Northanger Abbey revisited

Since Northanger Abbey was rebroadcast last week on Masterpiece Classic, I thought it might be time to pull out my DVD and revisit the film and my initial impressions of it. I originally reviewed the film in January 2008, when it aired as part of the Jane Austen season on Masterpiece. So without further ado, here's my original post on the movie:

"Perhaps after all it is possible to read too many novels."— Henry Tilney in Northanger Abbey

Time to rehash Northanger Abbey, and no surprise here, but I LOVED it. It's got everything going for it - a smart script (courtesy of the inimitable Andrew Davies), excellent direction and pacing, and a spot-on, practically perfect cast all giving sparkling performances. This is the first film adaptation of this story that I've seen - and while I have nothing to compare it to movie-wise, I have a feeling that it is leaps and bounds better than the previous BBC version.

At the moment I'm feeling too lazy to write a decent summary of the story, so thanks to Kaye for letting me borrow her version.

The daughter of a country clergyman, Catherine Morland has a passion for gothic romance novels and a vivid imagination. She gets the opportunity to go to Bath for the season with family friends. While in Bath, she makes the acquaintance of the Thorpe family, specifically Isabella, who is engaged to Catherine’s brother, and John. Isabella teaches Catherine the fine art of flirtation, and soon John is showing romantic interest in Catherine.

Catherine, however, isn’t interested in the wild John, but in the quiet Henry Tilney. Henry’s father, General Tilney, under the misinformation that Catherine is wealthy, invites Catherine to come spend some time at their ancestral home, Northanger Abbey. The Abbey answers all of Catherine’s gothic imaginings; and as soon as she arrives, the fun begins.

Felicity Jones delivers a wonderful performance as the highly imaginative Catherine. Her wide-eyed ingenue is wholly believable (and, wonder of wonders, I didn't find her annoying...LOL). The scenes where her imagination gets caught up in some outlandish, Gothic romance are hilarious and oh so much fun to watch.

Catherine's friend, the flirtatious Isabella Thorpe, is played by Carey Mulligan - she's an actress to watch IMO. She played Kitty Bennett in the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice, as well as appearing in Bleak House and the forthcoming My Boy Jack (co-starring Daniel Radcliffe, to air on Masterpiece Theatre later this year). She reminds me a bit of Romola Garai (most recently seen in Atonement), who I tend to like, but occassionally gets on my nerves by coming off as rather vapid. I like Mulligan...she always seems to have a great deal of spunk and sparkle in her performances.

Our hero, the noble Henry Tilney, is played by JJ Feild. I love JJ (yeah we're on a first name basis like that...LOL...in my dreams, I know, I know...) and thought he was perfectly cast for this role. He struck a nice balance between the serious and the teasing as regards his relationship with Catherine. JJ's got a slightly nerdy edge to him, but that just makes him all the more endearing, doesn't it? He's also going to be an actor to watch...he's appeared in The Railway Children (made quite an impression on me even then, LOL!), Poirot: Death on the Nile, The Secret Life of Mrs. Beeton, and Ruby in the Smoke.

The director, Jon Jones (also directed Mrs. Beeton) is to be applauded for his work - the pacing of the film was excellent. I loved the costumes and sets - the shots of Northanger Abbey were wonderful, with a deliciously creepy feel. The camera work and lighting all succeeded in striking the right balance between Catherine's imagination and reality - the Abbey scenes and just enough of a suspicious feel that Catherine's imaginings don't seen entirely unfounded. And I loved the score & main theme by Charlie Mole - he also scored Mrs. Beeton, as well as An Ideal Husband and The Importance of Being Earnest. His work succeeds in striking the right balance between suspense and the comic elements of the story.

My one very slight quibble is with the ending...it seemed a tad abrupt. Of course, that's probably due to the restriction of a ninety-minute running time. Also, I would've much rather ended on a picture of Henry and Catherine, instead of old man Tilney, but that's just a personal preference (LOL). Other than that, which I really wouldn't classify as a complaint at all, I thought this film was just about as perfect as can be. It strikes just the right tone and pace in bringing to life Austen's gentle parody of the Gothic fiction so popular in her time.

