Rent Pride and Prejudice (2005)

Keira Knightley shines in this faithful adaptation of the novel - Pride and Prejudice review by Philip in Paradiso

This is a faithful adaptation of the novel, 'Pride and Prejudice', by Jane Austen. It takes place in England in the late 18th century. The story is centred on the Bennet family: Mr and Mrs Bennet and their 5 daughters – Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia. They live on a relatively modest estate in rural England. Jane and Elizabeth are the eldest of the 5 girls. For their parents, the obsession is to find them suitable husbands, as they need to be provided for. (Women of that social status, at the time, are not expected or trained to work, essentially.)

The story focuses primarily on the interaction between Jane Bennet (Rosamund Pike) and Charles Bingley (Simon Woods), a wealthy bachelor, on the one hand, and that between Elizabeth (Lizzy) Bennet (Keira Knightley) and Bingley's friend, Mr Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen), on the other. As the plot unfolds, the key characters are Lizzy Bennet and Mr Darcy, and how their dealings with each other evolve over time. Mr Darcy is a somewhat snobbish and awkward character, who can be aloof and exceedingly reserved: this aspect of his character is at the heart of the novel, and is prominent in the movie too.

Overall, this is a beautifully made period film. Matthew Macfadyen looks rather miserable and almost dull at times but, after all, Mr Darcy, in the novel, is hardly the life and soul of the party. The movie, in the last analysis, works thanks to the excellent performance by Keira Knightley: in the way that the film unfolds, it really is Lizzy Bennet's story and we see the chain of events through her eyes. In practice, she is the central, dominant character and, in fact, the narrator.

The film is never dreary or boring (it could easily have been, at 2 hours, and being the adaptation of such a novel...): on the contrary, it fizzes with energy and humour, making the most of the twists and turns of the story. The movie is well worth watching, more particularly if you like period films of this kind and are a fan of Jane Austen's.

Very good watch - Pride and Prejudice review by CP Customer

Yes very good watch - enjoyed very much.

True to the Book - Pride and Prejudice review by CP Customer

excellent film which has been kept true to the book. Keira Knightly makes a very good Elizabeth Bennet a romantic story of a middle class family trying to better them selves.