I heard 'Church' and 'Hill'
Jun. 22nd, 2016 07:42 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shallownessI have seen Love & Friendship! Given the limited nature of its release, that's an achievement.
Basically, the positive reviews had it right. I haven’t read ‘Lady Susan’ or seen a Whit Stillman film before, but it feels a little like Austen unleashed although possibly pushed a little further than she ever went by the adaptation. Virtue has to make do with a draw at the end of play, but Virtue is either a bit wet or generally outmatched by Lady Susan and her lack of scruples (Beckinsale grabs the talky role with the relish of someone who has been best known for ex-husband Len Wiseman’s roles recently). Her manipulations rekindled my longing to see an adaptation of ‘The Grand Sophy’ (the Heyer with the monkey in it). Stillman’s archness feels like a good approach to Austen and what they say about Tom Bennett’s scene stealing as a blockhead of a suitor is true. He's one of a smattering of characters with names that repeat in the novels. The most important thing is that I was snorting most inelegantly with laughter throughout.
Basically, the positive reviews had it right. I haven’t read ‘Lady Susan’ or seen a Whit Stillman film before, but it feels a little like Austen unleashed although possibly pushed a little further than she ever went by the adaptation. Virtue has to make do with a draw at the end of play, but Virtue is either a bit wet or generally outmatched by Lady Susan and her lack of scruples (Beckinsale grabs the talky role with the relish of someone who has been best known for ex-husband Len Wiseman’s roles recently). Her manipulations rekindled my longing to see an adaptation of ‘The Grand Sophy’ (the Heyer with the monkey in it). Stillman’s archness feels like a good approach to Austen and what they say about Tom Bennett’s scene stealing as a blockhead of a suitor is true. He's one of a smattering of characters with names that repeat in the novels. The most important thing is that I was snorting most inelegantly with laughter throughout.
no subject
Date: 2016-06-23 02:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-06-23 06:31 am (UTC)I don't think they make Lady Susan likable. Depending on your POV, some of her self-interested ways may be condonable as a means of surviving in the world she lives in, but even if you're coming from that POV, she's still mighty selfish and cruel. But funny to watch.
It's not a film I'd say you have to see on a big screen, although it was nice to chuckle as part of an audience.