How can Jane Austen wreck anyone’s life?

[MsAmerica]

I went to see Jane Austen Wrecked My Life, very dubiously, being a Janeite myself, and was horribly disappointed. But I'm curious if any of you went to see it, and I’m hoping maybe others will convince me that I was wrong.

It’s an okay, if unimaginative, premise: A writer/bookstore worker in Paris is gifted with a two-week residency at a charming English writer’s retreat, and off she goes. Her own writing and her love life are at a dead end, so the audience can only hope that either or both perk up during this holiday.

I’m sorry to admit my own shallowness but, to begin with, I couldn’t get past my assessment of the lead actress, Camille Rutherford, not being attractive, either in her person or personality. And is it just me, or was there no chemistry at all with the male lead? I didn’t mind that it was predictable, but I did mind that there was nothing else to perk it up. Most of the other characters are undeveloped. The humor is mostly feeble. Unlike in Austen stories, no one says anything clever. Oh, and the total mentions of Austen probably added up to maybe 3-4 minutes. And, no, Jane Austen does not wreck anyone’s life.

Feel free to tell me about any wonderful artistry I failed to appreciate or any subtle nuances that I missed.

I wonder if Americans have warped ideas about attractiveness?

I've always thought that actors in Hollywood movies have to look more perfect than those in European films, especially European art house ones. Of course actors like Alain Delon (in his prime) and Catherine Deneuve could hold their own against any Hollywood actor but it feels like those who look more 'quirky' have more hope of being cast in a big role.

In the UK, there is a lot of admiration for actors like Monica Dolan and Lesley Manville who often look almost unrecognisable in different roles and will play characters who look more ordinary.

Incidentally, I thought of you the other day when I was reading about the Jane Austen Festival in Bath. I think it was even grander than usual because of the 250th anniversary:

janeausten.co.uk/pages/festival-home-page

I made the mistake of expecting a Richard Curtis-style film in French, but it's very much a French film (albeit mostly set in England).

I don't think CR is Hollywood beautiful but I absolutely didn't find that to be an issue casting-wise.

I completely agree that American (Hollywood) movies are fanatical about having extremely attractive actors and actresses. This sometimes becomes laughable when, for instance, you have someone as attractive as Winona Ryder playing Jo March in "Little Women," when Louisa May Alcott clearly said she wasn't considered pretty. I remember the whole audience hooting at one point.

Oh, that festival must have been SUCH fun. At least to me.

you have someone as attractive as Winona Ryder playing Jo March in "Little Women," when Louisa May Alcott clearly said she wasn't considered pretty

That's exactly it. Pat Barker said that the only resemblance between her character, Iris King, and Jane Fonda who played her in the film Stanley and Iris was the name. The Iris in Union Street was physically large and definitely not glamorous. I fully accept that having a big name helps sell tickets/streamings but I do like some resemblance to the original!

But then they’d be describing film adaptations, not the novels, which are very much analyses of the socio-economics of women’s lives. The romance doesn’t exist outside the economics.

I remember watching 'Circle of Friends' which starred Minnie Driver as the main character, Benny Hogan. If you've read the book, you'll know that a huge theme in the book is Benny being a large girl who grew up to be a large woman - too large to fit into standard clothes for her age, although her figure included magnificent boobs and she was by no means considered unattractive.

I could have howled with disappointment when Minnie Driver appeared, without an ounce of fat on her. Yes, Minnie Driver has a square jaw and 'wide' face - that apparently counts as being 'big' - what a missed opportunity to have a genuinely large actress playing an attractive and popular woman!

She apparently put on 30 pounds to play Benny!

The Hollywood idea of being fat 😆

‘How can Jane Austen wreck anyone’s life?’
by spending time to reading a really boring book and then realise you’ll never get that time back?!
I absolutely cannot stand Austen! I love many of the classics, but I found her books incredibly boring and hard work…perhaps I’m just too uncouth to appreciate the humour? Now wuthering heights on the other hand, happily gave up a few hours reading that!

Well, having never even known there was an original Iris, I don't think it would necessarily merit the kind of irritation with a long-beloved literary character.

I do love that movie, though, for extolling reading, and Martin Ritt was notable for making movies about subjects that were off the beaten track.

Do you know of any major actress at that age who was "large"? I sure don't.

I'm not familiar with the book, but maybe the filmmakers' compromise was to at least cast a woman who wasn't conventionally beautiful.

That makes me so sad.

😥

I gave a copy of Emma to a friend, and as she was explaining how much she disliked it, it became apparent that she just couldn't grasp the humor. She was annoyed that the father kept whining, and I kept trying to explain that this was the funny part.

I think that's part of the problem - a lack of 'major' actresses who don't meet the Hollywood ideal of slenderness.

I've never read Circle of Friends nor seen the film but I want to now!

I do think Jane Austen would have enjoyed a discussion about conventional ideas of beauty and commercial decisions about casting.

The book is much better, in my opinion. The film takes out most of the interesting sub-plots (as you might expect) but also changes the ending, which is a big no for film adaptations as far as I'm concerned.

It looks quite silly, but I think I could tell that without seeing it. It might be kind of enjoyable anyway, if I go in with low expectations. I'm a sucker for a French bookshop type film.

I also think the female lead is beautiful. Definitely my type!

The book is much better, in my opinion.

Ok, I'll try that first. Thanks for the recommendation @FlightCommanderPRJohnson

Absolutely and her humour (especially the stuff in her letters to her sisters) is quite savage. There's nothing twee about it.

Are there a lot of fat British actresses cast as romantic leads? I can't think of any offhand.
There are, however, older British actresses as romantic leads, which I like.

No, you can be old but not overweight. The largest UK actress I can think of who gets cast in major (not romantic) leads is Sarah Lancashire. I wouldn't call her overweight, she is quite tall, but she does look like a 'real' person. There are also quite a lot of actresses who don't have conventionally beautiful faces, like Anna Maxwell Martin or Nicola Walker. Having said that, I have always believed that acting very physical roles in theatre must be a great form of exercise. A couple of years ago I saw a production of Anything Goes. Two of the cast, Felicity Kendal and Robert Lindsay must have been in their mid to late 70s. Nobody would ever have guessed their age from the physicality of their performances.

No, you can be old but not overweight. The largest UK actress I can think of who gets cast in major (not romantic) leads is Sarah Lancashire. I wouldn't call her overweight, she is quite tall, but she does look like a 'real' person. There are also quite a lot of actresses who don't have conventionally beautiful faces, like Anna Maxwell Martin or Nicola Walker. Having said that, I have always believed that acting very physical roles in theatre must be a great form of exercise. A couple of years ago I saw a production of Anything Goes. Two of the cast, Felicity Kendal and Robert Lindsay must have been in their mid to late 70s. Nobody would ever have guessed their age from the physicality of their performances.

No, I can't either. Fat actresses tend to get cast as the best friend and confidante of the leading lady. A 'tame confidante' as Jane Austen put it in Mansfield Park when casting Lovers' Vows, although with reference to being modest in your choice of role rather than fat.

Right. Like Rosie O'Donnell in "Sleepless in Seattle."

Hollywood actresses are allowed to be one of only a few types looks wise and this is exacerbated by plastic surgery which is why you get so many articles about how similar some Hollywood actresses look. All the British actresses named so far are incredibly attractive by normal criteria but the visual conservativism in Hollywood is more extreme.