When I got to know about Netflix's adaptation of Jane Austen's final novel, Persuasion, I was excited but was not expecting a modernized version. I love period dramas, especially English ones and I know Jane Austen fans may not be impressed with this movie. But I am.
For me, this modern adaptation of the classic is like a style of cooking so to speak. There are many varied adaptations of English classics and as such, I like this one and will highlight the favourable parts.
Persuasion (2022) is a romance period drama based on Jane Austen's novel of the same name. It focuses on a young girl who was 'persuaded' by her loved ones not to marry a young man who wanted to be a sailor because he had no rank or fortune. The tide turns when few years later, this young man returns as a captain and an eligible bachelor. Will he look her way again or will he settle for someone else?
Review
Dakota Johnson's performance as Anne Elliot, the heroine of this romance movie is excellent. I enjoyed her interesting monologues which made her character relatable and her witty banters. It's like what everyone does daily —talking to oneself even in the midst of a crowd. It keeps the veiwers' attention on her and her circumstance. Her acting was sympathetic and she conveyed the right emotions in each scene.
One aspect of the movie I commend the film creators for is the use of modern words. It made the plot easy to understand and characters more humane.
If there was another thing I loved about this movie is the scenery and locations. The cinematography is beautiful and picturesque. This is one factor I look forward to when I watch period dramas —a quaint display of the architecture and scenery of the period.
Chemistry Of The Cast
This movie boasts of a good cast with good chemistry except between the main characters which is an important part. I felt the connection that viewers look for between a hero and heroine in a love story was absent between Anne Elliot (played by Dakota Johnson) and Captain Frederick Wentworth (played by Cosmos Jarvis).
Captain Wentworth was too stiff and somewhat uncaring in his mannerism. One may be tempted to ask, "what does Anne see in Wentworth that she pines for him years later?" It would be difficult for an audience to decipher whether he truly loved Anne Elliot or maybe he was merely shy and unsure how to communicate his love to her.
Still, it's a romance! Show us the love! I'm afraid Cosmos Jarvis failed in this regard.
As soon as Williams Elliot (played by Henry Golding) comes into the scene, the movie comes alive. Anne and Williams Elliot displayed better chemistry even though his attentions towards her were dishonest. So much so that I wished Henry Golding was Wentworth instead of Cosmos Jarvis. There was nothing boring about his advances towards Anne.
Overall, I enjoyed this movie. Modern adaptations or not, the creators and cast did brilliantly. It's worth a watch, even if just once and I'll rate it 3.9 stars out of 5 simply because of Cosmos Jarvis' acting.
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Source: Fair use
Other images are screenshots from the movie