995) by Kelly B — 30 Aug 2013

As a ginormous fan of Jane Austen, I tried twice but just could not finish this movie. I realize that I'm probably in the minority; but Emma Thompson, in my opinion, just took too many liberties with the script, deviating a little too much not only from the content of the original novel, but more importantly from its spirit.

And this, again in my view, had much to do with the casting. I love Emma Thompson as an actor; but she was (and I hate to voice this)-- she was simply too old to play the part of Elinor Dashwood. Furthermore, Kate Winslet, whom I also respect very much as an actor, was miscast as Marianne Dashwood, capturing neither the magnetism nor volatility of the character-- and hence was not as central within the movie as the book. She seemed more a secondary, supporting presence in the shadow of Elinor; but the real 'love story' within the book is that between the two sisters, whose individual strengths and weaknesses, and ultimately unconditional love for one another, helps both to endure and even grow through very difficult challenges. And for this to be delineated, Marianne must have a very strong presence in the story, which seemed lacking for me in the movie.

Continuing in my picky-ness, Hugh Grant, who would have made a perfect Willoughby, was woefully miscast as Edward Ferrars. And I have other complaints about the casting, though I am reaching perhaps a point of embarrassment at just how picky I must seem by now ...

Probably the lesson for me here is that when I watch movies adapted from favorite authors or novels, they just might not go quite as I would have had them! lol.