The DVD of Northanger Abbey is available for purchase here.

***I will say this, my opinion of Romola Garai as an actress has improved somewhat since I wrote this post back in 2008! ;-)

Persuasion encore

Just a reminder, if you've never seen the latest film adaptation of Jane Austen's Persuasion (also known as "Rupert Penry-Jones will make you swoon," LOL), PBS is airing an encore presentation of this film tonight. For me the highlight of this film is definitely the casting of Captain Wentworth. :) Here's the summary from the Masterpiece website:

Unhappily unmarried at age 27, and dealing with family financial peril, hope is fading from Anne Elliot's (Sally Hawkins, Little Britain) life. Circumstances bring Captain Frederick Wentworth (Rupert Penry-Jones, Casanova), a dashing naval officer she once deeply loved, back into her life eight years after Anne was persuaded by her family to reject his marriage proposal. Having returned from sea with a new fortune, Wentworth is surrounded by swooning women while Anne broods at the periphery, longing to be in Wentworth's favor. Now Anne comes face-to-face with the deep regret of her old decision, and her abiding love for Wentworth, as she wonders if a long ago love can be rekindled.

Enjoy. :)

New Doctor Who trailer!

I came across a new Doctor Who trailer for series 5 on the blogs today. It's great to get another look at Matt Smith as the eleventh incarnation of the Doctor, as well as the new companion, Amy, played by Karen Gillan. However, the most exciting part of seeing this trailer is the revelation that series 5 is going to start at Easter - that will be here before we know it! Hopefully BBC America won't be far behind the BBC in giving us the new episodes. :)

Emma, part 3

Bet you thought this write-up was never coming, right? :) Goodness knows I am completely incapable of leaving a series on British film unfinished, never mind the blogs are weeks off schedule. Oh well. *wink*

I'm actually glad I left off writing about the final episode of Emma until I could watch it on DVD. To start with, here's the episode summary from the Masterpiece website:

What was intended as a day of fun turns into a day of agony for everyone on the Box Hill excursion. Things come to a head when, egged on by Frank, Emma behaves very badly, insulting Miss Bates. Emma is berated by Knightley and realizes that her behavior was shameful. She tries to repair things with Jane and Miss Bates, but Jane will not see her. Miss Bates tells her that Jane has cried all night and decided to accept a job as a governess. Meanwhile, Knightley goes to stay with his brother in London — he will be away for a while. When Frank's aunt dies, the Westons expect him to propose to Emma — but his actions set in motion a chain of events that both shock Emma and make her realize something that has been in plain sight all along.

This is the "payoff" episode of the Emma story, when Emma begins to realize that her machinations may have cost her the love of her life. Don't you love it? :) The episode opens with the strawberry picking expedition at Donwell Abbey. Knightley (Jonny Lee Miller) has pulled out all of the stops to ensure Mr. Woodhouse's (Michael Gambon) comfort, since he is always so loathe to leave his own home. It was a sweet moment, as you can see that Knightley's practically begging Emma to see that he's doing this all for her, and Emma, while appreciative, is happily oblivious to that fact. This portion of the program also has a very funny scene with Mr. Elton (Blake Ritson) leading his new bride (Christina Cole) to Donwell on the back of a donkey. The look on Ritson's face is comic gold. :)

I think this production of Emma does the best job, that I've seen anyway, of showing real growth and transformation in Emma's character. Romola Garai has completely exceeded my expectations with her performance. She starts off so sure of herself, so superficial in so many, many ways, and by the conclusion of this film version we see her become kinder, more understanding, more considerate. The scenes between Garai and Gambon and father and daughter do an excellent job of highlighting the kind, patient side of Emma's character. Garai's Emma expresses such a love and patience for her father that's wonderful to see. And I love Gambon's take on Mr. Woodhouse - the way he plays the character really seems to indicate that he really struggles with - well, I'm not sure - senility? social anxiety disorder? Sandy Welch's screenplay and Gambon's acting make Mr. Woodhouse much more than a high-maintenence presence on the pages of Austen's novel.

