Becoming Jane

I was sort of hoping that a movie about Jane Austen wouldn’t necessarily be like her books. And of course, I counted on the fact that she had to draw inspiration from somewhere. But after watching this movie it looked like Jane Austen was a completely dull goose girl who was saved from the clutches of greyness, tediousness, and British sensitivity by a brave lad James McAvoy who didn’t resist rebellious thoughts and thus tried to turn Jane into a whore. In vain. Jane Austen will always be a saint. Plus, there is the fact that Anne Hathaway can never portray her again. (01/09/2017)

After the excellent adaptation of the book "Pride and Prejudice," I thought a film about the life of Jane Austen would be similar. Strong characters, beautiful settings, and great authenticity in production. In terms of costumes, there’s really nothing to criticize. The era is captured wonderfully, and the costumes are simply beautiful. However, this is where the positives end. Strong characters are somewhat lacking here; they mostly play roles. James McAvoy is a likable guy, as I mentioned before, but his face still looks a bit youthful, making it hard to believe him as a complex protagonist, unlike the moments when he expresses emotions—those are better. Anne Hathaway's portrayal of Jane Austen is similar. She’s not bad; she’s a searching protagonist, but Keira Knightley had an audacity that made her a truly strong woman. Anne still seems a bit weak. Why do I keep comparing both films? Primarily because they share many narrative similarities, although it’s true that the endings are different in both cases. Becoming Jane is meant to be a biographical film, but it leans more toward a romantic tone. We aren’t really watching a credible biographical film, but rather another version of one of the protagonist's novels. (03/02/2013)

Julian Jarrold appeared to me in 2007 as a saving star and I will never stop being disappointed that he later retreated to less resplendent television projects. Although from the first moment I see that Anne Hathaway is somewhat forcibly fitted into the position of Keira Knightley and the whole concept leans heavily on Pride and Prejudice several times, it doesn't matter. Becoming Jane is an intimate, self-contained and beautifully done biographical adaptation. When I look at other reviews, it warms me even more that its magic came only to me. (02/05/2009)