Emma

Anya Taylor-Joy plays the affluent, meddling matchmaker Emma Woodhouse in Autumn de Wilde's vividly stylized rendition of Jane Austen's 1815 classic. This rendition preserves Austen's astute social observation while largely relying on the story's humorous possibilities.

Taylor-Joy portrays Emma as insufferable yet sympathetic, using physicality—like elongated postures and rapid blinks—to express a character caught between sophistication and youth. The film, directed by De Wilde with vibrant colors and theatrical composition, reflects a society where interactions feel staged. Flynn's Knightley adds vulnerability, balancing the age gap with his emotional struggles. Emma's public humiliation of Miss Bates remains unsoftened, forcing discomfort, yet humor arises in awkward moments, such as Mr. Elton's proposal. The score by Isobel Waller-Bridge, paired with folk songs, enhances the film’s emotional depth and irony.

The film's aesthetic commitment sometimes overshadows narrative clarity, particularly in crowded ball scenes where character dynamics blur. Nighy's comic performance, while amusing, detracts from the character's depth. Mr. Woodhouse's hypochondria, intended for both humor and psychological insight, comes off as mere shtick. Emma's development post-error is largely depicted off-screen, compressing her journey to self-understanding and making her happiness feel unearned. Consequences are discussed more than shown. Although Miranda Hart and Josh O'Connor add depth to their roles, characters like Frank Churchill and Jane Fairfax serve only as plot devices, with their secret engagement's mystery lacking suspense due to insufficient character investment.

Emma succeeds because she understands that Austen's humor is not about historical charm but rather about identifiable human frailties. It challenges modern audiences to identify with Emma's fear of vulnerability, her defensive superiority, and her gradual realization that manipulation is not the same as connection.

Every frame is informed by De Wilde's experience in fashion and music video photography without completely succumbing to hollow gloss. The film's views on gendered performance, class, and the severity of social exclusion are all presented in such an appealing way that you might not notice the resentment underneath at first.

Staff:

Directed by: Autumn de Wilde

Written by: Eleanor Catton

Based on: Emma (1815 novel) by Jane Austen

Produced by: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Graham Broadbent, and Pete Czernin

Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn, Josh O'Connor, Callum Turner, Mia Goth, Miranda Hart, and Bill Nighy.

Cinematography: Christopher Blauvelt

Edited by: Nick Emerson

Music by: David Schweitzer and Isobel Waller-Bridge

Production companies: Perfect World Pictures, Working Title Films, and Blueprint Pictures

Distributed by:

• Focus Features (United States)

• Universal Pictures (international)

Release date: 21 February 2020

Running time: 124 minutes