This episode covers the Box Hill excursion, which has to be one of the most painful episodes to read or see enacted on-screen, thanks to Emma's thoughtless set-down of Miss Bates (Tamsin Greig). I really appreciated the way this scene played out, showing Emma as she realizes she's gone too far, and how she graduall becomes fed up with Frank Churchill (Rupert Evans). Garai plays the scene by having Emma realize that she doesn't like the woman she's become when she's with Frank - but, since he's the type of gentleman she's always dreamed of, it's a hard realization to come to terms with. Speaking of Churchill, this adaptation left me feeling more than ever that poor Jane Fairfax, played with an almost elfin-like quality by Laura Pyper, is DOOMED. I always marvel at Jane's ability to put up with Frank's little games, but Pyper's take on Jane makes the character seem more vulnerable, somehow, than what's been shown in previous Emma films.

After the Box Hill debacle, Emma clearly has endured, perhaps for the first time, a painful dose of cold, hard reality. The following day her costumes even undergo a transformation, as she wears black and gray to visit Miss Bates in an attempt to make amends. She handles the revelation of Frank and Jane's secret engagement with a lot of maturity - balanced, of course, by a humorous moment when she berates Frank for daring to lead her on. Emma's changed a lot over the course of this series, but it's moments like that which remind you that some things never change. :)

The BEST part of this installment is, of course, getting to see Emma and Mr. Knightley finally, finally declare their love for each other. This moment is made even sweeter by all of the emotional turmoil Emma must endure first; one, by worrying that her propensity for thoughtlessness has cost her Knightley's esteem and two, that he may actually prefer her friend Harriet (Louise Dylan). By this point Emma actually considers Harriet a friend, so the possibility that she could lose Knightley to her is even more painful. I loved the way Miller played Knightley during these scenes. The combination of uncertainty, hope, and nerves is really quite adorable. :) And I loved the way Garai expressed Emma's joy and relief at realizing her love for Mr. Knightley will not go unrequited. This brings me to an important point - if you only watched the broadcast version of Emma, for goodness' sake track down the DVD. PBS inexplicably made the call to cut a short but wonderful scene between Emma and Mr. Knightley, where they discuss when each first realized they were in love with the other. The moment when Emma confesses that when she looked into her heart, she found Mr. Knightley - well, it's a sweet little moment to savor. :) I also absolutely LOVED Emma's freak-out scene when reality has set in and she fears that she can't marry because that would require her to leave her father. Seeing a rattled Emma juxtaposed with a very calm Knightley is quite funny (and I loved the shot of them going in to tell Mr. Woodhouse their plans, and Knightley reaches behind Emma to grasp her hand - so sweet!).

This adaptation of Emma has proven to be a superb addition to the long list of Jane Austen-related films. The pacing and acting are superb across the board, as are the costumes and sets. Welch's script hits all of the necessary story beats (to my mind, anyway) while providing a fresh perspective and look at the story that's so familiar to fans of Gwyneth Paltrow or Kate Beckinsale versions. Of course a major highlight of this production for me was getting to see Jonny Lee Miller play another Austen hero, and he did not disappoint. :) I also have a greater appreciation for Romola Garai as an actress. She balances Emma's self-centeredness with her growing compassion and, dare I say it, a touch of humility as well. I also must comment on Samuel Sim's gorgeous score, it was absolutely beautiful. Very, very well done all around BBC. :)

*Oh, I almost forgot - I LOVED the mention of Mr. Woodhouse's chickens at the end of this show - too funny!

