PBS perfects story of 'Emma'
Becca Seel
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Arts and Entertainment
PBS' latest Masterpiece Classic Emma is a delightful addition to the canon of Jane Austen adaptations. The remarkable production is also an excellent period piece, with a high level of authenticity and attention to detail. Centered on a mischievous matchmaker, Emma tells the story of a young woman who fancies herself an expert of the lives of others, and uses her wits to try to make matches. While she acts with good intentions, albeit to satisfy her own boredom as a woman in upperclass England in the nineteenth century, Emma's meddling inevitably makes a mess of the lives around her. The charming story, acting, and production make for great entertainment, whether for a lover of period pieces, or an adventurer into the world of costume drama.
The story of Emma could not have been successful without the perfect actress. Romola Garai, a veteran of both the silver screen (Atonement) and stage (Cordelia in the successful 2007 adaptation of King Lear starring Ian McKellen), breathes life into the titular role, handling Emma's multifaceted personality with panache. Emma's misguided attempts at matchmaking may aggravate the viewer, but Garai's lively wit and energy only accentuate the delicacy of her performance. Emma is a hard role to play, but is a role which Garai masters. It was also delightful to see Michael Gambon of Dumbledore fame playing Emma's endearingly worrisome father. Johnny Lee Miller as Mr. Knightley will be canonized as another Austen hero. The supporting cast was also exceptional, and there was not a character out of place in the meticulous crafting of the series.
Any fan of Austen, Regency literature, or period pieces will adore Emma. Because the miniseries is so traditional both in its approach to the source material, and in the historical accuracy, it is not to be enjoyed by all. However, the acting and aesthetics of the miniseries are outstanding, and whether or not you are a romantic is irrelevant while watching such a superb adaptation. Emma, at any rate, is definitely a worthwhile experience, as it excels at doing what any Austen adaptation must: letting Austen's work speak for itself. Emma is so lively that she practically leaps off of the page onto the screen.
The story itself has to be commended. There is a reason why Emma is a classic, and it is made obvious by the miniseries why generations of Austen fans (especially of the female persuasion) think of Emma as a great literary heroine. I do not mean to ruin any surprises, but Emma is full of happy endings. Unlike romcoms or chick flicks, however, nothing in the story is contrived or wearisome to watch. One of the key points of any literary adaptation is that it cannot be an improvement of the source material. Adaptations can only make worse, and can never truly surpass their origins. The latest incarnation of Emma is a testament to the virtuoso of Austen, as she creates a character so in tune to the people's aspirations, thoughts, and feelings around her, that she betrays her own talent to do the same. Emma embodies the spirit of Austen's work, and is another exemplary example of what can go right with a thoughtful, loving, attentive, and meticulous adaptation.
The story of Emma could not have been successful without the perfect actress. Romola Garai, a veteran of both the silver screen (Atonement) and stage (Cordelia in the successful 2007 adaptation of King Lear starring Ian McKellen), breathes life into the titular role, handling Emma's multifaceted personality with panache. Emma's misguided attempts at matchmaking may aggravate the viewer, but Garai's lively wit and energy only accentuate the delicacy of her performance. Emma is a hard role to play, but is a role which Garai masters. It was also delightful to see Michael Gambon of Dumbledore fame playing Emma's endearingly worrisome father. Johnny Lee Miller as Mr. Knightley will be canonized as another Austen hero. The supporting cast was also exceptional, and there was not a character out of place in the meticulous crafting of the series.
Any fan of Austen, Regency literature, or period pieces will adore Emma. Because the miniseries is so traditional both in its approach to the source material, and in the historical accuracy, it is not to be enjoyed by all. However, the acting and aesthetics of the miniseries are outstanding, and whether or not you are a romantic is irrelevant while watching such a superb adaptation. Emma, at any rate, is definitely a worthwhile experience, as it excels at doing what any Austen adaptation must: letting Austen's work speak for itself. Emma is so lively that she practically leaps off of the page onto the screen.
The story itself has to be commended. There is a reason why Emma is a classic, and it is made obvious by the miniseries why generations of Austen fans (especially of the female persuasion) think of Emma as a great literary heroine. I do not mean to ruin any surprises, but Emma is full of happy endings. Unlike romcoms or chick flicks, however, nothing in the story is contrived or wearisome to watch. One of the key points of any literary adaptation is that it cannot be an improvement of the source material. Adaptations can only make worse, and can never truly surpass their origins. The latest incarnation of Emma is a testament to the virtuoso of Austen, as she creates a character so in tune to the people's aspirations, thoughts, and feelings around her, that she betrays her own talent to do the same. Emma embodies the spirit of Austen's work, and is another exemplary example of what can go right with a thoughtful, loving, attentive, and meticulous adaptation.
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