Emma.

“Jane Austen’s beloved comedy about finding your equal and earning your happy ending is reimagined in this delicious new film adaptation of Emma. Handsome, clever and rich, Emma Woodhouse (THOROUGHBREDS’ ANYA TAYLOR-JOY) is a restless “queen bee” without rivals in her sleepy little English town. In this glittering satire of social class, Emma must navigate her way through the challenges of growing up, misguided matches and romantic missteps to realize the love that has been there all along.”

Jane Austen isn’t exactly in my wheelhouse of books I’ve read or am interested in a great deal. While I’ve seen the films based on them, her more famous titles Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, I hadn’t a clue what to expect going into the film, except her well-known humorous social commentary on the gentry of the 18^th century. To my surprise, I later learned that even though I hadn’t read the book, I’ve seen adaptations of the novel on countless occasions in Hollywood: Clueless, for example, a modern twist on the story, demonstrates just how important Austen’s work is and how it can be adapted to fit any generation.

In Emma., first-time director Autumn de Wilde chooses to focus on the period it was set in, hence the period at the end of the title she says signifies that it is a period piece. First and foremost, going into the film you are immediately struck with how utterly beautiful the scenery is, the vibrant colors of both the vast and endless landscapes, and the costumes. When I looked down at the t-shirt and shorts I was wearing mid-day compared to the layers of clothes both men and women had on, I felt lucky to be alive today, but still nonetheless awestruck at how intricate the costume design was throughout the entire film.

Not knowing what to expect going into the film, what is also quite striking is the humor of the film. Don’t make the mistake thinking this is going to be anything like Pride and Prejudice, as Emma. is very funny in a subtle kind of way. Bill Nighy especially with his constant fear of the cold and drafts coming in from the outside made me laugh more than once, as well as some of the absurd moments, mainly stemming from Emma’s manipulation of those around her who adore her, or just plain poking fun at the era and some of the silly customs and socially acceptable situations.

None of this would have coalesced into something as entertaining as I found it if it weren’t for Anya Taylor-Joy. She’s come a long way in five short years with The Witch, but it was her charm that finally won me over in the film. Her performance is extraordinary; fast-paced dialogue, quite a few emotional moments including a nose-bleed she was apparently able to produce on demand. Her chemistry with Johnny Flynn as Mr. Knightly was also something that took me by surprise, as it grew increasingly more powerful as the film progressed. In short, all of these performances are quite good at portraying this particular period in history and bringing it to life on screen.

I’ll be honest, I was not looking forward to viewing this film. Even in the first act, there really wasn’t anything to hook me, nor was I particularly interested in the subject matter. However, something happened during the viewing that I can’t quite put my finger on, but it somehow drew me in to the world of Emma Woodhouse. Emma. isn’t going to be for everybody. It does have some rather dull moments that if you aren’t already invested nor have any interest in the this pre-Victorian era, you probably won’t be wasting your time.

Video

Emma. is presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen 1.78:1. As I mentioned, the most obvious feature of the film is the brilliant colors of the film. From the scenery to the vibrant costumes, this transfer highlights all of that to the best of its ability, as there is no 4k version of the film, which I imagine would have looked even more spectacular. Regardless, the film is very clear and detailed, with those rich and vibrant colors looking great.

Audio

The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. You’ll mostly hear audio from the center channel in the form of dialogue, with the surrounds utilized for the soundtrack. The score creates a sense of levity for the film, letting you know immediately what to expect from it: lighthearted, silly, something to poke fun at. In that respect it does a fantastic job, as it sets the tone of the film very easily for anyone not knowing what to expect.

Special Features

There are quite a few extras to go through if you’re interested in learning more about bringing Emma. to life on screen. These include:

• Deleted Scenes
• Gag Reel
• A Playful Tease
• Crafting a Colorful World
• The AUTUMN GAZE
• Feature Commentary

Emma. is a very colorful, funny film that evolves into something with a lot of heart. It won’t grab the attention of everyone, but if you keep an open mind and let the film take hold of you, you may find some entertainment from this well-crafted, lighthearted story.