`Emma' stays truer to novel than `Clueless'
Let's see ... Both star beautiful blonde actresses. ( Emma has its Gwyneth Paltrow of Seven fame; Clueless , its Alicia Silverstone). Both film titles are two syllables each. Oh, and incidentally, both films are based on the same Jane Austen novel, Emma.
Also -- perhaps least believable, judging from Emma 's relatively low box office turnout -- it offers just as much entertainment as Clueless did.
A rich plot full of twists, a stunning cast and impressive aesthetics combine to form a truly entertaining film.
Douglas McGrath, who co-wrote the screenplay for Bullets Over Broadway with Woody Allen, has his debut directing with Emma . He succeeds in bringing the classic novel to life in a way that entertains modern crowds while not compromising the original story.
A wealth of beautiful costumes, richly-decorated mansions, 12-course banquets and lush pastoral landscapes takes the viewer back to 19th century English elegance.
The story starts out simply enough: Picture a young and vivacious Emma Woodfield (Gwyneth Paltrow) residing in a stylish Highbury estate with her widowed father. With her sky-high level of smarts, spunk and compassion, Emma finds herself unwillingly quagmired in an era in which wealthy women like herself are to remain idle. However, when her dear friend and governess (Greta Scacchi) resigns to marry, Emma instantly feels the void caused by her absence and it pushes her doldrums to new lows.
Lonely and bored, Emma is confronted with the need for a purpose, for something to fill her days. Given her lack of options, she decides upon a hobby that suits her compassionate spirit -- match-making. But the movie's plot really kicks into gear when Emma's efforts to pair up people go awry in ways she had never dreamed.
Her mistakes and failed attempts to match kindred hearts force her to abandon her endearing and comical naiveté for the realization that she neither fully understands human love nor is capable of being the town's problem-solver for matters of the heart. She is forced to see that human emotions are more than a game or mere playthings to dabble in between sewing and tea breaks. So the audience watches as Emma, for the first time unprotected by her sheltered, cushy lifestyle, learns to grow up.
One of the best things about the movie is its believability in spite of its fairy-tale ending. Whether due to great acting, excellent casting or a combination of the two, the movie seems to pop out of real life.
Paltrow does an excellent job with the role of Emma. Not phony or overdone, she seems sincere, sweet and personable, just as her character should be. She takes the role and runs with it.
Other actresses who shine are Toni Collette (who plays the bubbly and slightly awkward Harriet Smith) and Juliet Stevenson (whose role is Mrs. Elton). Worth mentioning is Ewan McGregor, who assumes the role of a suitor named Frank Churchill. Clean-cut and finely dressed, he is hardly recognizable as the actor who plays a junkie in Trainspotting .
The one casting hang-up is Alan Cumming in the role of Mr. Elton -- it's not his fault that he looks exactly like Pee Wee Herman. Still, his acting does little to detract from that distracting similarity.
Another great thing about the movie is that, unlike many other films of this genre, it's entertaining and fun throughout; there are few dull moments. Emma is not an action-packed thriller. It's also not your typical comedy. But if you enjoyed Sense and Sensibility (another Austen book-turned film) or Age of Innocence , you'll love Emma .
An interesting, believable plot and a generous sprinkling of witty comebacks and playful banter help. One particularly memorable line occurs at a picnic when Emma attempts to get an overly doting nuisance off her back by sending him away to get her some punch. As he leaves, she adds, "I could not enjoy it if I knew you had hurried."
Emma has long been regarded as the most accomplished of Austen's six novels, and under McGrath's direction, the film does what Clueless , an all-out, modern-day comedy, was not in the position to do the novel -- justice.
This item appeared in the Arts & Entertainment section of the August 30, 1996 issue.
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