2024 film diary

(which includes some things that aren't films, shhh)

january

Promising Young Woman poster

Promising Young Woman (2020)

Director: Emerald Fennell
Writer: Emerald Fennell
Stars: Carey Mulligan, Bo Burnhan

this story is a trap. you know it's a trap, but then you don't. you forget. or you fail to realize who is setting the trap for whom. and the end is inevitable, except it's not, it can't be, but it is. you feel the horror and the victory of it.

well. you know I'd watch Carey Mulligan in anything, and she always delivers.

 poster

Saltburn (2023)

Director: Emerald Fennell
Writer: Emerald Fennell
Stars: Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi

candy movie. maybe one of those sweet, hard candies with a sour centre.

I do love rich people throwing parties. I anticipated more thrills, more horror, but this is not a roller-coaster. this is erosion. this is rot. this is a hollowing out. and maybe the fruit was always rotten inside, but nevertheless, all that remains in the end is its shiny skin.

Nicholas Barber wrote that "if you see it as a lurid pulp fantasy rather than a penetrating satire, then Saltburn is deliriously enjoyable," which sums up almost precisely how I felt.

Paris Blues poster

Paris Blues (1961)

Director: Martin Ritt
Writers: Jack Sher, Irene Kamp, Walter Bernstein, based upon a novel by Harold Flender
Stars: Sidney Poitier, Paul Newman, Diahann Carroll, Joanne Woodward

I enjoyed this film very much and I am frustrated by how it wastes its potential. some of this is down to studio meddling (can't have an interracial romanance, no sir) and some is the responsibility of the screenwriters, but ah well. it nevertheless looks and sounds gorgeous. the dialogue is frequently sharp, clever, and suprising. it's good; more people should see it.

(but!! imagine the version where Paul Newman and Diahann Carroll are paired up and tell me you don't feel sad we were robbed of that.)

Good Grief poster

Good Grief (2023)

Director: Dan Levy
Writer: Dan Levy
Stars: Dan Levy, Ruth Negga, Himesh Patel

not what I thought this would be! a smart and surprising script, quite tender. another example of me seeking out stories about grief...

Crashing poster

Crashing (2016 TV series)

TV night with E

Creator: Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Stars: Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Jonathan Bailey

put interesting and varied characters in strange and increasingly convoluted situations!

What's Up Doc poster

What's Up Doc (1972)

movie night with E

Director: Peter Bogdanovich
Writers: Buck Henry, David Newman, Robert Benton, story by Peter Bogdanovich
Stars: Barbra Streisand, Ryan O'Neal, Madeline Kahn

a screwball comedy, remember them? wonderfully funny.

february

The Fly poster

The Fly (1986)

movie night with E

Director: David Cronenberg
Writers: Charles Edward Pogue, David Cronenberg, from the story by George Langelaan
Stars: Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis

SO GOOD. I LOVE IT MORE EVERY TIME I SEE IT. DEEPLY LAYERED AND MEANINGFUL. HORRIFYING. BE AFRAID!

When Harry Met Sally poster

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

movie night with G

Director: Rob Reiner
Writer: Nora Ephron
Stars: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher, Bruno Kirby

had to show him my favourite movie.

it remains my favourite movie.

North & South poster

North & South (2004 TV miniseries)

Director: Brian Percival
Writers: Sandy Welch, novel by Elizabeth Gaskell
Stars: Daniela Denby-Ashe, Richard Armitage

I swoon, I sigh.

“Look back. Look back at me.”

Howl's Moving Castle poster

Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

movie night with E

Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Writers: Hayao Miyazaki, novel by Diana Wynne Jones
Stars: Chieko Baishô, Takuya Kimura

I'm fond of the English dub, but E and I watched with subtitles. wonderful film.

march

Mean Girls poster

Mean Girls (2024)

movie night with book club

Director: Samantha Jayne, Arturo Perez Jr.
Writer: Tina Fey
Stars: Angourie Rice, Reneé Rapp

hot mess. hot!! but a mess. whenever Reneé, Auliʻi, or Jaquel are singing, the film is good. Reneé delivering the definitive version of "World Burn." retains most of the stage musical's problems, including poor pacing and character development. I...do not think they did Angourie any favours here. sorry, girl.

um. this is bad. but a fun bad. we're lucky to have it.