Review: Swinging on a Star by Janice Thompson

Swinging on a Star (Weddings by Bella #2)
By: Janice Thompson
Publisher: Revell
ISBN: 978-0-8007-3343-8

About the book:

Bella Rossi’s life is nearing perfection. Not only does she have the perfect guy, but she’s also running a successful wedding-planning business and is about to plan its most ambitious wedding yet – a Renaissance-themed fairy tale come true, complete with period costumes and foods, horse-drawn carriages, and even a castle. There’s only one hitch. The best man just happens to be Hollywood’s hottest and most eligible bachelor, and he’s showing an interest in Bella. Oh, and did we mention he’s staying at her house to avoid the paparazzi?

With all the pressure surrounding this wedding, Bella’s not sure she’s going to make it through. Add her starstruck sister and her feuding aunt and uncle, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster – and a lot of laughs.

Review:

With the success of her first themed wedding – a country-western extravaganza – Bella Rossi has taken on an even bigger challenge. She must plan an elaborate, authentic, Renaissance style wedding, complete with a castle and moat. As if installing a temporary castle wasn’t enough, the wedding party happens to feature one of Hollywood’s hottest stars, Brock Benson, as the best man. In an attempt to remain anonymous so the paparazzi can’t crash the ceremony, Brock takes up residence with Bella’s family, and she struggles to keep that secret while reassuring her adorable, cowboy-boyfriend D.J. that the presence of a Hollywood star in her home won’t threaten their developing romance. If she can pull off the Renaissance fairy tale, it could be Bella’s highest profile, most successful event yet. But when wedding and Hollywood drama collide with family drama – in particular, her Aunt Rosa’s debut on the Food Network – the distractions test Bella’s faith and confidence. With the legendary Rossi family antics under the glare of a national spotlight, and a tropical storm en route, Bella must pull out all the stops to stay on track and prevent her biggest wedding yet from turning into a paparazzi photo-op.

Swinging on a Star picks up shortly after the conclusion of Fools Rush In, and I highly recommend reading that volume first in order to be properly introduced to Bella’s whacky and lovable family. Though the series bears Bella’s name, Thompson has created a true ensemble cast and one grows to care about the misadventures of each member of Bella’s circle of family and friends. Star serves up a second helping of all the elements that I loved in the first book, starting with Thompson’s clear appreciation of classic pop standards. Each chapter bears a song title, and since I’m a big fan of the Great American Songbook and Rossi family-favorite vocalists Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, I loved seeing how the title and lyrics of the songs relate to the events of each chapter. I also appreciated the Rossi family’s love of good cuisine, and how it’s poised to go national with Aunt Rosa’s pending appearance on the Food Network. Thankfully, Thompson chose to incorporate real hosts and shows into the novel, which adds a dash of pop culture realism to storyline.

I have to admit, it took me a bit longer to get into Stars than it did with Fools Rush In. Bella’s tendency to worry and overanalyze came off a bit overdone, but as the story delves more deeply into the wedding preparations and the family drama that turns around. Bella is taken to the edge, culminating with an overnight stint in jail, and back again as she learns about relinquishing control and placing her trust and faith in a never-changing God. Thompson also tackles the misleading nature of appearances, with Brock being a prime example, his Hollywood polish hiding a broken life in need of purpose. Bella’s mostly innocent tendency to “prejudge” people and circumstances is beautifully turned around when the people she wouldn’t necessarily expect are the ones who rally ‘round to spring her from jail. Star also satisfies my desire from its predecessor to get more of an insider glimpse into what it takes to create a themed wedding. I loved seeing Bella pull off the Renaissance fairy tale for her clients – the descriptions were so vivid I felt like I was part of the party. And the way D.J. and Bella’s relationship develops over the course of this wedding adventure is a treat – D.J. is the perfect embodiment of “everyday” heroism, and by the end of the book he manages to pull out all the stops in wooing Bella in a truly swoon-worthy fashion.

Filled with humor, heart, and very flawed people just trying their best to live out their faith, Swinging On a Star is a sweet, frothy confection of a read sure to leave you craving some of Rosa’s legendary Italian cooking. Book three, It Had to Be You, releases in May.

You can read my review of Fools Rush In here.

