'Emma' Keeps Everything Needed To Create Delightful Adaptation
Starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn, Bill Nighy, Mia Goth, Callum Turner, Josh O’Connor, Myra McFadyen
PG
Comedy, Drama
Run time: 2 hrs, 5 min
Directed by Autumn de Wilde
In theaters (widespread) February 28, 2020
Disclaimer: The Keira Knightley Pride & Prejudice adaptation is my favorite movie of all time. This meant I simultaneously had high hopes and lower expectations for the new Emma coming to theaters. I didn’t know much about Anya Taylor-Joy and to be honest, Emma was not exactly my favorite of Austen’s novels. However, within seven minutes of the movie starting, I quickly realized any and all of my concerns were entirely unfounded. Each character introduced was more perfectly cast than the last and each personality from the book was being portrayed on screen.
The story of Emma is a bit of a classic - one of the earliest romantic comedies and one that was the inspiration for films like Bridget Jones’ Diary and Clueless. Girl tries to matchmake for everyone around her, claiming she has no interest in it herself but then misreads situations and relationships of all kind - including her own. There are Shakespearean level misunderstandings and misplaced affections only to resolve in hopefully happy endings.
Taylor-Joy is a perfect Emma. Somehow both innocent and conniving, kind hearted and arrogant. She is the epitome of a classy Austenian woman - poised, smart, quick-witted and beautiful. Johnny Flynn is a delightfully charming Mr. Knightley and Bill Nighy is a grumbling, hilarious Mr. Woodhouse who is never happy about the truly happy things. Austen’s dialogue can often sound like a bad play when coming out of the wrong actors’ mouth but long, bantering conversations come out smoothly, combining moments of emotion with laugh out loud humor.
This adaptation contains everything I love about Austen: lingering glances, a meaningful touch of the hands, a ballroom scene, quick wit, walks through beautiful outdoor scenery. There are barbs going back and forth - a true Austen heroine’s love language. There is the occasional brooding gentleman (Emma’s brother-in-law gives some serious Darcy vibes at times) and the lovesick girl. There is the absolute fool of a man who is full of self importance. There’s a small ensemble of characters you become invested in immediately.
Jane Austen may not be for everyone; there’s no question about that. I didn’t even think the story of Emma was for me until a friend helped me appreciate the satire within it. However, I feel like I could go on for a dissertation length paper on how much I thought this adaptation stuck to landing. Some plot points may not have made it to the big screen, but everything that mattered most - the characters and the relationships - helped make it feel all but perfect.