“Becoming Jane” and “Emma” (and James McAvoy) (And Brad Pitt)

 I watched the Jane Austen movies “Becoming Jane” and “Emma” during my OHSS couch time.  “Becoming Jane” is better than “Emma.”  But maybe its because I like James McAvoy and hate Gwyneth Paltrow.  I don’t really like Anne Hathaway, either, but I enjoyed her a bit more in this film than when I’ve seen her elsewhere.  Her English accent didn’t seem put-on, and I kind of believed her portrayal of Austen.  Even though apparently this isn’t a very accurate representation of Austen’s life.  Nevermind, James McAvoy makes the fabrication vastly more entertaining and watchable.  Have you noticed though, that poor James doesn’t ever seem to get the girl?  If you’ve seen “Atonement,” (and you should) you’ll recognize that he seems to end up in the same sad situation in both of these films.  And I guess he doesn’t get any in “Chronicles of Narnia” either.  Has anyone ever seen him in a film where he has the happy ending?  Of course, its the sexual tension and lack of fulfillment that make the films that much more romantic and heartbreaking, so I’m fine with it.

Mr. Tumnus didn't have a life partner either.

  

“Emma” was ok, but felt a bit stiff to me….probably because it’s pretty similarly scripted to match the language in the book?  The interesting thing for me was noticing the similarities to “Clueless,” one of my all time favorite movies.  I knew that “Clueless” was based loosely on “Emma,” but it really is alot closer in plotline than I expected.  But Gwyneth Paltrow is just annoying, and I can’t ever watch her and not be aware that it’s her, which I think is the sign of a poor actor.  Ha, isn’t it weird that she used to be Brad Pitt’s main squeeze?  Does anyone even remember pre-Angelina/Jennifer Brad?  And he went out with Juliette Lewis, too, which is just strange.  I think Jennifer Anniston is probably the only chick he’s had that he didn’t meet on a movie set and end up sleeping with…..Angelina better watch out and keep him working in non-sexual movie roles.  I think he’s probably going to be a nice guy in real life….but also a scumbag if you know what I mean. 

To sum it all up – watch “Becoming Jane” if it’s on, for the James McAvoy sexual tension.  And avoid “Emma,” unless you are a big fan of “Clueless.”  And enjoy a trip down memory lane with Brad Pitt’s pre-tabloid mania relationships:

"Becoming Gwyneth"?

 

Ha ha.