Love & Friendship - directed by Whit Stillman
Screenplay: Whit Stillman (Based on Jane Austen's novel)
For the last decade to be a fan of Kate Beckinsale meant really that you were more a fan of hot chicks in PVC shooting lots of people.
I guess someone had to fill in for the long lost Trinity from The Matrix movies and the four (soon to be five) Underworld movies did the trick.
Beckinsale starred as Seline in three of the four films released between 2003 and 2012 but the role came to define her career.
Yes she was in big budget hokum like "Pearl Harbor" and "Van Helsing" but both were nowhere near as good as they should have been and it was her Underworld movies that made her name as well known as it is.
Before 2003 however she was in a bunch of tv shows and movies that required more from her than looking good dual wielding pistols or wearing bodices and nurses outfits.
Don't get me wrong - I like the Underworld movies.
They are fun and I have all of them on blu-ray.
They just don't require any of the talent that she displayed very early in her career.
Thank God then for "Love & Friendship" a Jane Austen adaptation that sees her rocket back to the sort of form that she promised all of those years ago.
This is a movie that could easily have been a stage production with its small number of locations and reliance on dialogue over action.
With an opening that shows an unseen Lady Susan Vernon (Beckinsale) leaving the estate of Langford to an abundance of tears from those left behind we are soon introduced to a frequent device used by writer-director Whit Stillman - titles.
We are introduced to the major players by way of heavily posed shots of the characters with a titled name and description on screen.
Lord Manwaring is entitled something like 'divinely handsome' for instance.
It is a witty method with which to introduce the numerous characters of the piece but don't worry if this who's who doesn't hold in your memory - we will meet them all again in no time.
The widowed Lady Susan travels to her sister-in-law Catherine DeCourcy Vernon's estate named Churchill.
She will take with her a woman to 'pack and unpack things' but states that as 'We have an element of friendship' she will not insult her by offering a salary.
So it is with Lady Vernon - everything that she does is a scheme to further her own fortunes.
And she is very, very good at it.
Like many Austen protagonists Lady Susan is masterful at manipulating those around her like chess pieces in a greater game.
She has her young daughter Frederica who she is trying to marry off to the boneheaded Sir James Martin while she herself has Reginald DeCourcy firmly under her spell.
It is all about money and social standing.
Frederica's suggestion that rather than marrying the wealthy but ill-matching Sir James Martin she will become a teacher to support herself is met with frequent scoffs of derision.
It is simply not the place for a young woman of standing.
In truth the plot has been done many times before and often at the pen of Austen but this is a movie demanding execution rather then plot.
And with casting that is nothing less than perfection and sparklingly clever dialogue this movie is great fun.
It all rests on Beckinsales shoulders and she dominates the film with a performance that is a timely reminder of how damned good she can be.
She is very, very good indeed.
Her role comes loaded with rapier sharp jibes and jabs delivered with such smooth precision that it's amazing that Beckinsale could conceal her glee at being handed such gems.
Providing humour of a less sophisticated variety but no the less hilarious for it is Tom Bennett as Sir James Martin.
His confusion over the difference between Church-Hill and Churchill is merely the first instance in which this buffoon steals a scene.
He is enraptured to be served peas in one scene - it appears that he has not heard of the vegetable before.
There is however more to "Love & Friendship" than the wit.
As you would expect from an Austen adaptation there is the romance.
This largely comes courtesy of Xavier Samuel's Reginald and Morfydd Clark's Frederica.
Easily the two most likeable characters in the film these two are very typical Austen characters.
Samuel is Australian - Clark Welsh but they are terribly, terribly English and play the parts to perfection.
Clark in particular shines and although playing a shy, much put upon young woman the intelligence and spirit are there bubbling under the surface.
The rest of the cast which includes Stephen Fry, James Fleet ("Sense and Sensibility" and "Four Weddings & A Funeral"), Jemma Redgrave and Emma Greenwell are also superb.
In fact the only performance I didn't enjoy was Chloe Sevigny's who appears to be the only casting misstep with a monotone performance lacking spark or any real grasp of the tone required of it.
Of the Jane Austen adaptations that I have seen I like "Emma" (1996) and "Pride and Prejudice" (2005)
I am not going to hold up "Love & Friendship" as their equal but it is probably my third place pick.
It is great seeing Beckinsale back on form and holy hell is she!
Loaded with lavish sets and costumes and great dialogue delivered by a wonderful cast this is a heap of fun.
At a lean 93 minutes it is about the correct length and if the end seems at all abrupt it is merely a sign that they have been minutes well spent and well enjoyed.
RATING: 75 / 100
CONCLUSION: Delightful dialogue and a terrific turn from Kate Beckinsale make this a fun, frequently funny film. It is unlikely to have the staying power of classics like Pride and Prejudice or Emma but it is nonetheless a treat while being watched.
