Jane Eyre (2011)
19KJane Eyre: Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga. With Mia Wasikowska, Jamie Bell, Su Elliot, Holliday Grainger. A mousy governess who softens the heart of her employer soon discovers that he’s hiding a terrible secret.
“Iu0026#39;ve seen JANE EYRE in many versions, holding the Susannah York/George C. Scott edition on a special pedestal, but this new atmospheric adaptation proves to be worthwhile. It should introduce a new audience to the classic tale.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAfter scoring in the title role in Tim Burtonu0026#39;s ALICE IN WONDERLAND, Aussie thesp Mia Wasikowska is compelling with a plain Jane styling here again as title character, with her story told effectively in flashback, starting with her escape from the Gothic mansion of Rochester (Michael Fassbender), getting a school marmu0026#39;s gig from sympathetic young pastor u0026quot;Sin-jinu0026quot; (St. John, played by Mr. BILLY ELLIOT himself, Jamie Bell).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHer u0026quot;tale of woeu0026quot;, as Rochester mockingly describes it before even hearing a word, is the familiar Charlotte Bronte yarn -suffering a scary childhood at the hands of such ogres as Mrs. Reed (Sally Hawkins, in her least giggly role to date -very effective). Years at a school for castoff girls, where corporal punishment is de rigeur, merely season Jane for lifeu0026#39;s hard knocks.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe romantic sweep of her dealings with Rochester are well portrayed, and director Cary Joji Fukunaga makes terrific use of the stark locations, shot in painterly fashion. The visuals alone make this remake worthwhile, backed by the BBC but definitely not a u0026quot;Masterpiece Theatreu0026quot; small-screen effort like the recent re-dos of all of Jane Austen.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe big reveal regarding Rochesteru0026#39;s u0026quot;secretu0026quot; is well-done, though I was a bit disappointed that the hindsight of two versions of Jean Rhysu0026#39; prequel WIDE SARGASSO SEA was not taken into account here. I guess screenwriter Moira Buffini adhered to a more purist approach.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFassbender has already suffered casting criticism as being too good looking, but his acting carries the day -combining the right amount of sinister to temper the matinée idol veneer. After all, Jane is going to fall for him eventually. I still prefer Scott or Orson Welles in the role -tough competition indeed.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBesides the principals, Dame Judi Dench is solid as a rock as Rochesteru0026#39;s housekeeper, giving it her always-A-game approach and adding nuance to what could be merely a stock role.”
