When a story has already been filmed over 21 times, its reasonable to wonder why there is any need for yet another version. Its been made as a Silent Movie back in 1910; Orson Welles took a stab at it in ’43 (just after Citizen Kane); Bollywood gave us its take; its been a TV mini series 7 times; and even the great Franco Zefferri committed it to film stock.
Now that I have seen it, I can happily say that there is more than one good reason why it was worth doing again. This new Jane Eyre is the second feature movie directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga who wowed us with his debut ‘Sin Nombre’ which couldn’t have been more opposite to this. The fact that Mr Fukunaga is an Asian/American I think adds a frisson to his take on this English literature classic. He has made such a riveting movie and beautifully filmed that it heightens all the elements of the romantic gothic drama that it is.
Unquestionably the inspired casting of the two leads cemented the success of the movie : the Irish actor Michael Fassbinder (‘Inglorious Bastards’ ‘Hunger’) hardly a classically handsome leading man, but he is fiercely good-looking and was a menacing Rochester, and the pale (but not plain as the story!) Mia Wasikowska (‘Alice in Wonderland’ ‘The Kids Are Alright’) an exceptionally gifted young actor as Jane Eyre. They initially seemed a strange pair on screen, but the chemistry between the two was electric . Both were stunning. And after this success both are going to see their growing careers keeping soaring.
If you don’t know the story …. shame on you. After a bleak childhood, Jane Eyre goes out into the world to become a governess. As she lives happily in her new position at Thornfield Hall, she meet the dark, cold, and abrupt master of the house, Mr. Rochester. Jane and her employer grow close in friendship and she soon finds herself falling in love with him. Happiness seems to have found Jane at last, but could Mr. Rochester’s terrible secret be about to destroy it forever?
And lest I forget there’s a wonderful array of Brit acting talent in the supporting roles led by Dame Judi Dench as the Housekeeper, and includes a grown up Jaime Bell, Sally Hawkins & Simon McBurney.
Now I haven’t seen that many of the previous Jane Eyre’s or am I a devoted Charlotte Bronte fan who may take umbrage with screenwriter Moira Buffini’s tinkering with her book, but nevertheless I think I can confidently say that this is a definitive version. After Mr Welles, naturally. Unmissable
★★★★★★★★★
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