Becoming Jane on DVD (2007)

A customer from Surrey, England , 20/03/2007

Who knows if this film has much bearing on what actually went on in Jane Austen's little-documented early life? I still enjoyed it thoroughly, especially the acting. There are the usual suspects such as Maggie Smith and Julia Walters, doing what they do best. Anne Hathaway as Jane acquits herself well . But the revelation is James McAvoy, who brings both a raffish energy and a vulnerability to the role of Jane's lover.

  19 out of 20 people found this review helpful

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A customer from North London , 10/03/2007

I cannot fault this film. I would, however,have chosen someone else to play Jane except Anne Hathaway. Being an avid fan of Jane Austen's work and life, she was described as quite plain, but yet interesting and very captivating. I'm afraid Anne didn't quite measure up as Jane Austen in my opinion, but she did muster an English accent,but just didn't do her character justice and didn't bring to life the Jane Austen I've read about. However, James McAvoy, who plays Tom her love interest, carried the film and more than made up for the bad casting decision of hiring Anne to do Jane. He was charming and really gave it his all when he played Tom. He was amazing, and soooo good looking! James McAvoy is one of those actors that will bring any character to life: he has a

certain boyish charm that really comes across when he plays a part. It's what keeps you glued to the screen. The end was sad and that's when I wish I had brought tissues....because this film is one for the waterworks! I really enjoyed this film and recommend it very highly for all those who like a film with substance!

  19 out of 23 people found this review helpful

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A customer from Edinburgh, Scotland , 19/09/2007

I found, as an English Literature student, the film was interesting. It is indeed a 'one of the kind' and fabulous in that is sheds some light on Austen's life. However, the film appears to take much from many of Austen's novels which have already been made into films. The music mirrors many scenes in adaptations such as Pride & Prejudice while the dancing reflects what is seen in practically every other period piece - and yes, I do understand that the dances of all the films reflected the period in which they were written but why make it so similar to the adaptations? They were imaginary, this is meant to be (slightly) based on fact. The story is fairly weak; and while the acting is commendable, it does not hold, the characters are likeable, but not the sort who you connect with and want to succeed, especially when you compare them to the characters and story in the adapatations of Austen's actual novels. It is, I admit, a lovely film to sit in and enjoy on a Saturday night, discuss it for an hour - if that, and forget about it. Memorable because it just does not stand up to Jane Austen's imagination which, as we can see, flows onto the screen incredibly well!!!! We want to see something more about this superbly enigmatic, wonderful person who outshone her peers and has proved her timelessness (Sorry, I am one of those people who really wanted to enjoy it). I have noticed that one particular viewer believes that the film needs to involve her novels as much as possible which I agree with. Writing novels was a huge PART of Jane's life, it was ( for want of a better word) her profession - we want to know about her. Please call it 'Becoming Jane AustEn's Novel' if that is what the film was meant to be about. Also Jane Austen is spelt with an E, not an I - just thought, for such an avid fan who has read her novels a countless number of times you should know that...

  15 out of 18 people found this review helpful

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Christine from Scotland , 01/10/2007

This could become my favourite film, loved it, loved it and LOVED IT.

Yes I’m a Jane Austin fan, read the books (over and over a zillion times) and wore the t-shirt (muslin trimmed with a silk ribbon of course) but that doesn’t mean to say I’ll go for any old rubbish labelled “Jane Austin”. There is far too much tripe out there selling itself as ‘Austin’ the latest series of Jane Austin atrocities from STV are testament to that but this isn’t one of that ilk, this breathes new life into Jane Austin and you felt her spirit.

I have read much of the criticism levelled at this movie (beginning to think I was watching something else) and I have to ask do folks get this is just a film of a given duration. People are taking things a little seriously and Jane would be merciless with her ridicule, nothing she liked better that people who took things a little too seriously (think of Mr Collins in P&P). I too was shocked to hear that they had picked an American to play Jane but I soon got over myself. As for the criticism that she was too pretty to play Jane well how superficial as that, how very size zero of them. The inference almost seems that Jane Austin was too plain to stir up the kind of romantic interest portrayed in this film, ignoring the whole shallowness and naivety of this argument how do we know what Jane Austin looked like? There are supposed sketches (at best) floating around of her likeness but none have proven to be categorically genuine or accurate but thankfully beauty is subjective and can be allowed poetic licence. The other criticism that bothered me was that it was making too much use of things from her novels and arguing that it should have been much more about Jane and not the imagined situation of her novels. I don’t think in Jane Austin case we can fairly separate her from her novels. Jane’s stories were obviously influenced by her life experiences (writing a book 101) so I think it’s fair enough for us to now conclude that in writing her life experiences most people are going to cast an eye over her stories and be likewise obviously influenced. This was only a snap shot of part of her life, she suffered chronic ill health and experienced more than her fair share of tragedy in her short life non of which was covered in this film because it was just that, A FILM, and as such couldn’t possibly do it all in 120 mins. The film looks at what there is time for, it looks at one part of her life a part to explain where she was coming from in her novels and I think it does this brilliantly. James McAvoy was out this world wow seriously wow who knew, how unforgettably intense, he’s burned into my brain I’m renting his back catalogue. Maggie and Julie of course were great and Anne Hathaway got by with credit. This film simply confirmed to me that nobody but nobody should do Jane Austin except the BBC they’re just too good at it. If your a Jane Austin fan but don't feel the need to hunt down non -puritans with a pitch fork then you'll like this film ... a lot.

  15 out of 19 people found this review helpful

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A customer from Yorkshire , 22/08/2008

This was a very well made study of the years in Jane Austen's life that shaped her writing of 'Pride and Prejudice'; James Mc Avoy is very good, but there's something unnerving about having an American in the title role, no matter how good her accent is.

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