Emma Movie Review

A Jane Austen adaptation? Yes, please. I don’t know if anything will ever top 2005’s Pride and Prejudice with Kiera Knightley, but I’m always willing to have a look. Emma takes place in the 1800’s. Emma (Anya Taylor-Joy) likes to play matchmaker but is unfortunately very bad at it. Her focus in the movie falls on an orphaned girl named Harriet (Mia Goth). She meddles in Harriet’s love life to detrimental effects.

As with all of Austen’s stories, the supporting cast of characters are just as quirky and loveable as the main protagonist. Miss Bates (Miranda Hart) is an older woman who loves to gossip. She talks nonstop and is flighty but her heart is in the right place. Mr. Knightly (Johnny Flynn) is a sensible and practical young man who is a good friend to Emma and consistently throws her failures (and lies) back in her face. Emma’s father, Mr. Woodhouse (Bill Nighy), loves Emma but has a tendency to feel cold drafts that don’t exist and worries endlessly.

Admittedly the best parts of the movie are the performances. Taylor-Joy is outstanding as Emma. She absolutely nails Emma’s wit and charm. I guarantee you will laugh out loud at some of her lines. Bill Nighy was also one of my favorites (he usually is). He is fantastic and despite a smaller role, he is incredibly memorable in each scene. You will most likely laugh out loud at many of his antics as well.

The screenplay was expertly adapted by Eleanor Catton. Many of the famous lines from the book are in the movie including the most famous, “Maybe if I loved you less I’d be able to talk about it more.” As with most Jane Austen tales, romance is at the core of Emma. There’s not much surprise as to what will happen, regardless of whether you’ve read the book or not. Part of the fun is seeing the romances unfurl. Especially in regards to Emma, who insists throughout the movie she will not marry and has little interest in the institution for herself. It makes for an interesting wrench in the movie based on romance.

You will fall in love with Emma, a flawed character if there ever was one but also incredibly loveable and charming. Emma is a marvelous adaptation from Autumn de Wilde – funny, witty, and charming. 

Film or Movie: Movie
You’ll like this movie if:
1. You like Jane Austen’s books
2. You like dialogue heavy films
3. You like romance