Camelot HBO Theatre poster

Camelot (1982)

movie night with G

Director: Marty Callner
Writer: Alan Jay Lerner
Stars: Richard Harris, Meg Bussert, Richard Muenz

gotta show him why I love this musical and yes I did cry at the end.

Love's Labour's Lost poster

Love's Labour's Lost (2000)

Director: Kenneth Branagh
Writers: Kenneth Branagh, play by William Shakespeare
Stars: Alessandro Nivola, Alicia Silverstone

speechless. no words. what? wHAt? WHAT?? making a film means making a series of decisions. almost every single choice here is a strong, wrong choice. I'm baffled.

the single best moment is the approximately 90 seconds when Adrian Lester is singing/dancing to "I've Got a Crush on You." it's like, for a fleeing moment, I glimpsed a truly romantic musical comedy. and then this film went back to doing whatever it's doing. don't get me wrong, there are other fun moments (anytime Nathan Lane is on screen), the stage-y set design is charming, and Branagh is doing his typically Shakespearean acting (Branagh in Shakespeare is like the Kuleshov effect; if the production is good or great, he's great, if it's bad, he's bad), but...hmm.

in the end, I'm happy it takes a big swing. it's the opposite kind of hot mess from Mean Girls (see above), which makes a lot of good choices but ultimately ends up lackluster and mediocre—this film transcends mediocrity by virtue of its sheer chaoticness, never quite reaching either "good" or "so bad it's good" but some secret third thing.

Pride & Prejudice poster

Pride & Prejudice (2005)

Director: Joe Wright
Writers: Deborah Moggach, novel by Jane Austen
Stars: Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen

I think I like the story of P&P, but maybe I don't like the novel. because I've enjoyed the adaptations that stray further from the book (this, and my first exposure, The Lizzie Bennet Diaries) and I've never been able to finish the book. hmm.

this is a wonderful film.

Poor Things poster

Poor Things (2023)

movie night with N

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Writers: Tony McNamara, novel by Alasdair Gray
Stars: Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, Mark Ruffalo

I'm a little terrified to say anything about this one, but I liked it. certainly it is ripe for interpretation. and visually stunning! if nothing else, can we agree that more films should be so daring and fantastical in their visuals?

The Witch poster

The Witch: A New-England Folktale (2015)

movie night with E

Director: Robert Eggers
Writer: Robert Eggers
Stars: Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson

file under: not my thing but very well done.

april

The Oranges poster

The Oranges (2011)

Director: Julian Farino
Writers: Ian Helfer, Jay Reiss
Stars: Hugh Laurie, Leighton Meester

you should know this upfront: I was scrolling, looking for something to watch, when I stumbled upon this vaguely familiar title and saw it had an IMDB score of 5.8/10, which made it an instant yes from me. I was in that kind of mood, you know? and honestly, I had a blast.

yes, this is a blasphemous waste of a superb cast (you've got Catherine Keener, Allison Janney, and Oliver Platt and this is what you give them??). but it manages to deliver something unexpected, funny, with glints of honest feeling. Even mediocre movies have their target audience, and in this case, it's me: I'm the target.

anyway, things worked out for Leighton Meester and Adam Brody, so...

Hansard poster

Hansard (2019)

national theatre at home

Directors: Simon Godwin, Robin Lough
Writer: Simon Woods
Stars: Alex Jennings, Lindsay Duncan

Lindsay Duncan is another one of those actors who I would watch in anything. I think she is outstanding.

I love a two-hander, I love banter on stage, and in those aspects, Hansard handily delivers. it's a sparring match between husband and wife, conservative and liberal, in which the political becomes, right at the end, incredibly personal.

listen. it's no Yerma, but nevertheless—a pretty satisfying night at the theatre.

Leaving poster

Leaving (2012 TV miniseries)

Director: Gaby Dellal
Writer: Tony Marchant
Stars: Helen McCrory, Callum Turner

Helen McCrory? say no more. it's almost great.

Newsies poster

Newsies (1992)

movie night with E

Director: Kenny Ortega
Writer: Bob Tzudiker, Noni White
Stars: Christian Bale, David Moscow

while the Broadway adaptation is terribly popular, it will always be tiny, blond Christian Bale for me. and Bill Pullman! and Ann-Margaret! and the adorable Max Casella!

it's the Kenny Ortega effect. plus Alan Menken. the film makes me gotta get up and dance. more! movie! musicals! like! this!

