Thinly plotted but enjoyable enough drama-comedy with a nice performance from Anya Taylor-Joy. Never read the Jane Austen novel nor seen any of the other adaptations, so I don't know how this one compares, but I liked it well enough. **3.0/5**

Well, what a happy surprise. The director set up absolutely beautiful scenes of stunning upper class English homes. Elaborate rooms. Just an awsome film. A most happy ending for everyone. A bit tongue in cheek portrail of English life during the Victorian era. Really enjoyed it.

When I saw the previews for this latest interpretation of Jane Austen’s Emma, I envisioned a reimagining of the classic, with the plot or he setting radically changed with creative license applied liberally throughout. I was ready to not like it.

But instead I discovered that wondrous creativity was launched to make small tweaks to details. There was Harriet Smith, who may have been plain, but marching here and there with her classmates, dressed in matching red dresses and large hats, providing a very striking Image for the eye. There were the chorale music resonating at the end of scenes, leading to or melding into the beginning of the next scene. And Bill Nighy, who was suitably wary of illness and draughts, but had a spring in his step at times to juxtapose with his fearfully cautious nature.

I thought Rubert Graves and Miranda Hart were imaginative choices for the roles of Mr. Weston and Miss Bates. And there is even an creative tweak to the one-word title, whereby a period is added after the name to indicate that the movie is - wait for it - a period piece.

So this is the third version of Emma in the past 25 years - two movies and a mini-series - and for now at least, it is my favorite.

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Emma. is Autumn de Wilde's feature film directorial debut, as well as Eleanor Catton's screenwriting debut. I never watched any previous adaptations and period movies aren't exactly "my thing". This doesn't mean I can't appreciate them! The Favourite and Little Women are the most recent examples of films belonging to said genre that I absolutely love. The main reason why I felt the need to watch this adaptation was Anya Taylor-Joy's first time as the sole protagonist.

I genuinely believe she'll become one of the greatest actresses of her generation, along Florence Pugh, Chloë Grace Moretz, Hailee Steinfeld, Kaitlyn Dever, Saoirse Ronan, and a few others. Her performance in this movie is yet another argument to validate my prediction. She's phenomenal as Emma! It took me a while to get used to her voice since she applies a much higher tone than her usual one. Seeing actors doing different accents is pretty common, but changing their voice as Anya does, even if it's a simple modification, it still shows how committed she was to her role.

As cliche as it might sound, she carries the whole story on her shoulders. She's the link that connects all storylines and characters. Without her, the film doesn't work, so her display had to be near-perfect. Anya demonstrates her range and emotional ability, as well as a seamless control of the complex and rich script. Most dialogues possess long sentences with sophisticated vocabulary, something only the best actors can deal with effortlessly.

Anya shines, but her character does too. Emma's arc is quite interesting. Besides being "handsome, clever and rich", she has no respect for the poor, manipulates her friend's romantic decisions, and sometimes acts in a very selfish, arrogant manner. Her transformation into a better person is the most captivating arc of the screenplay, but it also demonstrates my main issue with the movie as a whole. Ten minutes in, and I knew everything that was going to happen.

Now, I always try to avoid thinking too much ahead. But when it comes to relationships between characters, it's all so predictable and obvious to me that I can't help but guess the whole story. The same screenplay trick is used throughout to twist certain relationships, becoming repetitive and a bit dull. I never felt truly invested in the film until the one-hour mark. It's mostly well-paced, but when nothing is surprising, innovative, or creative regarding the overall narrative, there's not that much that can keep me captivated.

The first act is a tad confusing, with too many characters getting introduced too fast. Honestly, I just discovered while writing this review that a secondary character is supposed to be blood-related to one of the main ones. Story and characters are the two pillars of any movie. I've always written this. If these two don't work, then everything else crumbles. It's far from collapsing, it's actually very well-structured, but it's like these two pillars are just like thousands of others. There's no distinct characteristic that makes these unique.

Weirdly enough, I never felt bored. The cast really does a nice job of keeping me entertained by every remarkable performance. Bill Nighy (Mr. Woodhouse) and Miranda Hart (Miss Bates) are quite funny. The costume design is gorgeous besides being extremely important since it actually elevates the story by clearly identifying who's rich and poor. Production and set design are fantastic. Great cinematography (Christopher Blauvelt), and an enjoyable score (Isobel Waller-Bridge and David Schweitzer). Nevertheless, as outstanding as the technical achievements might be, the film still lacks a unique directing style, which is normal, having in mind it's the director's first feature.