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Chloe Sevigny, Morfydd Clark, Stephen Fry, Tom Bennett, Jenn Murray, Lochlin O'Mearain, Jordan Walter, Ross Mac Mahon, Frank Pendergast, Xavier Samuel, Emma Greenwell, Justin Edwards, Kelly Campbell, Jemma Redgrave
Screenplay: Whit Stillman (Based on Jane Austen's novel)
Music Score by: Benjamin Esdraffo
Cinematography: Richard Van Oosterhout
Edited by: Sophie Corra
Running Time: 93 minutes
Language: English
Rated: G - Nothing of note - very G rated
Cinematography: Richard Van Oosterhout
Edited by: Sophie Corra
Running Time: 93 minutes
Language: English
Rated: G - Nothing of note - very G rated
For the last decade to be a fan of Kate Beckinsale meant really that you were more a fan of hot chicks in PVC shooting lots of people.
I guess someone had to fill in for the long lost Trinity from The Matrix movies and the four (soon to be five) Underworld movies did the trick.
Beckinsale starred as Seline in three of the four films released between 2003 and 2012 but the role came to define her career.
Yes she was in big budget hokum like "Pearl Harbor" and "Van Helsing" but both were nowhere near as good as they should have been and it was her Underworld movies that made her name as well known as it is.
Before 2003 however she was in a bunch of tv shows and movies that required more from her than looking good dual wielding pistols or wearing bodices and nurses outfits.
Don't get me wrong - I like the Underworld movies.
They are fun and I have all of them on blu-ray.
They just don't require any of the talent that she displayed very early in her career.
Thank God then for "Love & Friendship" a Jane Austen adaptation that sees her rocket back to the sort of form that she promised all of those years ago.
This is a movie that could easily have been a stage production with its small number of locations and reliance on dialogue over action.
With an opening that shows an unseen Lady Susan Vernon (Beckinsale) leaving the estate of Langford to an abundance of tears from those left behind we are soon introduced to a frequent device used by writer-director Whit Stillman - titles.
We are introduced to the major players by way of heavily posed shots of the characters with a titled name and description on screen.
Lord Manwaring is entitled something like 'divinely handsome' for instance.
It is a witty method with which to introduce the numerous characters of the piece but don't worry if this who's who doesn't hold in your memory - we will meet them all again in no time.
The widowed Lady Susan travels to her sister-in-law Catherine DeCourcy Vernon's estate named Churchill.
She will take with her a woman to 'pack and unpack things' but states that as 'We have an element of friendship' she will not insult her by offering a salary.
So it is with Lady Vernon - everything that she does is a scheme to further her own fortunes.
And she is very, very good at it.
Like many Austen protagonists Lady Susan is masterful at manipulating those around her like chess pieces in a greater game.
She has her young daughter Frederica who she is trying to marry off to the boneheaded Sir James Martin while she herself has Reginald DeCourcy firmly under her spell.
It is all about money and social standing.
Frederica's suggestion that rather than marrying the wealthy but ill-matching Sir James Martin she will become a teacher to support herself is met with frequent scoffs of derision.
It is simply not the place for a young woman of standing.
 |
| Kate Beckinsale - a stellar return to form |
And with casting that is nothing less than perfection and sparklingly clever dialogue this movie is great fun.
It all rests on Beckinsales shoulders and she dominates the film with a performance that is a timely reminder of how damned good she can be.
She is very, very good indeed.
Her role comes loaded with rapier sharp jibes and jabs delivered with such smooth precision that it's amazing that Beckinsale could conceal her glee at being handed such gems.
Providing humour of a less sophisticated variety but no the less hilarious for it is Tom Bennett as Sir James Martin.
His confusion over the difference between Church-Hill and Churchill is merely the first instance in which this buffoon steals a scene.
He is enraptured to be served peas in one scene - it appears that he has not heard of the vegetable before.
 |
| Casting is terrific - Redgrave, Clark, Samuel, Fleet and Greenwell with Tom Bennett far right with Beckinsale |
As you would expect from an Austen adaptation there is the romance.
This largely comes courtesy of Xavier Samuel's Reginald and Morfydd Clark's Frederica.
Easily the two most likeable characters in the film these two are very typical Austen characters.
Samuel is Australian - Clark Welsh but they are terribly, terribly English and play the parts to perfection.
Clark in particular shines and although playing a shy, much put upon young woman the intelligence and spirit are there bubbling under the surface.
The rest of the cast which includes Stephen Fry, James Fleet ("Sense and Sensibility" and "Four Weddings & A Funeral"), Jemma Redgrave and Emma Greenwell are also superb.
In fact the only performance I didn't enjoy was Chloe Sevigny's who appears to be the only casting misstep with a monotone performance lacking spark or any real grasp of the tone required of it.
Of the Jane Austen adaptations that I have seen I like "Emma" (1996) and "Pride and Prejudice" (2005)
I am not going to hold up "Love & Friendship" as their equal but it is probably my third place pick.
It is great seeing Beckinsale back on form and holy hell is she!
Loaded with lavish sets and costumes and great dialogue delivered by a wonderful cast this is a heap of fun.
At a lean 93 minutes it is about the correct length and if the end seems at all abrupt it is merely a sign that they have been minutes well spent and well enjoyed.
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