Through The Rear Window: MOVIE REVIEW ... JANE EYRE

Sunday, August 14, 2011

MOVIE REVIEW ... JANE EYRE

Any well written story can withstand many interpretations. Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare and others have enjoyed constant revisitations to their texts. Another has been Charlotte Bronte, whose 19^th Century classic ‘Jane Eyre’ has been filmed countless times. This latest adaptation goes for a darker beat than previously. With cinema’s current desire for dramatic realism it adds a different texture to Bronte’s oft-told classic.

Jane Eyre (Mia Wasikowska) is a governess hired by the brooding Mr. Rochester (Michael Fassbender). Carrying out her duties as best she can, she forms a strong bond with her employer. Although both still haunted by ghosts from their past, they quickly develop a romance. Clouds appear on the horizon when mysterious occurrences happen within the castle’s gloomy corridors. With buried secrets and forbidden desires jump to the surface testing their relationship and Jane’s strong spirit.

It’s often difficult condensing such a weighty tome as Jane Eyre, but Director Cary Fukunaga does his best. Mixing elements of tragedy, betrayal and stirring romance traits which could easily have become a conduit for pure melodrama. Occasionally this appears although he ensures the atmospheric tone never becomes too outlandish. Whilst perhaps the central performances are lacking the necessary chemistry to fully work, they manage to capture the spirited essence of their roles.

Jane Eyre’s biggest plus is the striking cinematography. One expects to see some lushness amongst the drama and it delivers. The wide open expanses of the English countryside are lovingly shot and seem to mirror the myriad of entanglements the characters endure. One could call the scenery its own character in this regard with the costume department equally matching it in quality. The script could have perhaps utilised certain characters better although this may spur viewers into reading the novel for more detail – which is no bad thing.

Lovers of such bodice rippers will find much to enjoy with Jane Eyre. Whilst not as engrossing as hoped, it’s a serviceable adaptation of a classic novel proving different viewpoints of the same tale can still be just as compelling as the day it was written.