All in all, Emma. doesn't reach the latest period movies' level like The Favourite or Little Women, but it's a fine start for debutants director Autumn de Wilde and screenwriter Eleanor Catton. Anya Taylor-Joy delivers an exceptional performance as a very well-written Emma Woodhouse, carrying the film on her shoulders until the very end, cementing her place in Hollywood as one of the greatest actresses of her generation. The rest of the cast is also pretty great. The costume design steals the "technical show", but the production level in this movie is impressive. However, the narrative lacks surprising elements, making the existence of this new adaptation a bit questionable. Why make another film if there's nothing unique about it? Predictable from the get-go, confusing first act, and very hard to feel invested before the one-hour mark. If you enjoy period comedy-dramas, I recommend it. Otherwise, the two movies mentioned above are probably a better choice...

Rating: C+

There are many versions of Emma out there in film and TV-land and the fans of Jane Austen are as voracious and opinionated and dare I say angry as any Star Wars or Marvel Comic fans, in fact they started all of this silliness long before these particular sub-groups.

A well-known and well-loved story is never going to transfer for the screen, big or small, as the prose was written and never as the reader sees it in their mind’s eye. You must get over this quickly or it probably would be wise never to watch an adaptation of your favourite literature. Time, costs, casting, screen/scriptwriting, the director are all going change things, alter the story and characters to suit their means and how they want the story told. Let us all be sensible folks; you must go into any adaptation with your eyes open.
Emma is compressed – the film is just over two hours long – but not to any detriment for my viewing. It starts with Emma seeing herself on her own after her governess leaves to become Miss Weston.

The look of film is bright and airy, with detail to costumes which to be honest I have no expert knowledge if they were accurate or not but they fitted the cinematography and the acting, they looked the part if that makes any sense. Brighter colours were used rather he more diaphanous white nightgown look of other versions. Clearly the directing, the way we are shown is with a modern eye, but it always pays dues to the period and original story.

Mia Goth shines so very brightly as Harriet and is naive, innocent and lovely and brings a tear to your eye in the famous dance scene that no other Harriet has done before and Emma for once is shown as not a particularly nice Emma in this version, she earns her conversion to realisation. I particularly like the whole attitude that all the main cast showed to the ‘staff’ entirely accurate from my understand for that time. They were there to serve them hand and foot and nothing else. Credit de Wynter’s directing and Angus Imrie, Celia’s son, and Edward Davies as the main footman ‘servants’ skilfully ringing out all they can from non-speaking and non-main character roles.
Mr. Knightly, a character probably imagined more than Emma by original fans of the book, is well realised in this film. Barrel chested, broad-shouldered, hirsute, manly and rock-star-like I found his character perfect for a 21st century version of Emma. I wanted to be his friend. Mr. Elton was more a version of his namesake Ben Elton and like the other well-known characters in this tale he is somewhat side-lined for the focus of Emma, Harriet and Mr. Knightly but to my mind this is no bad thing. Miranda Hart as the ‘poor’ Miss Bates brings another tear to the eye in another well-known scene.

Emma herself is well-cast by the elfin-like Anya Taylor-Joy who brings a new look and new personality to Austen’s titular heroine. Her father, a very important character in her life, is played by the inimitable Bill Nighy who can do this role in his sleep, probably my only complaint is we could have seen a bit more of the great actor but somethings have to give.

All-in-all Emma is a very well-known story even for people who haven’t read the source or are specifically fans of Jane Austen so you have to be brave and confident to commit it film yet again and try to show or say something different. Even more surprising then the Autumn de Wilde (the greatest name) is a first time director, okay she is a successful photography and music video director but a feature film of a much-loved work really is an entirely different kettle of fish. The vision, the confidence of what she wanted to show, cut-out, highlight and who she wanted to cast earn nothing but praise from me. Ably assisted in the screenplay by Eleanor Catton this Emma gets to the grist of the story, a love story of yearning tied up in restrictive strictures and values of the day. Nice work.

Emma is a great entertaining fun film. It holds up well and is better than a lot of adaptations. The acting is uniformly good and the main characters well-cast. The look is sumptuous and eye-catching without being too over top and the feel is modern enough to capture younger audiences that may perhaps not be interested.

You may have guessed - I quite liked it.