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Emma [1996]
from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainm
starring Gwyneth Paltrow, James Cosmo, Greta Scacchi, Alan Cumming, Denys Hawthorne
directed by Douglas McGrath

Features:

• PAL
• Widescreen

Editorial Review:

Most people didn't mind Gwyneth Paltrow's English accent in this charming, 1996 adaptation of Jane Austen's novel (which also inspired Clueless). But even if it doesn't sound quite right to you, there are plenty of authentic and wonderful Brit thespians in this film by screenwriter-turned-director Douglas McGrath (co-author of Woody Allen's Bullets Over Broadway), including Juliet Stevenson (Truly Madly Deeply), Alan Cumming (Buddy), Phyllida Law (Much Ado About Nothing), Ewan McGregor (the Scots star of Trainspotting), and Sophie Thompson, outstanding and finally heartbreaking as the chattering Miss Bates. Paltrow plays Austen's benign busybody, Emma Woodhouse--so busy trying to arrange the lives of others that she is sidestepping her own. McGrath brings a kind of pretty and light touch to the production, his best move the wise delegation of creative authority to the actors themselves. --Tom Keogh

Most people didn't mind Gwyneth Paltrow's English accent in this charming 1996 adaptation of Jane Austen's novel Emma. There are also plenty of authentic and wonderful Brit thespians in this film by screenwriter-turned-director Douglas McGrath (co-author of Woody Allen's Bullets Over Broadway), including Juliet Stevenson (Truly Madly Deeply), Phyllida Law (Much Ado About Nothing), Ewan McGregor and Sophie Thompson who offers an outstanding and finally heartbreaking turn as the chattering Miss Bates. Paltrow plays Austen's benign busybody, Emma Woodhouse--so busy trying to arrange the lives of others that she is sidestepping her own. McGrath brings a kind of pretty and light touch to the production; his best move the wise delegation of creative authority to the actors themselves.--Tom Keogh, Amazon.com

Emma Thompson scores a double bull's-eye with this marvellous adaptation of Jane Austen's novel. Not only does Thompson turn in a strong (and gently humorous) performance as Elinor Dashwood--the one with "sense"--she also wrote the witty screenplay. Austen's tale of 19th-century manners and morals provides a large cast with a feast of possibilities, notably Kate Winslet, in her pre-Titanic flowering, as Thompson's deeply romantic sister, Marianne (the one with "sensibility"). Winslet attracts the wooing of shy Alan Rickman (a nice change of pace from his bad-guy roles) and dashing Greg Wise, while Thompson must endure an incredibly roundabout courtship with Hugh Grant, here in fine and funny form. All of this is doled out with the usual eye-filling English countryside and handsome costumes, yet the film always seems to be about the careful interior lives of its characters. The director, an inspired choice, is Taiwan-born Ang Lee, who brings the same exquisite taste and discreet touch he displayed in his previous films. Thompson's script won an Oscar.--Robert Horton, Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

• Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0

• Enjoyable but could have been better ...
  What makes this version of Emma enjoyable is the exquisite costumes, locations and colour. I love the portrayals of Miss Bates, Mr & Mrs Elton & Mrs Weston (or poor Miss Taylor). Gwyneth Paltrow makes a pleasant Emma, but although I love her as an actress, I don't think she has really identified with the character of Emma. I am not convinced of Harriet Smith or Frank Churchill either, they are just not authentic to the characters. Mr Knightley is just about passable. The main problem with this is... more info

• Lovely, romantic, yet disappointing
  Because of its high Amazon rating, I first purchased the ITV production of Emma with Kate Beckinsale. Although that production is laudible in many ways, I felt it was lacking in a few crucial areas, so I thought I would give the Hollywood version a try. After all, I think the Keira Knightly Pride and Prejudice is absolutely beautiful even with its variances from the book and the styles of the period .
  Well, the good news is that Gwyneth Paltrow creates a wonderfully sympathetic Emma, which is no small... more info

• This movie bored me
  I have to say that I expected more out of this movie. Paltrow is a great actress but not even here could see lift the movie. It was nicely filmed and had good actors... Well I don't know... maybe the storyline was thin or the fact that you couldn't feel the emotions in the people. All in all, the movie bored me.

• Brilliantly done, Emma, brilliantly done...........
  This a great feel-good film and one which I always reach for when I want some light entertainment and romance. I also love the Kate Beckinsale version and usually I always have a preference for one or other where there are two adaptations of a story to pick from, but in this case they really are on a par. They are individual pieces, both very well made with much to recommend them.
  Although this is a Hollywood version, with lavish costumes and beautiful settings, it is not over-glitzy or modernized in... more info

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