Sense And Sensibility [DVD] [1996]

How can a romantic comedy about seeking marriage mates win the Berlinale, one of the most prestigious film festivals? Well, this splendid adaptation of a classic Jane Austen novel did just that in 1996, combining fabulous writing (and acting) of Emma Thompson and great directing of Ang Lee ("The Wedding Banquet", "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon").Other performances are also first-class. Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman and Hugh Grant shine (personally, I've never seen a role to be so fitting for Grant, although "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and "About a Boy" came close). The whole cast is flawless.When the film came out, even the self-proclaimed film saviour Quentin Tarantino could not help himself but quip: "Who the F... is Jane Austen?" Yes, this English author who lived 200 years ago wrote only romantic novels about girls (and men) who are in want of a spouse. But she achieved perfection in this very limited space (the novel "Pride and Prejudice" is probably the best). In this movie, the very human side -- the desire not to be alone, to spend a lifetime with the One -- is described with power. Finding the true love was the prime thing for the two Dashwood sisters. But, is it still not true for most of us, even in this cold, material world?Emma Thompson, already an Oscar winner for her leading role in "Howards End" (1992), won the Oscar for this film's adapted screenplay, becoming the first artist ever to achieve such a feat -- winning the Academy Awards for both acting and writing.Apart from saving all important aspects of the story, Thompson included very poignant and sharp moments in the script. When her character Elinor and Edward Ferrars (played by Grant) are on a cruise ride, she says, 'you inherit your money. We cannot even earn ours,' hinting at the situation of middle class women two centuries ago, when their fortunes depended heavily either on inheritance from father or property of husband -- and it was not imaginable they should go to work. A great social commentary.Beautifully shot, with delicate music score by Patrick Doyle, "Sense and Sensibility" is predominantly an entertaining film. But its social and human undertones are undeniable. It did win Berlin festival and the Golden Globe, but lost the Oscar race to "Braveheart". Maybe for the lack of great human topic that would rank it along "Schindler's List" or "The English Patient". Yet I feel that there was not the film in 1995 to deserve the big Oscar more than this one.If you have sense and sensibility, you will laugh and you will cry. This is a film to love.

Charm, sensibility, peppered with sense and marvellous acting, a starry cast topped by Emma Thompson simply wonderful as Eleanor, so well supported by a pretty, light-hearted Kate Winslet as Marianne and a lovely turn as their mother from Gemma Jones. Hugh Grant is suitably clever and witty beneath a shy demeanour - a turn out of his usual romantic style! - and Alan Rickman is also clever and shy but totally different, as Marianne's suitor, competing with Greg Wise who captures and breaks Marianne's heart.This is the best version of Austen's novel and a simply super film. Every scene captivates whether it is waspish Harriet Walter, married to the girls' stepbrother (James Fleet) pontificating, or Robert Hardy and Elizabeth Spriggs as the jovial cousin and his stepmother, who offer the almost destitute Dashwoods a home in Devon, who bring fun and games and humour to the playing out of the story.I love this film and Emma Thompson's witty, lively script well won its Oscar. Recommended highly.

I remember this film when it was originally released, because I went to see it with my family. Something of a rare experience considering the advances in technology, what with streaming and all. It follows the fortunes of the Dashwood family,(three daughters and their mother), who find their lives turned upside down when their father passes away, and their home is inherited by his son from a previous marriage, by law. Before they move to a cottage in Devonshire, owned by a relative, Eleanor Dashwood (Emma Thompson) meets Edward, and it is clear that they are getting along like a house on fire, but Fanny (Edward's sister) disapproves of the match. The younger Dashwood sister, Marianne (Kate Winslet) meets the dashing Willoughby (Greg Wise), and immediately falls head over heels in love with him, but she also catches the eye of Colonel Brandon (Alan Rickman). Through a series of trials, tribulations, and crossed wires, in the old Jane Austen tradition, the two sisters eventually find their happy ever after. I agree with another reviewer that I think some of the cast were indeed too old for the parts they were playing, but it's a very good film in spite of that. At the end of the film, when we were in the cinema, the audience booed the 'bad guy.' Like we were at a pantomime! I won't say who! But it's definitely worth a look!