A Star is Born poster

A Star is Born (1976)

Director: Frank Pierson
Writer: John Gregory Dunne, Joan Didion, Frank Pierson, based on a story by William Wellman and Robert Carson
Stars: Barbra Streisand, Kris Kristofferson

do I think this is the weakest Star of the bunch? I do. and yet here I am, watching it again. Kris Kristofferson has a twinkle and magnetism. Barbra is Barbra, like it or not (I like it). when it works, it really works. when it doesn't, well...

the story behind this production is fabulously chaotic, though. which makes this a fascinating artifact, if nothing else.

Constellations from the Donmar Warehouse poster

Constellations (2021)

national theatre at home

Director: Michael Longhurst
Writer: Nick Payne
Stars: Peter Capaldi and Zoë Wanamaker / Anna Maxwell Martin and Chris O'Dowd

stop me if you've heard this one before: "A quantum physicist and a beekeeper meet at a barbeque." No?

in the multiverse, anything is possible. four different casts to choose from, each exploring the infinite possibilities of one relationship. I watched two of the four pairings. humour and heartbreak, awkwardness and uncertainty. there's a lot packed into 70 minutes. I liked it, particularly Anna and Chris.

who knows, maybe I'll watch it twice more.

Shopgirl poster

Shopgirl (2005)

Director: Anand Tucker
Writer: Steve Martin (based on his novel of the same name)
Stars: Claire Danes, Steve Martin, Jason Schwartzman

what a strange little movie! it's a example of what happens when you make a movie about "real" people—that is, it attempts to weave a tale out of mundane circumstance and does so with elegance and a good handful of second-hand embarrassment. delicate as rice paper.

Palm Springs poster

Palm Springs (2020)

Director: Max Barbakow
Writers: Andy Siara (story + screenplay), Max Barbakow (story)
Stars: Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti

it took exactly one thing to sell me on this movie: Cristin Milioti.

yep, it's another time loop story (is it just me, or are we loving those in the 2010s/2020s?), and I'm into it! funny, sweet, strange. if you liked this, please go watch Cristin in Made For Love.

National Theatre Live - Yerma poster

Yerma (2017)

national theatre at home

Directors: Simon Stone, Tony Grech-Smith
Writers: Simon Stone (adaptation), Federico García Lorca (original play)
Stars: Billie Piper, Brendan Cowell

yeah, I watched Yerma again. what of it?? I could no longer resist.

The Dark Crystal poster

The Dark Crystal (1982)

movie night with E

Directors: Jim Henson, Frank Oz
Writers: David Odell, story by Jim Henson
Stars: Jim Henson, Kathryn Mullen, Frank Oz, Dave Goelz

hell to the yeah. I was fully committed to watching this for cultural competency but delighted to find that I almost immediately loved it. set in a gorgeous, immersive world, the simple story struck an emotional chord and held my attention throughout. it's a shame Jen isn't more expressive, given just how alive the Mystics and Skeksis feel. but I love a confused hero.

Gypsy: Live from the Savoy Theatre poster

Gypsy: Live from the Savoy Theatre (2015)

Director: Lonny Price
Writers: Arthur Laurents, based on the Gypsy: A Memoir by Gypsy Rose Lee
Stars: Imelda Staunton, Lara Pulver, Gemma Sutton, Peter Davison

knew about this one from its reputation: music by Styne, lyrics by Sondheim, performance-of-a-career by Imelda Staunton. it also features the Doctor himself, Peter Davison, who I was not expecting! a spectacular, thrilling show that captivates you from start to finish. why did it take me so long to finally watch this??

The King and I poster

The King and I (2018)

Directors: Bartlett Sher (stage), Gary Halvorson (broadcast)
Writers: Oscar Hammerstein II, based on Margaret Landon's Anna and the King of Siam
Stars: Kelli O'Hara, Ken Watanabe, Ruthie Ann Miles

in a ★★★½ star Letterboxd review, Madison says, "WHY are revivals of shows that are terrible to asian people have such good casts/versions of songs i'm TIREDDDDD and 2/3 of examples have kelli o' hara as well!! is a puzzlement" and honestly I think that sums it up. gorgeous, sumptuous production of a show that will never escape the story's roots in imperialism. both Kelli and Ken are excellent here, but the shoutout must go to Ruthie Ann Miles—scene-stealer and simply phenomenal.

