Jane Austin's classic tale, Emma has been remade again. This is a romantic comedy kind of film yet it isn't laugh out funny but it is amusing in parts. The look of the overall is stunning throughout and we really are transported into a different time period.
Anya Taylor-Joy is Emma Woodhouse, she is beautiful, clever and rich but most importantly unmarried. Emma passes her time matchmaking while avoiding her own romantic frustrations. Her past matchmaking consists of her former governess Miss Taylor (Gemma Whelan) who marries Mr Weston (Rupert Graves). This doesn’t sit well with Emma's grieving pernickety old dad, played by Bill Nighy. Nighy is amazing in this role, he brings a lot of humour and heart to this film. Emma tries to set up her low-born friend Harriet Smith (Mia Goth) with the creepy clergyman Mr Elton (Josh O'Connor). However, Harriet has feelings for the local farmer Mr Martin (Connor Swindells). While Emma is intrigued with the arrogant Frank Churchill (Callum Turner), he is seems to be more interested in Jane Fairfax (Amber Anderson). Throughout Emma is criticized by Mr Knightley (Johnny Flynn), whose brother is married to Emma's sister. This pair have known one another their entire lives, since childhood. Emma cruelly humiliates the tiresome Miss Bates (Miranda Hart) in front of everyone which causes her to be criticised by Mr Knightley which causes karmic justice. After this confrontation there is a change in Emma, even though she struggles apologising to Miss Bates.
The look of this film is beautiful and the casting works well. There are a range of very different characters, all who give very different performances. Miranda Hart is her unusual funny yet charming self as Miss Bates yet she also makes us feel upset for her character. Hart does a great job; this character had made her.
Josh O'Connor puts on a very creepy almost pantomime villain kind of performance as Mr Elton. We are made to feel uncomfortable when he sees him interacting with other characters at times. It seems as this performance by O'Connor is a bit over the top and unnecessary.
In general, the performances are amazing but there are moments where the performances dip and aren’t as consistent as they have been before. For example, when Harriet is attacked by Gypsies, Mia Goth's performance as she deals with this tragic attack isn't as good as it has been before. It comes across as winey and frustrating to watch as we want her stop screaming. It also makes us annoyed as it interrupted our moment with Emma and Mr Knightley. Although with that being said the rest of Goth's portrayal of Harriet is superb, we are given a very engaging and touching portrayal of this lonely and afraid young women.
This is a fresh retelling of this classic tale; the performances are engaging while bringing something new to a known story. Emma is an amusing film which focuses on love and status. At the beginning status is the most important thing yet in the end Emma learns that she has been so wrong and has hurt so many people along the way. In the end we see the emotional side of Emma and it really pulls at your heartstrings. This film will make you smile and then cry, it should be seen by a range of audiences and generations.
