janeaustenfilmclub: JJ Feild

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Thứ Bảy, 19 tháng 10, 2013

Austenland! Finally!

I FINALLY got to see Austenland, the much anticipated and much delayed film about an Austen fan who blows all of her savings on a vacation to a Jane Austen theme park in England. Based on the book of the same name by Shannon Hale, directed by Jerucha Hess (Napolean Dynamite) and produced by Stephanie Meyer (Twilight) this one was filmed at least 2 years ago.

So you can understand my trepidation in viewing Austenland, especially considering the mixed reviews it was getting. So it is with great relief that I can tell you that rest assured, if you are reading my blog, you will like this film. It is all a matter of matching the consumer to the product in this case. If you are a random person off of the street (especially a male used to action films) you will be unlikely to appreciate this tongue-in-cheek romp of a movie.

However, if you have ever wondered, even fleetingly, what it would be like to step into the pages of a Jane Austen novel, then you are likely thinking that if this place were real, you would be booking a ticket. OK the thought has possibly crossed my mind before!

I won't give any spoilers, but Keri Russell does a great job as the main character Jane and the two love interests, JJ Feild and Bret McKenzie were already two of my favourite actors even before Austenland. Jennifer Coolidge of course steals every scene she is in. The whole cast seemed to be having a blast filming Austenland, which only adds to the viewers' enjoyment.

The supporting cast is marvelous too with Jane Seymour as the snooty proprietress of the theme park. Rupert Vansittart (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Pride and Prejudice 1995) and James Callis (Tom from Bridget Jones) were wonderful additions and nods to some of the films we know and love so well.

So in conclusion, it's not high art but it is a hoot and well worth seeing. Enjoy!

Cheers!

P.S. There is a tour company in England called P&P Tours which will take you to a lot of the filming locations of your fave Period Dramas including Downton Abbey and P&P 95. The link is here: http://www.pandptours.co.uk/

P.P.S. My previous blog post about my desire for a real Austenland is here along with a link to Regency House Party: http://janeaustenfilmclub.blogspot.ca/2013/04/my-reality-tv-pitch-real-austenland.html

Thứ Tư, 27 tháng 3, 2013

The Secret Life of Mrs. Beeton 2006

I was finally able to sit down and watch The Secret Life of Mrs. Beeton recently. The ever adorable JJ Feild is certainly one very good reason for you all to seek this one out. My word, is that man attractive!

I tell you, any time this man is in period dress (preferably a cravat!) is a reason to give your full attention to the screen ladies. However, the Squire was perfectly happy to watch this with me, possibly because Mrs. Beeton was played by the very attractive Anna Madeley.

Anna Madeley is one of those actresses who pops up in many things, and I don't always recognize her. See if you can pick her out of this Sunday's first episode of Mr. Selfridge. She plays the brilliantly named Miss Ravillious! She was also Celia Ryder in the latest Brideshead Revisited as well as Lucy Steele in the 2008 version of Sense and Sensibility. See what I mean? She is a chameleon!

I wish I could tell you that this film has a happy ending, but I can't. They both worked their tails off to produce the book Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management, among other publications. Mrs. Beeton died at age 28 from illness and Sam Beeton only lasted another 12 years before succumbing to tuberculosis. However, there is a wonderful love story before the sad ending, as well as a cracking good tale of one heck of a woman who helped many other Victorian women struggling to manage their houses, children, husbands and livestock, among other topics!

So, here's to Isabella Beeton. May I have half of her energy as I try to tackle my spring cleaning! Happy Easter, Happy Passover and cheers to Mrs. Beeton!

P.S. You will also spot Anna Chancellor and Jim Carter in this one as Isabella's mother and step-father.
P.P.S. One of my regular readers LRK or Lark as I have been calling her brought my attention to a new drama about the American Revolution called Turn in which we may be able to see JJ Feild in 18th century dress. Yipee!

Thứ Ba, 29 tháng 1, 2013

JJ Feild- Actor of the Week

JJ Feild is a great actor and I predict that he will make it big outside of the UK very soon. Of course those of us who have seen him in Northanger Abbey as the saucy Mr. Henry Tilney will not be surprised when the rest of the world finally discovers his talent, will we?

However some of you may be surprised at how many period dramas JJ Feild has already appeared in. My, he does look good in a cravat and top hat doesn't he?

Henry Tilney: Now I must give you one smirk, then we can be rational again.

The new film Austenland has just premiered to rather lukewarm reviews at the Sundance Film Festival. Well, personally I want to see it anyway. JJ Feild and Bret McKenzie as love interests at a Jane Austen theme park is all I need to hear. And Jennifer Coolidge? Sounds like fun to me! By the way, when is this Jane Austen theme park actually going to happen?

