Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases

Search cinema listings

Browse cinemas A-Z

Search 20,000 reviews

 

Mansfield Park (1999)

Director: Patricia Rozema

Average user rating
No reviews

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

Rozema's fresh spin on Austen's most 'difficult' novel is not only her finest film to date, but one of the most ambitious - and successful - literary classic adaptations in recent memory. With the self-righteousness at the heart of Austen's heroine excised, Fanny Price becomes a bashful, even self-doubting figure, sidelined in the Bertram household by her lowly social status and her 'infallible judgment in matters of the heart', which consigns her to an indefinite spell in solitary before (perhaps) she finds her own happiness. The film riffs on the theme of moral rectitude and compromise, suggesting the rash, selfish or misguided actions which lead the other characters - often comically flawed, but never villainous - to fall from grace, and more generally the colonial crimes on which this 19th century gentility subsists. Delectably performed by a perfect cast, and beautifully measured by Rozema, whose light, fluid touch conveys the story along on a nod and a wink.

Author: NB

Time Out Film Guide


  • Print this page
  • Send to a friend

What do you think?
Post your review now

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

*mandatory fields





Top Stories

Kings of Comedy?

Kings of Comedy?

As Russell Crowe prepares a Bill Hicks biopic, we ask which Hollywood bigshots could play comedians

Juliette Binoche: interview

Juliette Binoche: interview

The great French actress Juliette Binoche discusses film and painting with Dave Calhoun

An A-Z of classic movie cameos

An A-Z of classic movie cameos

As Tom Cruise makes a 'surprise' appearance in 'Tropic Thunder', Time Out presents our rundown of classic cameos

The Coens' 'Burn after Reading': review

The Coens' 'Burn after Reading': review

Pitt and Clooney star in the Coen brothers' latest, 'Burn After Reading', which opened the 2008 Venice film festival

Guy Ritchie on ‘RocknRolla’

Guy Ritchie on ‘RocknRolla’

Wally Hammond talks to Guy Ritchie about his latest film, ‘RocknRolla’ which sees him safely back in his old manor among the familiar carnival of villains, scams and high-octane spills and thrills

Saul Dibb on ‘The Duchess’

Saul Dibb on ‘The Duchess’

Dave Calhoun discovers from director Saul Dibb that his latest, 'The Duchess’ is far from your typical aristos-in-love movie