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This movie won the 1995 Academy Award
for Best Screenplay Adaptation—with good reason. This is an amazing rendition of the
Jane Austen novel (see Lisa’s review); and
although the movie is set in Regency England, we feel the loves and heartbreaks of the
Dashwood sisters as intensely as if the movie were set in 2004 New York City. The movie
is beautiful, romantic, comic, and gorgeous to look at. In other words, a must-see chick
flick.
Sense and Sensibility follows the loves of two sisters who
are emotional opposites: sensible, ever-proper Elinor Dashwood (Emma Thompson) and
impulsive, passionate Marianne Dashwood (Kate Winslet). When the sisters find themselves
almost penniless upon the death of their father, love and marriage become matters of the
greatest importance. Marianne falls for dashing scoundrel Willoughby (Greg Wise),
completely ignoring the attentions of the much older Colonel Brandon (Alan Rickman).
Meanwhile, Elinor finds herself in an impossible love with Edward Ferrars (Hugh Grant, as
his usual charming and
bumbling self). Bound by a promise, Elinor must hide her
heartbreak from the world—and even from Marianne.
A series of crises force
both sisters to re-examine the way they approach life and love. Will Marianne let her
infatuation for Willoughby destroy her? Will Elinor ever break through her self-imposed
decorum and admit she has feelings for Edward? All ends well, but not without a few
tears and some surprises.
You may have to watch it a couple of times to
understand who all the characters are and how they’re related to each other, but even so,
you’ll laugh (this movie was surprisingly funny for a script based on a 200-year-old
novel) and cry (I bawl without fail every time I watch Elinor's breakdown near the end
of the film). There is no bad acting in this movie, but keep your eye on Alan Rickman;
he gives a quiet performance, but if you have a heart, you’ll fall madly in love with his
character.
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