Emma will be playing in theaters beginning February 21.
By Elazar Abrahams
Call me uncultured, but I’ve never read a Jane Austen novel. In fact, I’m pretty much unfamiliar with any of her books. I know she’s the author of Pride and Prejudice. That’s about it. So when I had the chance to see a press screening of Emma (officially stylized Emma., with a period at the end), which is based on another one of her books, I was hesitant to RSVP. I’m a guy who enjoys a lot of stereotypical guy movies. You know the ones; films far removed from the 19th century English countrysides of Austen adaptations. I couldn’t have been more wrong. It took about 25 minutes, but I became fully immersed in the “handsome, clever, and rich” world of Emma Woodhouse.
It sounds crazy but there are so many aspects of this movie I loved. The costumes and corsets! The delightfully pleasant atmosphere! The eclectic cast of British actors you recognize from other projects! The hymn-filled soundtrack! The complex yet simplistic dialogue! The flirtatiousness! The relaxed while still urgent pacing! The timeless narrative!
I don’t think Emma is a must-see movie, but it proved to be a surprisingly fun getaway. For the two-hour runtime, I was totally sucked in. Perhaps a library visit to check out a Jane Austen book is long overdue.
I give Emma a B+.
TV and City 