Directed by Autumn de Wilde
Written by Eleanor Catton, based on the novel by Jane Austen
Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn, Bill Nighy, Mia Goth, Miranda Hart, Josh O’Connor, Callum Turner, Rupert Graves, Gemma Whelan, Amber Anderson, Tanya Reynolds, Connor Swindells, Angus Imrie
Soundtrack: David Schweitzer & Isobel Waller-Bridge
I don’t know if I’d say that I feel “unqualified” to review Emma. After all, I’ve had my fair share of, perhaps, unexpected reviews, but this is my first experience with anything Jane Austen-related (whose work has been put to screen since the dawn of television), so I can make no comment on the fidelity of the adaptation.
All I know is that I was expecting an English period piece comedy, and that’s exactly what I got; and I rather enjoyed it, too.
Not to say that the film lacks dramatic stakes, but it’s the sort of thing that feels light and breezy in all the right ways without feeling just empty.
To put it another way, as someone who’s not necessarily in the target demographic for rom-coms, Emma. is the kind of romantic comedy-drama I can get behind, because: for one thing, it makes me laugh; it’s not dumb; and I can actually empathize with the characters. In fact, despite the exotic nature of the setting (in both time and place), it’s rather amazing how much of the story feels relatable to life in the 21st Century.
Of course, it always helps to have a good cast, which is the case here. I’ll admit, my main gateway into this film was my love of Bill Nighy, who totally delivers in every scene he’s in, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t give due credit to Anya Taylor-Joy and Johnny Flynn as the leads.
All-in-all, Emma. is a tremendous debut feature for director Autumn de Wilde and writer Eleanor Catton. It’s a good-looking, smartly-written, well-executed film. Perhaps not quite the cinematic triumph of Greta Gerwig’s Little Women (which, really, I only mention because I regret not writing a proper review; I loved it), but solidly worthy of a theatrical experience.
Rating: ★★★★☆