Jane Austen’s Sense & Sensibility (2008/BBC DVD)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C Episodes: B-
As the
Jane Austen retreat to TV continues, the BBC has made their version of Jane Austen’s Sense & Sensibility (2008)
directed by John Alexander, who does at least as good a job as the overrated
Ang Lee did for the recent hit theatrical film version, which was graced by
Emma Thompson. It is Thompson who made
the difference then and is the only reason that version edges out this
one. David Morrissey (who I am always
mixed about as an actor) leads this cast and is not bad here.
Andrew
Davies makes some changes you can tell are not from the original Austen work to
“modernize” in a way that backfires, especially as he is a male and the lines
are odd. Though I am no fan of Austen
the writer, tampering with the literature is always dangerous ground. However, that is not as bad as Lee’s
misdirecting on the Thompson version and those who like the book will want to
see this version. Once will be enough otherwise
for the rest of us.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image can be soft and part of that might be
the downtrade to DVD, but this is nicely shot, though it cannot compete with
the look of the recent feature film.
However, I would like to see this on Blu-ray for further
comparison. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
is also decent, but has no surrounds, though the recording is good. Extras include stills, cast/crew audio commentary,
Remembering Jane Austen radio play,
on camera interviews with Davies & Producer Anne Pivcevic and Miss
Austin Regrets biopic piece on Austen that goes well with the recent
feature Becoming Jane, reviewed elsewhere on this site.
- Nicholas Sheffo
