Director: Whit Stillman Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Chloë Sevigny Studio: Amazon Studios/Roadside Attractions Genre(s): Drama Rated: PG (For some thematic elements) |
For those who think that romantic comedies these days rely
on too much skin to be sexy, then “Love & Friendship” may just be what the
doctor ordered. Based off a Jane
Austin’s novel “Lady Susan,” this is a movie where men were gentlemen and
ladies were proper. They actually court
one another and weigh the benefits of what a particular marriage will bring to
their own lives (and, by extension, their families). There isn’t any on screen kissing. There is no sex. There isn’t even any hand holding as far as I
can see. What there is though are lots
of loving glances as well as sophisticated dialog to move the relationships
forward. This makes sense since this was
based off source material that was heavy in dialog and character development. That the book is this way is one thing, but
to see it adapted so effortlessly into a movie is a minor miracle.
This is especially true since film is a visual medium. This means that it’s best to show and not
tell. While great dialog is always
welcome, too much talking can bog a film down and reduces characters to a bunch
of talking heads. In many ways “Love
& Friendship” should fall into this trap in abundance. Yet director Whit Stillman (who also wrote
the screenplay) has a keen eye for when to pull back and when to push
forward. He decorates the settings and
dresses the characters in ways that are visually stunning and pleasing to the
eye. He places characters within the
appropriate proximity of their situation to heighten tension when it is
appropriate. It also helps that the
center character in the story, Lady Susan Vernon (Kate Beckinsale), is a smart,
captivating character who is very likable despite being a devious schemer to
all those around her. She is a widow who
goes from house to house, living off the generosity of others.
She is at the point where she knows that the kindness of her
friends will not last forever. She is
used to a life of privilege and wants that life to continue for her daughter
Frederica (Morfydd Clark), but she has no income of her own, and this is the
1700’s, where the idea of women working for their own money was a pretty
laughable idea (she certainly isn’t going to make as much as a man). Therefore, it is up to her to measure up the
single men in her life, their circumstances, and make sure her daughter marries
into wealth and privilege. Chances are
there are a many feminists who may scoff at this movie for being sexist and a
relic from a different time period, but, well…it sort of is. That’s also the main point. It is true that women largely did not have
careers of their own during this time period.
In a sense, finding a wealthy husband WAS their career, and they came
out ahead if the man ended up being a nice fellow (of which many were not)!
This is simply the reality of the times. The reason I don’t feel “Love &
Friendship” is as offensive as it could be is because the women do drive the
story. Lady Susan in particular is
keenly aware of her disadvantages. She
knows where she fits in the food chain.
She also understands the class system better than anyone. This makes her the smartest character in the
movie, as she takes advantage of every weakness of the male sex. It feels like you are watching a mind game of
cat and mouse, where half the players don’t realize they are playing the game. As for us, we – the audience – are the
observers. Often, we find ourselves
amused by what we see yet we are rarely able to see where things are
going. This is a nice change of pace
when so many movies in theaters are so formulaic. This is a movie that costs less than a
fraction of the typical summer blockbuster, fewer characters, and yet has a
more engaging plot and characters than four of the top ten box office films
combined.
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| CONSUMER ADVICE |
Parents, aside from some discussions of what happens on the wedding night, there is nothing wrong with this movie. Recommended for ages 6 and up.
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