Four Reasons why you need to watch Pride and Prejudice (2005) (again)
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Runtime- 2h 9m, 2h 15m
Release Date- November 23rd, 2005
Director- Joe Wright
Writers- Deborah Moggach, Jane Austen, Emma Thompson (uncredited)
Filming locations-England UK
Starring: Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet, and Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy
Where to watch- Amazon Prime Video
Joe Wright’s Pride and Prejudice came out on November 23rd, 2005. Making this year the 19th anniversary of its release. It has become one of the most popular Jane Austen film adaptations which can be enjoyed watching over and over again. Here are four of my reasons why you need to go and watch it (again)!
1. Scenic pauses and moments
Ever wonder why some movies feel like the story moves so quickly and some movies move at a snail’s pace? Pride and Prejudice does seem to have that balance of plot at a perfect pace. Personally, some of my favorite parts of the film are the use of scenery or pauses in time. Where there are many scenes where there is a lot of heavy emotion or intensity that is broken up with a still or almost still image. It does gives a moment for the audience to pause, sit, and digest the moment and emotion that just happened.
Ma
These scenic pauses in this movie remind me of the pauses used in Studio Ghibli films, known as Ma.
Ma is a Japanese concept that is a pause in time to give space for life to happen. The director most likely didn’t think of this concept when directing Pride and Prejudice. At least for me, I can certainly see a connection that set this film apart from other Pride and Prejudice adaptations.
Examples
First is news of Mr. Bingley acquiring Netherfield Park and the scene cuts out of the Bennet house as all the girls laugh.
Second, Lizzie is standing by the lake after running away from Mr. Collin’s proposal.
Another is when Lizzie is upset with Mr. Bennet for allowing Lydia to go with the colonel’s wife and the scene ends with a close-up of a dragonfly Mr. Bennet is holding.
(Credit: Focus Features)
What other scenes that come to mind that are like this?
Do you think that the director had this in mind with some of these artistic choices?
2. The subtle amorous expressions of Mr. Darcy for Lizzie
Practically everywhere on the internet there is almost every woman that is obsessed with Mr. Darcy’s “hand flex.” While it is such a simple and subtle expression. Darcy having a hard time with his feelings for Elizabeth is what makes it exciting.
But the hand flex is not the only subtle attempt we see of Darcy showing admiration for Lizzie. Everyone in the film seems to believe that Darcy has no feelings for Elizabeth, there are multiple moments where Darcy is captivated and enamored by Elizabeth from the very moment he sees her. Which to me is just as exciting as his ‘hand flex.’
(Credit: Focus Features)
What are some moments of Mr. Darcy come to mind?
How many Darcy moments did you find?
3. The obvious amorous expression of Mr. Bingley for Jane
It’s also no secret that Mr. Bingley is incredibly enamored by Jane throughout the film, and it is something to equally love as Darcy’s subtle expression.
Similar to Darcy, Mr. Bingley has had a moment similar to the “hand flex.” The very quick moment when Bingley is following Jane around. Bingley talking to Jane about his and his sister’s horses, he reaches out and just grace his fingers on Jane’s ribbons. It’s one of my favorite moments of Mr. Bingley. It then feels like he is just out of reach for Jane or that he is so wrapped around her fingers that he wants to touch her, in the most gentlemanly way of course.
In pretty much every scene with Bingley and Jane, you see Bingley head over heels for Jane. Along with his admirable character, Mr. Bingley is personified as a golden retriever. One of the reasons why it makes him a consistent lovable character throughout the film.
Which do you prefer, Darcy’s subtlety or Bingley’s obvious expressions of admiration?
4. The clothes and outfits
(Credit: Focus Features)
If you look at the IMDb page for Joe Wright’s Pride and Prejudice or see the commentary for the film, you would know that the director, Joe Wright, strongly disliked the empire waistline of the Regency era. He found out that Jane Austen wrote the first draft of Pride and Prejudice in 1797, and decided that 1797 would be the time the film would be set in.
This maybe an unpopular opinion…
I do like this choice, and the variety, and as well that I also didn’t like the Empire waist gowns until I started watching Netflix’s Bridgerton. The dresses picked out are more flattering for the actresses, whereas I would believe that an empire waist gown would be a disservice to some of the actresses aesthetically. I know that there are some people who are not fans of the wardrobe choice as it does not seem to show historical consistency.
Do you agree or disagree with this choice or reasoning?
See Also:
BBC’s Pride & Prejudice (1980)
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