JANE EYRE
A film review by Michael John Legeros
Copyright 1996 Michael John Legeros
(Mirimax)
Directed by Franco Zeffirelli
Written by Hugh Whitemore and Franco Zeffirelli, based on the novel
by Charlotte Bronte
Cast Charlotte Gainsbourg, William Hurt, Joan Plowright,
Josephine Serre, Anna Paquin, Geraldine Chaplin, Elle
MacPherson, Amanda Root
MPAA Rating "PG"
Running Time 117 min.
Reviewed at The Rialto, Raleigh, NC (26APR96)
==
Franco Zeffirelli adapts Charlotte Bronte and the result is a starchy, slow-moving soap opera that, depending upon your sense and sensibility about these things, will leave you either swooning or sick to your stomach. The plot revolves around a homely governess (Charlotte Gainsbourg) and her adventures in a gothic mansion full of secrets and other surprises. (That mansion is great, BTW. I half-expected to see Uncle Fester scurrying by in the background.) Zeffirelli's film has an EYRE of cheesiness about it; from the sweeping music-accompanied scene changes, to the self-important dialogue delivery, done so slowly that you can almost count to ten between each line. (Unlike, say, those Austen adaptations, which are far from trashy.) The international cast is quite a treat. Ms. Gainsbourg is all neck, William Hurt is very good, and Joan Plowright, fresh the deadly duo of MR. WRONG and THE SCARLET LETTER, is her usual smiling self. Other familiar faces include Anna Paquin, Amanda Root, Fiona Shaw, and, even, Elle MacPherson. The audience that I saw this with applauded at the end, but were they happy at the outcome, or just happy that it was over?
Grade: B-
--
Mike Legeros - Raleigh, NC
legeros@nando.net (h) - legeros@unx.sas.com (w)
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