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Movie Review: Emma.

Mike Tyrkus

Upon first glance, you may find yourself wondering if another film adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic novel Emma is needed (or wanted for that matter). In fact, one could even argue it would be impossible to improve on Amy Heckerling’s update of the tale in Clueless (1995). Thankfully, you would be considerably wrong as the latest version of the Austen classic, Emma, from director Autumn de Wilde, like Greta Gerwig’s incredible interpretation of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women (2019), gives new life to a story that every generation inevitably seems to try their hand at interpreting and improving.

This time around Emma Woodhouse is played by Anya Taylor-Joy. She lives with her father (played with charm and with by the fabulous Bill Nighy). However, her life is not that boring or empty as one might think. She is able to occupy her days by implementing machinations into various relationships throughout her community. For starters, she takes a shy girl named Harriet (Mia Goth) under her wing to give her a hand in getting herself situated in society. Now, Harriet has a thing for a widowed farmer named Mr. Martin (Connor Swindells) that Emma doesn’t necessarily approve of due to his station and sees Harriet more fitting as the future companion of the less-than-charming Mr. Elton (Josh O’Connor) simply due to his station in life. Of course, instead of being immediately drawn to Harriet as Emma plans, Mr. Elton instead falls directly for Emma, and Emma finds herself drawn to an unseen Frank Churchill (Callum Turner) all the while finding rebuke from Mr. Knightley (Johnny Flynn) for her childish and selfish behavior.

Anya Taylor-Joy in “Emma.” Photo by Courtesy of Box Hill Films – © 2019 Focus Features, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

It a tale that’s been told numerous times and one can see the resolution well before the players have any idea what is going on, but there’s definitely something about this interpretation that gives this classic a fresh feel and vitality. Director Autumn de Wilde tackles the social maze of Austen’s timeless tale with elegance and charm and Eleanor Catton’s script manages to translate Austen’s language without losing the beauty or poetry of the story.

But, neither of these would be worth anything were it not for the excellent performances on hand throughout the production. Taylor-Joy is remarkable as Emma and seems almost born to the role at times. Flynn, too, is perfectly cast as the ultimate objection of the heroine’s affections, as are practically all the other players is this talented ensemble.

Strong performances all around, and a particularly invigorating one from Anya Taylor-Joy as the titular character, along with a strong script and solid directing brings a new vision of Austen’s seminal novel Emma to vibrant life for yet another generation of filmgoers to enjoy and cherish.

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Mike Tyrkus

Editor in Chief at CinemaNerdz.com
An independent filmmaker, co-writer and director of over a dozen short films, the Editor in Chief of CinemaNerdz.com has spent much of the last three decades as a writer and editor specializing in biographical and critical reference sources in literature and the cinema, beginning in February 1991 reviewing films for his college newspaper. He was a member of the Detroit Film Critics Society, as well as the group's webmaster and one-time President for over a decade until the group ceased to exist. His contributions to film criticism can be found in Magill's Cinema Annual, VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever (of which he was the editor for nearly a decade until it too ceased to exist), the International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, and the St. James Film Directors Encyclopedia (on which he collaborated with editor Andrew Sarris). He has also appeared on the television program Critic LEE Speaking alongside Lee Thomas of FOX2 and Adam Graham, of The Detroit News. He currently lives in the Detroit area with his wife and their dogs.

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