Review of Sense and Sensibility (1995) by James R — 25 Feb 2010

There is an old adage that goes "you can't polish a turd" - but Ang Lee has proved this wrong, with an excellent cast and some beautiful directing. Despite the original novel being duller than a weekend sorting out a stamp collection with an elderly relative, there is some sort of magic at work here.

I didn't think you could even make Austen watchable, let alone good......but I was wrong. It is a terrific cast that really makes this happen, particularly the on screen chemistry between the two female leads.

Emma Thompson( one of the RSC's and Britain's finest) and Kate Winslet (fresh faced and before the stardom of Titanic had plucked her from obscurity) give an outstanding performance that really encapsulates the mood and era of late 19th Century England.

If anything the men don't quite make it up to the same level; Hugh Grant is playing himself (again!) but doing a sterling job and Alan Rickman isn't given enough screen time to show what he is capable of.

The supporting cast are excellent, and the directing of Ang Lee always captures the beauty of nature and the feel of locations. This movie is sumptuous, lavish and well crafted - so despite it originally being an Austen novel, I've rated it quite highly.

Shock horror for anyone who has listened to me rant about the quality of Austen novels.