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Duke Gaines |
Date: 2008-02-02
Iain MacDonald directs one of my favorite Brit Series "Teachers" and he now brings his quick sense and sensibility to Masterpiece Theater's newest adaptation of Jane Austen's "Mansfield Park." As in "Teachers",MacDonald squarely places our attention on the key ingredient of the book which is the love of our heroine Fanny Price and her relationship and confidences in her cousin Edmund Bertram,here played with complete and utter respect for this character by actor Blake Ritson from "The Inspector Lynley Files" on BBC.MacDonald has also chosen another of his favorites Billie Piper as Fanny and the chemistry of these two light up the screen.For fans of MacDonald's work and not necessarily Jane Austen's, this current telling of "Mansfield Park" is fast moving,centered and engaging.The soundtrack is infectious.
All Red |
Date: 2008-02-02
Masterpiece Theatre is doing an outstanding job at making Jane Austen's novels more interesting,intriguing and edited down.As a guy, I am enjoying these new versions of Austen's works.Along with Emma Thompson's screen adaptation for Sense & Sensibility (Special Edition),Joe Wright's Pride & Prejudice and DougEmma (1996) McGrath's , I relish these new freely adapted versions of Miss Jane's works.As films and as engaging screenplays, these bring Austen's works to a whole new generation of those who do not necessarily care to read the books or be pinhooked into a certain view of history.The latest adaptation to be aired is 'Mansfield Park', and with a hip young cast of talented Brits, Austen's story is edited down graciously without missing the central intent of the novel.
This,in my opinion, is a "smart" screenplay, because there is no lag time.Screenplay overseer Andrew Davies (not the actual writer) wastes no time in showing our Fanny Price romping in the field with her cousin Edmund at age ten and then dissolving into eight years later still romping and very much attached kindly to one another.We bypass a lot of the early years to show that Fanny and Edmund are the focal point here.We don't get lost in subplots and sub subplots and non essential characters in order to understand that Austen's intent is to show that love overcomes all obstacles.Neither character suffers in the translation.Other characters are simply written out.That happens sometimes.Here, it works with no apology.We have a sleek 90 minute script,with all the fat cut out, and all of the choice prime left for consumption. No true purist in anything can ever be totally pleased; this is why adaptations you either love'em or hate'em!This 'Mansfield Park' is a love 'em. Blake Ritson and Billie Piper smoke up the screen just like Matthew MacFadyan and Keira Knightly did in Pride & Prejudice.The hair is let down, the snaps are unbuckled and Jane Austen breathes her way into the 21st Century!
Respectfully submitted from a sensitive "dude's" perspective.
Rabbit |
Date: 2008-02-06
...I found this to be excellent. Billie Piper was wonderful in the role.
Plenty of movies stray from the books they are adapted from. If you haven't read the book, and/or aren't "expecting" things to happen a certain way, you will probably enjoy this.
KerrLines |
Date: 2008-02-02
Okay,let's get this out of the way first.I have read the Jane Austen novel and I have seen all three totally "Unacceptable" screen adaptations to the hard core "Janeites." Here, we examine THIS particular screenplay adaptation as just that-an adaptation for the screen, to give us a sense of the daunting and arguably not best written Austen plot,that is the most pallette-able to view in 90 minutes.
That said,only the 1983 BBC 4 -hour miniseries fairly adheres to the novel.But,it is by no means perfect.The 1998 version is smart,witty and quite a good time, but characters are changed too much for the "purists." (I LOVED IT!)So....why has Masterpiece Theater adapted this story a third time and what are it's merits and pitfalls?
The basics are the same: Fanny Price is taken at the age of ten from her family to be a ward of her wealthier relations, The Bertrams.She grows up , always reminded that she is there,but is of humbler origins. She has a kindred spirit in her cousin Edmund who, along with Fanny,grow into adulthood together,but seemingly torn apart by obligations and class structure.They will break those bonds and marriage will be theirs, as well as eternal bliss.This IS Jane Austen!
This adaptation cuts to the quick of Austen's laborious novel-the relationship and eventual betrothal of Fanny to Edmund.Many of the subplots,such as Fanny going back to visit her family are omitted as well as certain characters are paired down considerably to keep focus on Fanny and Edmund... and THERE IS THE WORD-FOCUS.Billy Piper Doctor Who - The Complete First and Second Series (11pc) as Fanny is adequate in the role (not a good hair-dye-job!) and shows a certain free spirit so lacking in the 1983 version; BUT it is actor Blake Ritson from The Inspector Lynley Mysteries: Set 5 who IMO is the finest of all of the Edmund Bertram's yet.When he has the epiphany that Fanny is the girl for him, he lights up the screen with his big eyes and infectious smile, and all of the Empire corseted feelings of past productions are forever bound up and stayed in a upper room chiffarobe! It is Ritson's performance as Edmund that makes this adaptation so immensely viewable. Much of this production is brought out of doors (even the wedding) allowing the dusty drawing room book readings and card parties to be left indoors, and the joy and fun that is in Austen's book is given fresh country air and lots of sunlight in order to let Fanny and Edmund's love blossom.This is where THIS adaptation soars!The costumes are totally and correctly period proper.
You may grumble about Aunt Norris' role being trimmed,or Mrs.Bertram's savvy almost feminist wiles, but for love in bloom,GO FOR IT! This is a film...not the book...and it is excellent!
Hayley Atwell,currently seen in Woody Allen's Cassandra's Dream who plays Miss Crawford is also OUTSTANDING and is every bit worth the viewing time.She plays a more cunning Crawford.
Linore Burkard |
Date: 2008-02-03
Though I dearly love Austen's Mansfield Park and could agree that much of what she wrote is missing in this adaptation, I nevertheless can appreciate that what we are given is still a delightful costume drama. Strip Austen of layers, if you must, but her genius is so forgiving that a worthwhile (i.e., passionate) story still exists. Couple that with the dexterous acting of Blake Ritson, Billie Piper and cast, and you have an enjoyable movie that brings the past to life in vivid colour. The beginning is a bit awkwardly done, and if you stand on the letter of the law, so to speak, you will find fault (as many have, see more reviews) but if you can view the film for what it does offer, there is much to be enjoyed. (Other than Piper's hair; pretty, but shockingly improper for a regency miss!) And Hayley Atwell does a tantalizing Mary Crawford though her forwardness in the film would have forewarned the devout Edmund long before the scriptwriters allowed him to catch on to her true nature here. Her facial mannerisms are so well-done that she comes across rather likeable, despite her faults. Poor Fannie is good, to be sure, but more child-like than Austen intended, and her good choices seem to come more from a strong childish passion rather than sense or strong wits. Nevertheless, you will be drawn in and swept along to a strong ending that is great fun. (And I do love fun--or I wouldn't be a regency romance author, would I?)
