Emma

Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Bill Nighy, Johnny Flynn, Mia Goth

Year: 2020

No, this is not the 1996 version starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Ewan McGregor. This is a brand spankin' new one! And I have to admit, it didn't grab me at first. In fact, I found it so difficult to understand at the start, that I was actually thinking of turning it off. Plus I didn't really connect with the characters - which for me, kinda sets the tone. But then something happened. Something caught me. Not sure exactly what. And I continued on.

Based on Jane Austen's 1815 novel (over 200 years later! - what would Jane think now??), it's the story of Emma (Taylor-Joy), who's a rich, spoiled, selfish girl that does nothing but meddle in other people's love lives. While she has a lovely relationship with her father (Nighy), she isn't so lovely to her friends. Especially to her bestie Harriet (Goth) or to Mr. Knightley (Flynn). She is so busy matchmaking (and not really ever good at it), she doesn't seem to be bothered to find a match for herself. But honestly, it's not like you are really rooting for her to find her true love anyway, as she isn't exactly the most likeable of characters. And because she is so busy finding matches for everyone else, she almost misses her own match, who has pretty much been at her side the entire time.

Fun Facts: There was a dialect coach on set, as well as, an etiquette expert. If they did something that couldn't have happened in that time period, it was corrected. There was, however, one scene where they did make an exception to the rule. When Emma and Mr. Knightley are dancing, they aren't wearing gloves (a no-no in those days), while all the other characters that are dancing have gloves on. The director, Autumn de Wilde, wanted them to have bare hands - to add a touch of sexual tension to the scene. The etiquette expert allowed it as the characters had just finished dinner and it could make sense. Another fun fact, is that the colours of all the costumes were very bright, in comparison to most period pieces where clothing is usually quite drab. Autumn de Wilde said that all fabrics originally, would have probably been colourful but faded over time; as most items of clothing became hand-me-downs. She didn't want dull and faded for any of her characters. She wanted bright, fresh, new. There is also a scene where Emma gets a nose bleed - which Taylor-Joy was actually able to do, on cue. Her nosebleed was real and she was pretty proud of it.

While the story is familiar (if you have read the book or seen previous versions of the movie), it was a pleasant change. The only thing I felt was missing was the chemistry between Emma and Mr. Knightley. I admit I was happy at the end. I wasn't disappointed. I just wish their chemistry would have been stronger.

While this movie will never rank up to the heights of "Pride & Prejudice" (Keira Knightley & Matthew Macfadyen) (in my opinion), Emma is fun and funny. And brimming with colour. From the costumes, to the sets, to the jewellery, to the assortment of foods set out on the tables. You can just see the attention to detail in each and every scene. Including the men's collars. Autumn made sure the collars were as uncomfortable for these men in 2020 as they were in 1815.

Favourite Lines:

*You must never flatter me in front of Mr. Knightley. He considers me vain enough already.

*The words must be your own.

*You must be the best judge of your own happiness.

*If I loved you less, then I might be able to talk about it more.

From one movie "buff" to another....get that popcorn popped, the lights dimmed and the movie rolling.