Becoming Jane (2007)

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1. 

   The DharmaBums

   That was the best movie ever, I loved it!
   
   - Amy Murray 7 years 9 months ago
2. 

   danisanna

   It couldn't keep me interested despite an amazing cast. 10 years 8 months ago
3. 

   Siskoid

   One of my favorite subgenres is the author biopic that is made to feel like their literature (Naked Lunch, Kafka, Shakespeare in Love) and Becoming Jane would be in that mold if it truly understood what Jane Austen's books are like. Well, I'm no expert, but the movies goes for such arch melodrama in what is meant to be Austen's one love affair, a romance that really comes out of nowhere (out of history, I suppose) and which we must take on faith based on the basic romcom nuts and bolts at play (we hate each other, no we love each other) and the fact that they're played by hot young actors (both putting on an accent, which is a little annoying too). The comedy of manners her works are best known for is also present, and at its best, the film turns people into Austen characters, but it just doesn't completely commit, preferring to dive headfirst is cheesy historical romance tropes with lilting music, woodland glades, and passionate kissing. Worse, I think, is how much it makes the men sort of responsible for Austen's development as a writer, and how relatively little her writing career figures into her final decision, despite an earlier scene with another female writer foregrounding it. The editing is also noticeably pants. I'm sad to this a bad report - several of my close friends claim it as a favorite - well, check your nostalgia at the door, friends, I don't think it holds up. 2 days 4 hours ago

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