Don't get me wrong. The challenges of turning such a long book into something manageable and accessible by today's ADD audience are immense. The odd thing here is that so much of what seems to have been cut out is the dialogue: the subtle, sparring flirtation between the dark and mercurial Mr Rochester and passionate governess Jane is perhaps the most engaging thing about the tale. And here it's stripped down to a bare minimum.
But I get ahead of myself. If you're not already familiar with "Jane Eyre", it's a little involved. Lowly Jane, played here by Mia Wasikowska, doesn't have a lot going for her: she's not pretty, she's doesn't have a penny to her name and between her horrible aunt and cousins and the oppressive Lowood School she's shipped off to, she hasn't really had much of a life. Mr Rochester (Michael Fassbender) is a gentleman with a dark past, a nasty temper and a house full of secrets. When Jane finds herself brought on to teach the man's French ward, she and her rich employer find themselves kindred spirits and, of course, fall madly in love... that is, until Rochester is exposed and it all falls apart. The film opens here with Jane running away, destitute, and tells her tale of woe in flashbacks.
There's a lot more to it than that, of course, but there still hasn't been a consensus about how much or how little should be left in (see: 22 adaptations, above). In fact, film versions of "Jane Eyre" vary wildly in length, with this version on the lighter side (just under two hours) and, say, the 1983 Timothy Dalton mini-series on the heftier side, tipping the scale at five hours. Certainly Jane's early days with her Aunt and evil cousins and the time spent at school aren't really gripping, and while the scenery is nice, it wasn't something that was particularly played up in this version of the film. Indeed the production was rather stark, giving a harder, darker (and probably more accurate) view of life than usually portrayed.
The magic is in the words, and, in Moira Buffini's script, the words have been sadly pared down and paraphrased to such an extent that very little of the interplay between the oddly matched couple is intact. And while both Mr Fassbender and Ms Wasikowska do an admirable job with their characters, the directing is off, and too much of what is missing in dialog has been replaced with physical chemistry and (later) affection - it's well done and avoids being anachronistic, but doesn't serve to develop the characters. Rochester is never quite angsty enough. Jane isn't quite the caged bird she should be.
The supporting cast is wonderful, with notable callouts to the inimitable Judi Dench as housekeeper Mrs Fairfax, and Sally Hawkins, who manages to be far crueler than you'd think possible if you were a fan of "Happy Go Lucky". Jamie Bell is all grown up as clergyman St John Rivers, who, with his sisters, takes Jane in and finds her a job after she's fled Thornfield Hall.
This adaptation achieves what it sets out to do: offer a moody, understated version of the story that doesn't put the audience to sleep and is designed to appeal to more than middle aged women with a thing for its hunky hero. Unfortunately, it doesn't offer much more than that. It's entertaining enough, but not terribly memorable. If you're really interested in what has given "Jane Eyre" such staying power, you won't find it in this film. But that's okay! You've got 21 others to choose from!
| Movie title | Jane Eyre |
|---|---|
| Release year | 2011 |
| MPAA Rating | PG-13 |
| Our rating | |
| Summary | The latest in a long list of film adapatations of the perrenial love story is moody and well-cast, but let down by a terrible script. |
