Mansfield Park (1999)

Great Movie!

I love this movie! It is a much better version of this Jane Austin classic than the other version that is out there. January 3, 2009

Not for the "purist", but not as willfully divergent as you might think...

If you like your Jane to look and sound like Jane, and not like some director's idea of the spirit of Jane, then this film is probably not for you. If, however, you revel in period films done with good production values, intelligent writing and acting, and if you don't mind some nudity and shock value that moves the whole work out of the family-viewing arena, then this film has much to reccomend it.

I mostly appreciated the way that this director/writer effort managed to transport elements of Austen's novel onto the screen, although they often appear tranformed as well as transported. Though this film lacks the polite-society feel of Austen as we have come to expect it from previous film versions of her novels, in purely literary terms it remains true to much of the themes and motives of the original. This version of Mansfield merely expresses them a bit differently.

On the other hand, there are some aspects of this adaptation that stole the enjoyment for me. The infamous slave-drawings scene, for instance, while it helps sympathize Tom's character (you get why he's drowning his pain and moral confusion in alchohol), creates a huge dichotomy in my mind over Fanny's eventual reconciliation and respect for her uncle. How is it possible that such a thoughtful girl as Fanny can learn respect for the monstrous, evil-minded man her uncle is in this adaptation? In addition, that horrifying scene, with Fanny poring over the agonized drawings Tom made of his father engaging in acts of brutality with the family slaves, felt a bit too much like the director was expressing an agenda. I can deal with tough stuff in a movie, if it serves the story well, but this just didn't.

Also, cousin Edmund lacks the motivations that in the novel, render his behavior understandable. Here, he comes off as a wispy stick-figure kind of guy. One has to wonder what her attraction to him could be. Their eventually coming together feels a bit too much like the characters themselves had access to the script and no choice but to follow it.

For me, the main thing this movie lacked was any genuinely likeable characters other than Fanny, and perhaps her sister. That is a wearying thing in a feature-length film.
December 26, 2008

Terrible Movie - please stop recommending to me !

This movie is a Hollywood version of parts of the book. I am not interested in the movie as the intent does not match Jane Austen's book. If an option of -10 was available I would gladly give that rating to this movie. December 16, 2008

LOVE IT

Mansfield Park I a geat show about a girl who goes to live with her astranged relatives. The never really treat her with any sort of respect. From the beginning Fanny (the main character) is in love with the only person in the house who actually does have respect for her. But as always in a good story you have to have opposition and there is plenty in this story. Fanny has to deal with lazy drunken boy cousins, easy jelous girl cousins, and neighbors who are some of both. In the end well... you will have to watch to find out November 24, 2008

it passes muster

For those of you who absolutely loved Mansfield Park, the book, and are hopeless Jane Austen purists this movie will probably disappoint you. If on the other hand, you are like me and are a devoted fan of Jane Austen and a purist about everything else Jane Austen, yet for some reason you didn't especially love Mansfield Park, then you will enjoy this movie. The main characters, Fanny, Edmund, Henry, and Mariah, are extremely well cast and are very good actors and actresses. Fanny's character is a fair bit more decided and strong than in the book, but I was always inclined to think her a little lacking in spine. It follows the main storyline fairly well, only getting a few things at the end rearranged.One thing that they brought into this movie which I wasn't sure belonged in a Jane Austen movie was a sort of abolitionist view point on Edmund, Fanny and Tom's part. Though it was very true that the Bertram's lived off of the slave's labor in in Antigua this aspect of the movie didn't really make it feel period to me, it felt more like it was set in the 1800's.
So, If you were like me and thought that the book drug on for ever and wrapped up in the last chapter,then you will probably enjoy this movie. October 16, 2008

More reviews at Amazon.com ...