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List Price: $29.99 | | Label: MIRAMAX
Salesrank: 363
Released: February 12, 2008 |
| Our Price: $14.95 |
| Used Price: $9.85 |
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MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Anne Hathaway (THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA THE PRINCESS DIARIES) gives a radiant performance as a young love-struck Jane Austen in the witty and engaging romantic comedy BECOMING JANE from Miramax Films. It's the untold romance that inspired the novels of one of the world's most celebrated authors. When the dashing Tom Lefroy (James McAvoy THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND) a reckless and penniless lawyer-to-be enters Jane's life he offends the emerging writer's sense and sensibility. Soon their clashing egos set off sparks that ignite a passionate romance and fuel Jane's dream of doing the unthinkable -- marrying for love. BECOMING JANE also starring the acclaimed Maggie Smith James Cromwell and Julie Walters is an enchanting and imaginative film you'll fall head over heels for.System Requirements:Running Time: 120 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA/LOVE & ROMANCE Rating: PG UPC: 786936731927 Manufacturer No: 05410400
Description of Becoming Jane:
Like Molière, which was released in theaters around the same time, Becoming Jane isn't a conventional biopic. Instead, Julian Jarrold (White Teeth) expands on events from Jane Austen's life that may have shaped her fiction. To his credit, he doesn't stray too far from the facts. In 1795, 20-year-old Jane (Anne Hathaway with believable British accent) is an aspiring author. Her parents (Julie Walters and James Cromwell) married for love, and money is tight. They hope to see their youngest daughter make a more lucrative match, and there's a besotted local, Mr. Wisley (Laurence Fox, son of actor James Fox), who would be happy to oblige. Unfortunately, Jane isn't interested. Then, she meets brash law student Tom (The Last King of Scotland's James McAvoy), while he's staying with relatives in rural Hampshire. As in many Austen novels, it isn't love at first sight--but rather irritation. Just as affection begins to bloom, Tom has to return to London, and Wisley, whose financial prospects are superior, proposes. To complicate matters, Tom's uncle (Ian Richardson in his final performance) disapproves of the outspoken young lady just as much as Wisley's aunt (Maggie Smith, lending the proceedings some subtle humor). Had Austen penned the script, Tom and Wisley would be combined into one person, but life doesn't work that way--and nor does Becoming Jane. Though Jarrold's effort may not be as swoon-worthy as Joe Wright's Pride and Prejudice, it remains true to the spirit of the author's work. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Becoming Jane Reviews:
Too forced into a box 
2008-07-02 - The story moves along, in Jane Austin style, with a tendency to follow parts of other Jane Austin stories (most notably, parts of Sense & Sensibility, parts of Pride & Prejudice) which is a nice mirror to how she created the stories. However, as the second half moves along, the story is led down the predictable hollywood-style ending. While not offensive, and with a good cast, this enjoyable movie is not particularly memorable. An enjoyable, if forgettable, experience.
(3.5) Suprisingly Warm and Artfully Done
2008-06-26 - I can't vouch for the historical accuracy of the film, but in terms of capturing the spirit of Jane Austen, at least with regards to the fiction, this movie does a remarkable job. In many ways, the movie runs parallel with "Pride and Prejudice" and it really is a lot of fun to see some conjecture (I believe, although this may be perfectly based on fact) as to how many things entered her novel. The movie reminds me of Shakespeare in Love in that meta-textual sort of way. For fans of Austen or of a good period piece, this movie will entertain.
Good movie 
2008-06-23 - This was a gift for my wife and she loved it. She's watched it several times now.
Amazing!
2008-06-20 - This movie is now one of my favorites. I have to admit that I am big fan of Jane Austen's books and that I saw a lot of things in the movie that were true. There were so many things in the movie and that was in her real life that she had used in her books. Examples include Mr. LeFroy was the true Mr. Darcy, her sister, Cassandra, she used as the basis of Jane, Elizabeth's sister in Pride and Prejudice and even the proposal of Mr. Warren at the end of the movie mirrors the proposal of Mr.Elton in Emma.
This movie was fantastic, it may have been a bit extravagent to the truth, but still there was plenty of truth in it. Along with a great cast, Becoming Jane had a beautiful composition of music that went perfectly in the movie.
James McAvoy ... the coolest geek on the planet!
2008-06-20 - Not really been a big Anne Hathaway fan ... loved her in Brokeback Mountain, enjoyed her in The Devil Wears Prada, but never paid too much attention until I sat up and took notice with this remarkable performance as a young Jane Austen. Although Hathaway is an intelligent beauty, it is James McAvoy as Thomas LeFroy who stole this show! McAvoy is killer as the lusty London gadfly young man-about-town bouncing between boxing matches, whores and the High Court. Banished to the nether-world outerlimits of the deep English Countryside by his Court Judge Uncle-Patron-Mentor for his wild incorrigable ways, he arrives at the home of his "lesser relations" to serve out his penance ... and he arrives arrogant and bored.
But deep in the sleepy hamlet of Hampshire England, Thomas LeFroy meets a radical shocking beauty who is evey bit his emotional, intellectual and physical equal ... who single handedly is rewriting human relationships between men and woman in the Western World, and revolutionizes Western Literature in her process. In the schema of history it is Thomas LeFroy who is the bit player, although in the 1800s in England he earns the higher status when promoted to Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench in Ireland in 1852. Yet it is the the spurned spinster Jane Austen who earns her place in world history as one of the greatest writers of English Letters, leaving Thomas LeFroy far behind her relegated to musty literature footnotes in the modern era.
In this particular movie however, it is James McAvoy as the abandoning and disappointing inspirational muse which fuels Austen's genius that moves this film from mere chick flick to a higher plane. McAvoy is utterly brilliant as the Scottish physician in the Last King of Scotland; garnered international attention in Atonement and undoubtedly will win yet more accolades in the recently released Wanted with Angelina Jolie ... he is a super geek. But oddly enough he really hits his stride with his subtle, layered under-rated performance in an English period piece.
It will be a pleasure to watch this man evolve.
