Film

Movie theaters, reviews and showtimes in Chicago, plus articles, trailers and more

 

Persuasion (1995)

Director: Roger Michell

Average user rating
No reviews

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

A TV Jane Austen which enjoyed considerable theatrical success in the US. Anne Elliot (Root, working wonders with an array of awkward, furtive glances) is the one sensible, unselfish member of the family of a foolish baronet, forced by debt to abandon their mansion for Bath. A decade earlier, she suffered an enduring 'disappointment': she reluctantly gave up her intended, deemed by her family and friends to have few prospects or connections. Now, however, Capt Wentworth (Hinds) is back in England, having made his fortune on the high seas; society being what it is, their paths soon cross. But will he succumb to the young Musgrove girl who's set her cap at him? And what of Anne's hitherto estranged cousin (West), whose charm, money and affections would seem to make him a perfect catch? Overall, the film, adapted by Nick Dear, is strong on psychological insights, feminist asides and the social relevance of place; if the dominant look remains televisual, John Daly's fluid camera (particularly mobile in the whirl of Bath), and some careful colour coding lend a level of invention seldom seen in TV costumers.

Author: GA

Time Out Film Guide


What do you think?
Post your review now

clear rating
Min 1 star. Zero stars will be treated as unrated.

*mandatory fields


Related articles




Features

Do overs!

Do overs!

After Race to Witch Mountain, what should Disney remake next?

Gray's anatomy

James Gray wants to push buttons—again.

The next big thing?

Gigantic Releasing tries to rethink indie distribution…without movie theaters.

Red Diva: Lyubov Orlova, First Lady of Soviet Cinema

So you think you can dance, comrade?

Puppet master

Coraline director Henry Selick takes stop-motion animation into 3-D.

Socratic method

Laurent Cantet's approach on the set matches the message of his film.

Wander woman

Kelly Reichardt's Wendy and Lucy puts a Bush-era spin on the road movie.

Oscars

Read our interviews with the nominees, our reviews of the nominated films and more.