R&H were masters of the craft, and there is a lot to be learned from The King and I. but not Thailand's history. definitely learn that somewhere else.

may

Turtles All the Way Down poster

Turtles All the Way Down (2024)

Director: Hannah Marks
Writers: Elizabeth Berger, Isaac Aptaker, based on the novel by John Green
Stars: Isabela Merced, Cree, Felix Mallard

good to know this film is just as devastating as the book was. a hard watch for us anxious girlies.

Medea poster

Medea (2014)

Director: Carrie Cracknell
Writers: Ben Power, adapted from Euripides
Stars: Helen McCrory

harrowing. the most affecting tragedy I have ever seen. the triumph here is certainly Helen McCrory's performance. you believe, completely, in the force of Medea's love for her husband and children. and so you feel the horror of her actions, and yet you cannot dismiss her as monstrous or purely vengeful.

the themes of Medea reach out like tendrils toward other stories I've loved: the destructive power of love in The Last of Us; a woman's all-consuming, self-defeating pursuit of a goal in Yerma. human and tragic and devastating.

june

Persuasion poster

Persuasion (1995)

Director: Roger Michell
Writers: Nick Dear, Jane Austen (based on her novel)
Stars: Amanda Root, Ciarán Hinds

I watched this and the 2007 version years ago and remember liking them both, but upon rewatching this one, it is definitely my preferred version. Anne Elliot is my favourite Austen heroine and a difficult character to play, in part because of the interiority of the novel. Anne thinks and feels much more than she outwardly shows, which makes her challenging to depict faithfully on screen. we are lucky, then, that this trio of actor, writer, and director do so adeptly.

there are so many things I love about this film, from the location filming and lived-in look to the superb performances (Amanda and Ciarán, definitely, but also Fiona Shaw as Mrs. Croft and Sophie Thompson as Mary Musgrove!) to some excellent changes from the novel in the screenplay. for example:

my copy of Persuation includes the "cancelled" chapters—the original ending Austen wrote and later revised. in these chapters, Wentworth is sent to speak to Anne on behalf of Admiral Croft, who believes that everything is settled for a union between Mr. Elliot and Anne and therefore offers to cancel his lease of Kellynch Hall if they wish to live there. Anne is shocked and tells Wentworth (poor guy, he was having the worst time delivering this message!) that the Admiral is mistaken, she and Mr. Elliot are definitely not engaged, and then Frederick exclaims, "Anne, my own dear Anne!" and they get back together. I actually love this scene, though the revised chapters as a whole are an improvement (and not one among us would trade this moment for Wentworth's letter!!), and so I'm delighted that Nick Dear's screenplay repurposes it. he changes the setting, so Wentworth instead finds Anne when she is out with Lady Russell, and after Anne runs off, distraught, the two have a cold exchange in which Frederick is finally able to confront Lady Russell about her persuading Anne to break off the engagement all those years ago.

I love this change in the movie. it reminds me of some of the very clever changes in The Time Traveler's Wife, moments so natural and well-suited to the narrative that I forget they differ from the book.

Mansfield Park poster

Mansfield Park (1999)

Director: Patricia Rozema
Writers: Patricia Rozema, Jane Austen (based on her novel and letters)
Stars: Frances O'Connor, Jonny Lee Miller

a rewatch while I'm in an Austen mood. once again, I have to applaud Patricia Rozema for her vision. she made an excellent Regency-era film which feels contemporary 25 years after its release.

Emma poster

Emma (2009 TV miniseries)

Director: Jim O'Hanlon
Writers: Sandy Welch, Jane Austen (based on her novel)
Stars: Romola Garai, Jonny Lee Miller

I've seen a few versions of Emma (Clueless, which I love; the 1996 Paltrow film, which I do not; and Emma Approved which has probably the best Emma-Knightley declaration of love scene) but this one was new to me. the writer for this production, Sandy Welch, also adapted North & South, which is one of my all-time favourite period dramas. I knew and loved Romola Garai from the series The Hour (RUN DON'T WALK).

Michael Gambon is particularly good as the worrying Mr. Woodhouse and Tamsin Greig is, in my opinion, the definitive Miss Bates. Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill get a lot of focus in this adaptation, to their benefit, perhaps to the detriment of Harriet Smith and Robert Martin. Overall, I adore this series. charming and quite enjoyable, I think it starts strong and can't quite keep up the momentum, but it's right up there with my favourites.

