A Universal Picture, Written by Eleanor Catton, Directed by Autumn de Wilde.
Handsome, Clever, Rich. That is how our protagonist Emma Woodhouse is described, and it is also the way you could describe this charming romantic comedy. An adaptation of Jane Austen’s beloved comedy, Emma has a real energy and charm that you would hope for from such a film.
While it doesn’t have particularly much substance, it does have some emotional moments, but what you really came for is the romance, the comedy, and the outfits, and the film delivers on all of these fronts. First time director Autumn de Wilde crafts a beautiful looking film, that also is packed full of charming interactions and strong performances.
The whole cast is superb here, with a great mix of young and older performers. Mia Goth is the emotional heart of this film and delivers a really strong performance. Johnny Flynn, Callum Turner, Josh O’Connor, Tanya Reynolds, and Connor Swindells all do a fine job and have big futures ahead. As for the older cast; Bill Nighy, Gemma Whelan, and Miranda Hart all do excellent jobs.
However, the absolute star of this film is Anya Taylor-Joy, who dominates the screen as Emma. Taylor-Joy has proven in recent years with performances in films like The Witch, Split, and Thoroughbreds, that she is an incredibly talented and charismatic actress. She has the unique and striking beauty, as well as the comedic and emotional chops to carry this film, and she does it with a real flourish.
I doubt this film will live long in people’s memories once they have left the cinema, but it is sure to be a great Valentine’s Day viewing an should play well beyond that too. This should become popular each year around this time of year and therefore prove very profitable for Universal in the long run.
Rating = 3.5/5
Howe's World of Film and TV 