Love Finds You In Bridal Veil, Oregon by Miralee Ferrell

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon

Summerside Press (January 1, 2010)by

Miralee Ferrell



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

In October 2007 Kregel Publications published The Other Daughter with excellent reviews. The Romantic Times Review magazine gave it Four out of Four and a half stars, with a very strong review. Two different major motion picture studios are currently considering the book as a possible family movie, and my second book in the series (Past Shadows) is on my publishers desk being reviewed for a possible contract offer now.

In February of 2009, Love Finds You in Last Chance, California was published by Summerside Press

And Finding Jeena will release in April 2010 from Kregel Publications.

Miralee Ferrell lives in Washington with Allen, her husband of more than 37 years, ans has two grown children. She serves on staff at her local church ans is actively involved in ministry to women.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Against a backdrop of thievery and murder in Bridal Veil Falls, Oregon, a historic logging community, a schoolteacher is torn between the memories of a distant love and the man who could be her future.

Sixteen-year-old Margaret Garvey had given her heart to Nathaniel Cooper the night he disappeared from town. Four years later, just as she's giving love a second chance with Andrew, a handsome logger, Nathaniel suddenly returns. He steams back into Bridal Veil on a riverboat to work at the nearby sawmill to town with a devastating secret.

While grappling with the betrayal of those she trusted most, Margaret risks her reputation and position by harboring two troubled runaways who might be involved in the murder of a local man.

When disaster strikes the town and threatens the welfare of its citizens, Margaret will be faced with the most important choice of her life.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon, go HERE

Northanger Abbey encore

Just a reminder, if you haven't seen the latest film adaptation of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey, PBS is airing an encore presentation tonight on Masterpiece Classic. I thoroughly recommend this film, it's so much fun - plus, JJ Feild plays the hero! *swoon* :) Here's a bit about the story from the PBS website:

Catherine Morland (Felicity Jones, Meadowlands) has an ordinary life and a feverish imagination. When she gets invited to Bath, Catherine is immersed in a world of elaborate balls and handsome men. When one suitor takes her to his family estate, Northanger Abbey, Catherine becomes mired in a world of fact and fantasy. Is there a dark mystery behind the locked doors of Northanger Abbey? Why has her budding romance suddenly been cut short? Also starring JJ Feild (The Secret Life of Mrs. Beeton), Andrew Davies adapts Austen's gentle parody of gothic fiction.

When In Rome

I went to see When In Rome yesterday with Leah, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I don't think I've laughed out loud so much during a romantic comedy since maybe The Proposal. I don't know that I'd say it's as good as The Proposal, but I was just as entertained, know what I mean? I liked the idea that the movie takes the old tradition of wishing for love by tossing a coin in a fountain (such as in the old classic, Three Coins in the Fountain), and flips it around by asking what happens to those wishes if you take someone's coin out? So the whole thing worked for me as a fun diversion on a nasty, overcast Saturday afternoon. :)

Kristen Bell was cute, funny, and neurotic - I think she's got potential in rom-coms reminscent of maybe Meg Ryan and Sandra Bullock, just a bit. Now, when I saw Josh Duhamel in the previews there's no denying his gorgeous, but I wasn't sure if he could pull off a comedy like this. I thought he worked out really well in the role, though, and had good on-screen chemistry with Bell. Frankly, he was adorable. :) The supporting cast was also great, especially Will Arnett, Jon Heder, Danny DeVito, and Dax Shepard as the four guys who "fall in love" with Bell when she takes their coins from the fountain in Rome. Heder and DeVito had some especially hilarious moments. I also LOVED seeing Anjelica Huston as Kristen Bell's witchy boss. She reminded me a bit of Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada. And her moment at the end of the movie with DeVito was hilarious!

So yeah, When In Rome is a lot of fun, definitely worth renting if you don't feel like shelling out to see it in the theater. It's fast-paced, really funny, and you can stare at Josh Duhamel being adorable for two hours. Plus you'll be left with this overwhelming desire to visit Rome. It's a winning combination, just sayin'. ;-)