Northanger Abbey PBS poster

Northanger Abbey (2007)

Director: Jon Jones
Writers: Andrew Davies (screenplay), Jane Austen (novel)
Stars: Felicity Jones, JJ Feild

another rewatch of another favourite. the cutest and most lighthearted of the Austen adaptations, despite its Gothic bent.

Sense and Sensibility BBC poster

Sense and Sensibility (2008 TV miniseries)

Director: John Alexander
Writers: Andrew Davies (screenplay), Jane Austen (novel)
Stars: Hattie Morahan, Charity Wakefield

I'm an enormous fan of 1995 Sense and Sensibility and it obviously casts a long shadow. Emma Thompson's screenplay is so brilliant. but then again, Andrew Davies is also much-acclaimed for his literary adaptations, including the fan-favourite 1995 Pride and Prejudice television adaptation. ('95 was a good year for good Austen!)

on the whole, there is much to love about this version. first and foremost, the casting. (and by the way, I am refraining from listing everyone's Doctor Who connections.) Hattie Morahan is an exceptionally good Elinor Dashwood and is well-matched by Charity Wakefield as our young and hopeful Marianne. the excellent Janet McTeer is our Mrs Dashwood. as for the men, we have Dominic Cooper as a dashing and rather sympathetic Willoughby, David Morrissey as a less dashing but nearly perfect Colonel Brandon, and Dan Stevens matching and in fact surpassing Hugh Grant as the most adorable Edward Ferrars (and by the way, Davies also wrote him a wet shirt scene to rival Darcy's lake swim). final shoutout to Mark Williams as Sir John Middleton, because he's got the perfect energy for that role.

I think the film is more successful emotionally, but this three-episode series has that little bit of extra space to develop the characters and their relationships. this benefits the men, particularly Willoughby and Brandon, who get some choice scenes together. the relationship between the sisters—the heart of the piece—also works beautifully. I love how Elinor and Marianne are characterised, and I feel much sympathy for Elinor.

this is a top-notch adaptation, and makes me think I should give Davies P&P another chance (because I didn't care for it much the first time).

Your Fat Friend poster

Your Fat Friend (2023)

Director: Jeanie Finlay
Writer: Jeanie Finlay
Stars: Aubrey Gordon

as a faithful, repeat listener to every episode (and bonus episode) of Maintenance Phase, I was excited for this documentary and was not disappointed. the most suprising and wonderful thing about the doc is getting to know and love Aubrey's parents.

Mona Lisa Smile poster

Mona Lisa Smile (2003)

Director: Mike Newell
Writers: Lawrence Konner, Mark Rosenthal
Stars: Julia Roberts, Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles

I should plan a triple feature. this, Dead Poet's Society, and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

Bridgerton Season 3 poster

Bridgerton Season 3 (2024)

Creator: Chris Van Dusen, based on the novels by Julia Quinn
Showrunners: Chris Van Dusen (S1 & S2), Jess Brownell (S3)
Stars: Nicola Coughlan, Luke Newton

I don't think I logged the previous seasons, but yeah, I've seen all of Bridgerton. the first half of this season was fine, but things picked up nicely in the second half, for me at least. I should say, for the record, that my favourite couple this season was Francesca Bridgerton and John Stirling, Earl of Kilmartin (which, spoilers, means I'm in for a rough ride 😭).

I like Bridgerton—I enjoy the fantasy-Regency setting, the gossip, the sibling dynamics between the Bridgertons—but I actually don't love the romance?? I, uh, prefer my Regency romance sexless, if it's all the same to you. long stares and subtle hand touches and meaningful silences (do you see why I liked Francesca and John?).

I enjoyed having Anthony and Kate back this season (after finding them kind of exhausting last season) to offer some happily-married wisdom. and anytime Adjoa Andoh is on screen, I am loving the show. in fact, Lady Danbury, Violet Bridgerton, and Queen Charlotte are all a delight.