As Mr. Sam Beeton in The Secret Life of Mrs. Beeton, JJ Feild again shows us his adorable smile and his wonderful acting chops.

I think the first place I saw JJ Feild was in The Railway Children from 2000. The photo above shows him as Jim, being rescued with a broken leg by Jemima Rooper (Amanda from Lost in Austen- kneeling in black hat and pinafore) and being tended to by David Bamber (Mr. Collins from P&P 1995). This entire film is on YouTube (link here) and well worth watching.

As Victorian photographer Frederick Garland in Ruby in the Smoke and the sequel The Shadow in the North, JJ helps pretty young sleuth Sally Lockhart (Billie Piper) and of course falls in love with her.

Well, those are my fave JJ Feild films. Did I miss any of your faves?

One last note. JJ Feild seems to have good taste as his significant other and baby mama is Canadian Neve Campbell from Guelph, Ontario which is where I got my first job after graduation. Can we claim JJ as an honorary Canadian now?

By the way, can I just say how much I love those ears? Good catch Neve!

Thứ Năm, 15 tháng 12, 2011

Jane Austen's Birthday Soiree- The Gift of Film and A Giveaway

Today, December 16th, is Jane Austen's Birthday. In her 41 short years she was able to make such a mark in the literary world that here we are celebrating her birthday 236 years later. I think I speak for many of us when I say that she has enriched our lives immeasurably and for that we are truly grateful. In this spirit of gratitude, 30 other bloggers and I will be offering some gifts in the first ever Jane Austen's Birthday Soiree.

In order to honour our esteemed author, I would like to give her The Gift of Film to demonstrate how her beloved books have been dramatized over the past 20 years or so. She liked going to the theatre and had put on amateur productions with her siblings as a child, so I will show her what the world has done with her novels 200 years later.

Pride and Prejudice 1995

I would love to show her Andrew Davies's adaptation of her favourite heroine Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice from 1995. Although she might think that Mrs. Bennet is a bit shrill, I think she would approve of the rest. I would hope that she would swoon over Mr. Darcy come to life on the screen. I would try to explain the wet shirt scene and the thrill that this gave to women worldwide. I think she would understand, don't you?

Mansfield Park 1999

I would show her Mansfield Park 1999 but with qualifications and apologies. I would try to explain that the filmmakers thought that if they injected a little of Miss Austen herself into Fanny Price, that the character would appeal more to a modern audience. I would also explain that her true fans are still waiting for a really faithful and satisfactory film or miniseries to be made of Mansfield Park. I would not show her the bottle blonde abomination of Mansfield Park from 2007. I know some people liked it but not me.

Northanger Abbey 2007

I think she would get some enjoyment out of Andrew Davies's adaptation of Northanger Abbey from 2007. The mischievous Mr. Tilney would appeal I think, as would the wide eyed portrayal of Catherine Morland by Felicity Jones.

Emma 2009

Although she may find Romola Garai's Emma from 2009 a little too likeable, I think this is the best screen version of Emma and I love all the characters in this miniseries. OK, I especially love Jonny Lee Miller and I hope that the author would approve of his Mr. Knightley. Actually, I should probably show her the Emma with Gwyneth Paltrow from 1996 and the Emma with Kate Beckinsale from 1996. It would be a lively discussion afterwards, as to which version is truer to her original vision and which version she liked best (and they may not be one and the same).

Persuasion 1995

I think she would love Persuasion 1995 with it's nautical music and filming locations of Bath and Lyme Regis. It might amaze her how little has changed in 200 years. I would love to watch her taking in the magical scene of the letter...“You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope...I have loved none but you.”

Sense and Sensibility 1995

Lastly, I would love her to see the masterpiece of Sense and Sensibility 1995 adapted by Emma Thompson and Directed by Ang Lee. I think she would be impressed by how well her novel springs to life on the big screen. I would point out how the music in this production stays with you long after the film is over. I might even show her Emma Thompson's Golden Globe acceptance speech afterward, although it might require some explanation!

None of us know what Jane Austen would think of what modern society has done with her "darling children". But I hope that she could appreciate the way her novels so easily adapt to the screen, and the fact that we love to see them acted out as much as we enjoying reading them after all these years.

Happy Birthday Miss Austen! We only wish you were around longer so that we might have more of your "darling children" to enjoy.

THE GIVEAWAY

Please post a comment below about your favourite Jane Austen film adaptation to be entered into my giveaway draw for a DVD copy of Northanger Abbey 2007. I am opening the giveaway worldwide (draw closes December 23) and I will announce the winner here. The winner can choose a region 1 or region 2 DVD. Don't forget to add your email address!

Please also visit the rest of the participants in the Jane Austen Birthday Soiree. The list is so extensive, it may take you a week to enter all of the giveaway draws. But please do. There are so many wonderful websites on this list and lots of great gifts!