Becoming Jane

[Virgil Reality]

I have rented becoming Jane and was watching it and got a little bored; distracted enough to wander over to the computer to check my emails and am here posting random messages.

One thing that has struck me is how similar it is to the Keira Knightley version of Pride and Prejudice. Lingering shot of lush english countryside and views of the house. Check. Pigs wandering around. Check. Instead of Judi Dench they have Maggie Smith. Instead of Brenda Blethyn they have Julie Walters. They have Rupert Friend/Wickham clone . It would be interesting to put them side by side and really check out the small "reference/homage/rip-offs.

[marycathy]

You're right, there is quite a lot of similarities between the two movies.
I love the English countryside, those kind of shots that we can see in both films are really gorgeous, it's very poetic and it gives authenticity to the movies. Ditto for the houses, I especially like the house shot at the beginning of Becoming Jane, it's very similar to the one at the beginning of Pride & Prejudice. What is interesting is that it gives a wrong outline of both movies. The houses are quite big, spacious, well-maintained... but in fact Jane and Lizzie aren't very rich, we can almost say they were poor for that period. Pretty interesting way of starting a movie to lead the spectator the wrong way.

You're right about pigs too! lol. It seems it was a constant in the life of a typical british family at that time.

Brenda Blethyn and Julie Walters do a great job as marriage-obsessed, giggling, authoritative mothers. I love them, they are so grotesque! ;D Especially Lizzie's mother.

About Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, although they are both very cold and narrow-minded, I find the character of Maggie Smith way more funny, and what is great is that she's unconsciously, unintentionally funny. This is so much better than a character meant and intending to be funny! But Judi Dench's Lady Catherine is fantastic, I found her almost frightening. There is something about her eyes, her look, that just makes me shudder! Contrary to Maggie Smith's character, who's got more of a lighter side, I think.

I love the two movies. I've actually seen them enough times to know them by heart now, and each time, it's so good! The love stories are skilfully developped. And I love the mix of humour and poetry.
Maybe the similarities are due to the fact that both movies are related to Jane Austen, and to her time and society.
Or maybe it is a director's choice to have the same kind of characters as in Knightley's Pride & Prejudice, so that the spectators would recognize Jane Austen's universe. Who knows? I take it as a kind of wink.
It would be interesting to read Jon Spence's book. Becoming Jane is based on it, and maybe some similarities weren't in the book and were added by the director.

I'm currently studying Joe wright's Pride & Prejudice, the Keira Knightley version, for my courses at the university, and Jane Austen's world is so beautiful and poetic that now I want to see every movie related to her. lol
I love Becoming Jane, the beginning is quite different from the second part of the movie, and that's what's interesting. We wonder what'll happen.
But everyone to their own taste.
My mom hates Pride & Prejudice, I hesitate to encourage her to see Becoming Jane...