I realize this is Pen and Colin's season and I haven't mentioned them. uhhhh they're sweet? the two have some nice moments together. actually, they have the best sex scenes of the whole show. but it's Pen's relationships with her mom and sisters and Eloise and the Queen that are all more interesting.

this is candy TV, tasty if not nourishing, and I'll probably be back for more.

july

The Miseducation of Cameron Post poster

The Miseducation of Cameron Post (2018)

Director: Desiree Akhavan
Writers: Desiree Akhavan, Cecilia Frugiuele, based on the novel by Emily M. Danforth
Stars: Chloë Grace Moretz, Sasha Lane, Forrest Goodluck

Dear Octopus poster

Dear Octopus (2024)

Director: Emily Burns
Writer: Dodie Smith
Stars: Lindsay Duncan, Bessie Carter, Billy Howle

charming family drama! just a big ol' house full of people and their relationships to one another.

Klute poster

Klute (1971)

Director: Alan J. Pakula
Writers: Andy Lewis, David E. Lewis
Stars: Jane Fonda, Donald Sutherland

superb. a classic for a reason. all you need to say, really, is that it's Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland. maybe throw in that it's the director of All the President's Men for good measure. the plot is not that unusual, but the execution is stunning. the performances are nuanced and captivating. I was particularly drawn to the physicality of our two leads. delicate intimacy.

while it does have tense moments, I would hestitate to describe this film as a psychological thriller or mystery, not because those descriptions are inaccurate, but because they fail to convey that the heart of the drama here is Bree's psychology. (some of the less enthusiastic IMDB reviews point to exactly this: they expected a thriller/mystery and got an introspective character story. "cut the scenes with her psychiatrist!" they say. but that is like watching Say Anything and thinking they should cut the subplot about Jim Court and the IRS. they want to remove the scenes that don't conform to the expectations set by the genre, but it is those scenes which help these films transcend their genre and stand apart as classics. in my opinion.)

but Klute is a terrible title, lol.

august

Dogville poster

Dogville (2003)

movie night with E

Director: Lars von Trier
Writers: Lars von Trier
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Paul Bettany

we could agree that we wanted to watch a Lars von Trier film, but which film? I'd seen someone online recommend Dogville and it looked interesting enough. with a 3-hour runtime, we joked this might be a movie night in two parts. not so! E and I were captivated by this film throughout. told in nine chapters and a prologue, the film's pace is deliberate and not an indulgence. it is like a stage production in many ways, the unusual warehouse-like set being the most obvious. I felt it similar to a play wherein the first act resolves happily and the second act complicates that happy ending.

we're always pleasantly surprised when we find a film that appeals to both our sensibilities, and this was a suprise winner indeed.

september

Newsies poster

Newsies (1992)

movie night with E

Director: Kenny Ortega
Writers: Bob Tzudiker, Noni White
Stars: Christian Bale, David Moscow

can I be real with you? I love a Kenny Ortega musical. having a puppeteer, Frank Oz, direct Little Shop of Horrors produces excellent puppetry sequences, and having a choregrapher, Kenny Ortega, direct a musical produces excellent, energetic dance sequences. there is an earnestness to this film that I adore. I've only gotten fonder of it over time. I can't say I care half as much about the stage adaptation as I do this scrappy little film.

critical consensus is against me: the world at large seems to find the film underwhelming. too bad for you! even Ann-Margaret singing the Razzie Award-winning song "High Times, Hard Times" is a delight to me.

“Santa Fe, are you there? / Do you swear you won't forget me? / If I found you, would you let me come and stay? / I ain't gettin' any younger / and before my dyin' day / I want space, not just air / let 'em laugh in my face, I don't care / save a place, I'll be there...”
Emma. poster

Emma. (2020)

Director: Autumn de Wilde
Writers: Eleanor Catton, based on the novel by Jane Austen
Stars: Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn

Eleanor Catton is one to watch in her generation of authors, and this is a strong addition to the already crowded Austen adaptation canon. nicely balancing the Regency-era story with modern sensibilities, there is a lot to like here. I was particularly pleased with how Harriet and Robert Martin are handled, since that is a weakness in my beloved Emma (2009). Bill Nighy and Miranda Hart, as Mr. Woodhouse and Miss Bates, are casting choices indicative of this film's sense of humour.

one advantage of these oft-adapted stories is that we are less precious about them. I know it may seem a shame, when only so many movies can be made a year, to do Austen again, but I am so enamoured with the art of adaptation, and in an age where remakes and reboots can seem like cynical cash-grabs, this is one subgenre where it still feels like the name of the game is reinterpretation rather than recycling.