I watched the new Netflix take on Persuasion on the day of release and found the whole film charming, funny and original. The backlash on social media - and the one star trolls on the IMDb, who claim to be Austen fans but can't even spell her name correctly or identify which era she was writing in - have me flabbergasted, to be honest. Why the targeted campaign to make one adaptation among many bomb in the ratings? Does the existence of this version take away from the original text, or the other, faithful and bland, adaptations? No. Grow up.
Austen adaptations are churned out with regularity, and I love that Carrie Cracknell and the screenwriters have tried to find a new take on an old story. The 'goofs' listed on this page - seriously, doesn't anyone have a sense of humour? - are not goofs but a deliberate choice to make this a lively mash-up of Austen and modern romcoms, and I love Anne's sarcastic asides to the camera. To be honest, Anne Elliot needs all the help she can get - if I were an Austen heroine, I would probably be Anne, dutiful, caring and completely sidelined by more demanding personalities, but I don't want to read or watch characters like myself. Dakota Johnson presents a fun take on the character, and the wine, for me, is but one visual trope from romcoms which represents her silent desperation. I cringed, but in a good way, when she couldn't find a seat after trying to avoid Wentworth and then overheard his views about her while trying to relieve herself outside! The bath tub scene, and being told about 'Louisa and her Captain', were heartbreaking. Kudos to Nia Towle for making Louisa a sympathetic character for once, too!
I have read the book and, although not my favourite Austen title, still enjoyed this quirky adaptation. Perhaps because I care more about engaging with the characters and story rather than the accuracy of Regency fashion and etiquette - the costumes were amazing, on that note, and I would wear some of Anne's linen creations today! Is this the perfect, definitive screen translation of Persuasion? No. Those reviewers who actually admit to not having watched more than the trailer before hating on this version can go back to the book and the standard adaptations, if that makes them happy. But this is an amusing, emotional, well cast and yes, aesthetically pleasing addition to the many, many varied takes on Austen's work, which does not deserve such a backlash.
Austen adaptations are churned out with regularity, and I love that Carrie Cracknell and the screenwriters have tried to find a new take on an old story. The 'goofs' listed on this page - seriously, doesn't anyone have a sense of humour? - are not goofs but a deliberate choice to make this a lively mash-up of Austen and modern romcoms, and I love Anne's sarcastic asides to the camera. To be honest, Anne Elliot needs all the help she can get - if I were an Austen heroine, I would probably be Anne, dutiful, caring and completely sidelined by more demanding personalities, but I don't want to read or watch characters like myself. Dakota Johnson presents a fun take on the character, and the wine, for me, is but one visual trope from romcoms which represents her silent desperation. I cringed, but in a good way, when she couldn't find a seat after trying to avoid Wentworth and then overheard his views about her while trying to relieve herself outside! The bath tub scene, and being told about 'Louisa and her Captain', were heartbreaking. Kudos to Nia Towle for making Louisa a sympathetic character for once, too!
I have read the book and, although not my favourite Austen title, still enjoyed this quirky adaptation. Perhaps because I care more about engaging with the characters and story rather than the accuracy of Regency fashion and etiquette - the costumes were amazing, on that note, and I would wear some of Anne's linen creations today! Is this the perfect, definitive screen translation of Persuasion? No. Those reviewers who actually admit to not having watched more than the trailer before hating on this version can go back to the book and the standard adaptations, if that makes them happy. But this is an amusing, emotional, well cast and yes, aesthetically pleasing addition to the many, many varied takes on Austen's work, which does not deserve such a backlash.