Even Pike as Jane, Elizabeth's favorite sister and closest friend and confidant, is demoted from a central relationship to bit player status, despite Jane's romance with Bingley being a main driver of Elizabeth's animosity toward and eventual reconciliation with Darcy. The 2005 film, meanwhile, wastes its star power as Lydia and Kitty, Malone and Mulligan spend most of their limited screen time giggling, and while Malone's baby face drives home the disturbing truth of Lydia's eventual elopement at 15, her character is so one-note that it's hard to truly care. Collins oozes the perfect amount of oily obsequiousness. Bennet is a triumph of hilariously irritating eccentricities and hideously embarrassing behavior, and David Bamber as the unfortunate Mr. Yet the miniseries' longer runtime gives its cast the time and space to really shine even minor roles like Kitty and Mary are fleshed out with believable quirks and mannerisms.
I say this knowing that the 2005 film is stuffed with stars - Rosamund Pike, Jena Malone, Carey Mulligan - and well-known character actors, while the BBC cast a bunch of Brits who were (and remain) largely unknown to American audiences. But in the BBC miniseries, Crispin Bonham-Carter plays Bingley as the human equivalent of a golden retriever puppy, sweet and generous to a fault, making him the perfect loyal companion for the beatific, blonde eldest Bennet. Simon Woods's Bingley comes off as mildly cerebrally challenged, which has the unfortunate effect of making Rosamund Pike's lovely, intelligent Jane seem a bit stupid for liking him - or, worse, blinded to his faults by his piles of money. Consider this moment when, after brutally rebuffing Darcy's proposal, Elizabeth inexplicably looks like she's about to make out with him:īut it's not just Elizabeth and Darcy - the 2005 film's Jane and Mr. Meanwhile, the 2005 film reduced the story's epic romance to mush. Darcy emerging, dripping wet, from a lake - only to encounter a shocked Elizabeth Bennet:
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After all, the BBC's version gave viewers what the Guardian called "one of the most unforgettable moments in British TV history": Firth's Mr. In this area, though, it's probably unfair to expect any other Pride and Prejudice to measure up. Wickham (Rupert Friend), who despite being convincing as a member of 19th-century One Direction never musters up the considerable charm that would be necessary to hoodwink a woman as sharp as Elizabeth. Same goes for her other love interest, Mr. Knightley does the best she can, but her impish sparkle merely serves to highlight his flatness. Lacking in both fire and haughtiness, Macfadyen's Darcy comes across as a soggy mopester, which makes his gradual softening from smug snob to ideal romantic partner far less resonant.
The choice was the filmmaking equivalent of ordering a Coke and having your server respond, "Is Pepsi okay?" Perhaps fittingly, the 2005 film came from the same studio that produced Love, Actually and Bridget Jones's Diary - both of which star Firth, and the latter of which is a modern take on P&P, with Firth playing "Mark Darcy." But the studio couldn't very well cast him again, so it needed to find someone new - and somehow landed on Matthew Macfadyen. Darcy, and Colin Firth's portrayal of the character made him a star. Pride and Prejudice requires a suitably dreamy Mr. The key romantic pairs are so much more charming (and believable) (Plus, with its apt portraits of complicated family relationships and embarrassing relatives, it's Thanksgiving-appropriate, too!) Here are four reasons the TV miniseries beats the pantaloons off the 2005 film. But despite being well-regarded, director Joe Wright's take on the source material is a pale, sad imitation of the BBC's, and you can't call yourself a true P&P fan until you've watched all six hours of the latter version. Yes, I realize the 2005 feature film starring Keira Knightley earned rave reviews and four Oscar nominations. The 1995 miniseries stars Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth as Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy, two people who overcome their differences in social standing and temperament to realize they're made for one another.
Thanksgiving weekend is a time to eat too much and argue with your family, and if you've already worked your way through such controversial topics as vaccinations and Black Lives Matter, here's another one to add to the list: The BBC's Pride and Prejudice is hands down the best adaptation of the Jane Austen novel ever made.
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