Rent Emma (2009)

Acting good, casting less so. - Emma review by JG

I have seen 5 adaptations of Emma and none have been perfect, each has brought out things the others lacked. But of those that I have seen I rate this the second best. My favourite is the 1972 Doran Godwin version. The others are 1996 Kate Beckinsale, 1996 Gwyneth Palttrow, 2020 Anya Taylor-Joy and this one, 2009 Romola Garai. None of the versions has a perfect Emma, it is a difficult role. On the surface an attractive and pleasant person, but somewhat carelessly spiteful or catty at first with her attempted manipulations of other people, not through malice but merely for her own amusement and pleasure. She is aware that Mr Knightly does not agree with her actions and sees this as a difference between them, only later realising why he is so concerned.

All the portrayals of Emma were well acted, but none quite achieved the transformation in the character that one imagines for oneself when reading the book. One of the pivotal scenes is the admonition of Emma by Mr Knightly at Box Hill. Gwyneth Paltrow, for me, carried this scene off best, her visible grief brought tears to my eyes. Romola Garai did this scene well too. One mistake for me in this production was the omission of the appology to Miss Bates which is crucial to showing the transformation of Emma's character. The director seemed overly concerned with bringing out the reluctance of Jane Fairfax to meet Emma. This is a plot point but hardly a major one. Michael Gambon gave a good interpretation of Mr Woodhouse, equalling Bill Nighy but neither quite outplayed Donald Eccles. The actors all brought their skills to bear on their parts but the casting didn't make their jobs easy. Mrs Elton was perhaps the worst choice. She was too pretty and had to work hard to portray a mean unlikeable character. Jane Austen's characters, like Dickens, are a little over done to make a point and the casting needs to assist in this.

If there is anyone who does not know the plot it is set in the small fictitious town of Highbury, and the surrounding estates of Hartfield, Randalls, and Donwell Abbey and narrates Emma Woodhouse's attempts to make matches for her single acquaintances. Her mother having died and her younger sister and former governess both married, she has become the mistress of the house and cares for her aged father who is constantly concerned for his health and others. He is a gentleman of the old school but is inclined to play upon his presumed ill health. Emma Woodhouse fancies that she has great skill at matchmaking, more than she has, and is impervious to the dangers of meddling in other people's lives.

Being in four episodes there is ample opportunity to deleve into Jane Austen's wit in her words, the voice overs were well arranged and used where needed, helping this production to do this. One day someone may produce the ideal Emma but in the meantime this is a good version to enjoy