Pride & Prejudice (2005)
So first I will talk about my most favorite movie of all time: Pride & Prejudice. I know some people think its odd that a person as obsessed with movies as I am can have a favorite, but to me there is no question about it. Based, as I mentioned, on the Jane Austen novel and released in 2005 by Focus Features and directed by Joe Wright, stars Keira Knightley as the spirited Elizabeth Bennett who meets the single, rich, and proud Mr. Darcy, played by Matthew Macfadyen. Set in the 19th century, the story is based on Jane Austen's novel about five sisters - Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty and Lydia Bennet - in Georgian England. Their lives are turned upside down when a wealthy young man (Mr. Bingley) and his best friend (Mr. Darcy) arrive in their neighborhood. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards in 2006: Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Original Score, and Best Actress for Keira Knightley. Even the film's U.S. ending was ranked as one Entertainment Weekly's greatest movie endings of all time - we are special and get a special ending, which I also love. This is one of the greatest love stories of all-time, and will leave any girl watching, wanting their very own Mr. Darcy.
*Also see my blog post on my fave aforementioned three teaming up again - I Can't Wait For...Anna Karenina
Jane Eyre (2011)
Also released by Focus Features, Jane Eyre was released only earlier this year and stars Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland) as Jane and Michael Fassbender (300, Inglourious Basterds) as Rochester, and is directed by the young Cary Fukunaga, who definitely added a bit of a modernization to the classic, which I love. As I mentioned previously, the novel was written by Charlotte Brontë, sister of Emily Brontë who wrote Wuthering Heights. The story is about a poor and plain governess who softens the heart of her cold employer. Jane and Rochester grow close in friendship and she finds herself falling in love with him, but she soon discovers that he is hiding a terrible secret. Because of its recent release, they film has yet to be nominated for any awards, but I do not doubt it winning a few here and there. It seems movies made from classics like these, never get the attention they sometimes so deserve. And need I really say anymore after mentioning Fassbender? I think not. And having him play Rochester? Oh my goodness. Rochester has some of the best quotes in the book which are accurately scripted into the movie. Perfection *sigh*. This movie just came out on DVD last week so you must run out and buy both ASAP!
