'Becoming Jane' has Austen aura
Fans of literary legend can see how her daily life may have affected her writing
By Phil Villarreal
Pvillarreal@azstarnet.com
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 08.09.2007
Maybe writing six novels that forever changed the scope of romantic literature was the easy part for Jane Austen. Apparently, the courting game, which was spoiled by materialistic parents, wishy-washy beaus and mixed feelings, was the tough part — what made Jane, Jane.
Like the best-picture-Oscar winner "Shakespeare in Love" (1998), "Becoming Jane" makes no effort to tell a comprehensive life story, choosing instead to focus on the triumphs, disappointments and nagging shortcomings that made the writer.
Onscreen you can see future Bennets, Darcys, Westons and Woodhouses percolating in Austen's eyes as she interacts with people in her daily life.
Set in the late 18th century, "Becoming Jane" explores the romantic intrigues and crushes that set the tone for Austen's outlook on life and influenced her writing. Austen (1775-1817) famously never married, although according to the film she had at least three determined suitors who dreamed of settling her down.
In the title role, Anne Hathaway concludes the thorough evolution from Disney princess to serious actress. With commanding wit and a deft British accent, she's more than convincing as a wickedly intelligent woman restricted by proper society.
Combined with her breakout adult role in last year's "The Devil Wears Prada," Hathaway now seems like an actress with no boundaries.
Hathaway's Austen is a sapphire of restrained inspiration — a sparkplug who doggedly sticks to her plan of writing for a living, which was frowned upon for women at the time — and it's easy to see why so many men fall for her. Her chief love interest is Tom Lefroy (James McAvoy), a law student who makes a first impression as an arrogant fool but somehow intrigues Austen. The bumbling Mr. Wisley (Laurence Fox) is the one Austen's mother hopes she chooses, while another mysteriously smitten man lurks in the background.
Parallel to Austen's doomed attempts at finding love is the story of her sister, Cassandra (Anna Maxwell Martin), whose intended husband is being —duh-duh-dunnnn! — sent off to war.
The film is a little more stiff and proper when it would have been well-served to let its hair down and soak in the period detail. Every scene has a distinct purpose — to hint how each life event affected Austen's writing. Didn't she make anything at all up?
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