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Sense and Sensibility Customer Reviews (61 - 63 of 85 Reviews)

The story transcends the centuries
Starring Emma Thompson, who also wrote the screenplay for this 1995 adaptation of Jane Austen's first novel, this is a big beautiful sweeping film that transcends the centuries.

Under the very excellent direction of Ang Lee, a Taiwanese native whose career started with Chinese language films such as The Wedding Banquet" and has since directed "The Ice Storm" and "Ride With the Devil," his sense of Britain in the 1790s is excellent. He manages to convey every nuance of the manners of that time and keeps the story as fresh to the modern audience as when it was first written.

Basically, it is a story of a formerly wealthy widow who is left in very moderate circumstances and who needs to marry off her two oldest daughters. Emma Thompson is cast as Elinor Dashwood, the older of the two sisters and the most "sensible". Kate Winslet, who later rose to fame in Titanic, is the younger and more impetuous one. Both are excellent actresses and their performances ring with absolute nuanced perfection.

Hugh Grant is cast as Elinor Dashword's love interest, and Kate Winslet is romanced by both Alan Rickman as the older and serious landowner and Greg Wise as the dashing young man who sweeps her off her feet. The road to true love, however, is rife with obstacles, and there is tension throughout because the characters rarely say what they mean as the plot twists and turns and keeps the audience on edge. I was totally caught up in the story, feeling the emotions of the characters and actually finding myself weeping at the very satisfying conclusion.

Emma Thompson was nominated for two academy awards for this film -- one for her writing and one for her acting. She won for her writing the best screenplay based on material from another medium. Kate Winslet was also nominated for an academy award as best supporting actress. The movie won the Golden Globe as best motion picture and the list of other awards and nominations are just too numerous to mention.

Don't miss this video! It is an absolute joy from beginning to end. I give it my highest recommendation.


Beautifully Done
This recent movie adaptation of Jane Austin's "Sense and Sensibility" is just marvelous. Emma Thompson's enchanting screenplay is so close to the novel, and that's such a rare treat in a movie version. Yes, Emma Thompson is a bit old for the part of older sister Elinor but, she's so endearing, I'm willing to let it go. The supporting cast is very powerful, with performances by Kate Winslet, Greg Wise, Imogen Stubbs, Alan Rickman, and Hugh Grant toping off a fabulous ensemble. Winslet is especially wonderful as the younger Dashwood sister. She's completely sweet, young and innocent. Her heartbreak at the hands of handsome and dashing Willoughby is extremely powerful and emotional. It's an all around well acted movie. Lots of wondeful performances. This is acutally a very funny movie and so beautifully shot by Director Ang Lee. Every aspect of the movie is wonderful. It's treat for all Austin fans and an all around wonderful film.

A classic based on a classic
It seems that for a few years, Hollywood couldn't turn out Austen movies fast enough. This is the only English production of the bunch, and it is wonderful.

The casting is perfect. I thought it very silly that Emma Thompson was going to be the 19 year old Eleanor, and since she produced the movie I thought that was just silly vanity. But she is actually perfect as the too-sensible-for-her-own-good Eleanor. Kate Winslet is great as flaky Marianne. Even little Margaret (Austen's only fully-realized child character) is great as the spunky pre-teen. I remember when the movie came out one reviewer said that Hugh Grant's character "looks like he's forgotten to take the coat hanger out of his clothing" and that is so true... but he's so good as the clueless cad.

The film is beautifully shot, with great sets and scenery. It's a little hard for a modern person to understand why the Dashwoods were so upset to have to move to such a charming cottage! Historical perspective is maintained in the movie, though.

It is also very well written, with my very favourite line in any movie appearing (though I've read the book twice looking for it). Truly words to live by, Mrs. Dashwood tells blabbermouth Margaret that if she can't think of anything appropriate to say, "please keep your conversation to the roads and the weather!" Advice that has never failed me yet :-)

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