Emma

 

Emma is a romantic drama/comedy based off of Jane Austen's 1815 novel of the same name. It is the story of an aristocratic young woman who has more joy in being a matchmaker than looking for love herself. Emma is a high fashion perfectionist who is naïve when it comes to the world around her. She thinks she is doing a service when helping to pair her friends but comes to an awakening when she realizes some of the relationships she’s pushing are not meant to be. 

Set in early 19th century England, I enjoyed the cinematography, costumes, hair and makeup which really help to bring you to that place in time.

The script and the pace of the film keep you engaged throughout. This is a coming of age story about growing up and being open to change. I liked the themes around loyalty to family and love.

I thought that the acting from the entire cast was well done. American, Anya Taylor-Joy, who gained fame in Split, Glass and Peaky Blinders, carried the movie as Emma Woodhouse, and did a wonderful job. Her English accent was impeccable and her most impressive acting came from her ability to subtlety show her feelings without any dialogue. She brought a level of confidence and class to this role that perfectly fit the character.

The 1995 movie Clueless is also based off of this book. Growing up a Clueless fan I saw a lot of the parallels between these two movies, of which I thoroughly enjoyed. So for all of the Clueless fans out there, and anyone else who likes a good period film, I would definitely recommend checking out this light-hearted and fun flick.