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Usually ships in 1 business days | | | Jane Austen fans will delight in the sumptuous production design and first-rate acting in the 2007 Masterpiece Theatre version of Persuasion. Sally Hawkins is controlled and moving as Anne Elliot, the quietly heartbroken but sensible heroine who was "persuaded" (read: forced) to turn away her true love but still carries an unseen torch for him. Hawkins's performance is genteel yet steely, and the quiet strength of the entire production. Hawkins looks alternately quietly lovely and sadly pinched--as one might expect the long frustrated Anne to look. Other highlights include a post-Buffy Anthony Head, as Anne's clueless, blustery father, Sir Walter. Head gets to turn on his deft comic talent here in ways most American audiences have not yet seen him; he's clearly enjoying himself immensely, blustering about "my shrubberies" and other trivial affairs. The cinematography is lush (several breathtaking tracking shots are used, especially early on), as are the period costumes. The production was filmed exclusively on location, and the reality of the sets enforces the story. Some fans may prefer the 1995 Amanda Root version, for the casting of Ciaran Hinds as Capt. Wentworth, but this later effort is a worthy entry in the Austen film oeuvre--and Rupert Penry-Jones is a dreamboat in his own right. As the wistful Anne says, on behalf of all women, "We do not forget you, so soon as you forget us." --A.T. Hurley | | | |
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| | Product Details | | Actors: | Rupert Penry-Jones, Sally Hawkins, Alice Krige, Anthony Head, Julia Davis | | Director: | Adrian Shergold | | Format: | Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC | | Language: | English | | Number of Discs: | 1 | | Studio: | BBC Warner | | Run Time: | 93 minutes | | DVD Release Date: | January 15, 2008 | | Average Customer Rating: |  based on 193 reviews |
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 Persuaded me... Jul 24, 2008
This was an amazing adaptation of Persusaion--the best I have ever seen. I am a loyal fan of Masterpiece Theater and was thrilled when they decided to adapt most of Jane Austen's novels. I have to say that I was very glad that they didn't do another version of Pride and Prejudice-nothing will ever top the Colin Firth/Jennifer Ehle version (no matter how good Keira Knightley is). Anyway, I actually happened upon this on the second showing and was amazed. Sally Hawkins is a very gifted actress and completely makes you feel the quiet sadness and reoccuring broken heart that is Anne Eliot's. And Rupert Penry-Jones as Captain Wentworth was seductivley unmoving and unfeeling--or so you are taught to believe until the steel wall around his heart begins to evaporate. I find myself catching my breath more than once hoping that Captain Wentworth will forgive and love Anne as he once did before with the fervent urgency as if it was my own love story. I highly recommend it.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Too much unsteady cam Jul 09, 2008
The main complaint I have with this film is its photography. I don't know how they did it but it was like they attached a frame to the actors with a camera on it and shot several scenes like that. The result was like the actors were disconnected from the scene and the shots were jerky. I got a headache just watching them.
The idea of girl of the lower nobility running all over bath with out being horribly out breath is ludicrous.
Aside from that Anthony Head was excellent as a member of the aristocracy. The rest of the cast were good. The plot was OK even if it wasn't conventional though I didn't care for the Anne's looking into the camera in several shots.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Lost Art Jul 01, 2008
This version of Jane Austen's classic, is so far from a well produced drama that it doesn't merit being called drama. Not because of the acting but because the script, directing and sequencing in an attempt to modernize and shorten results in a movie that is difficult to follow, whose characters seem shallow and within a short time, you think to yourself, why am I watching this bollix of a film in the first place. Watch the Amanda Root version, much better, true to the story and a classic that warrants your time!
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Better than the PBS version Jun 25, 2008
When I saw the movie on PBS Masterpiece Theater, I really enjoyed this version. However, I did not know that PBS cut out a few scenes which are on the DVD and are REALLY good! I am SO glad I bought this DVD!
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
The Definitive Persuasion! Jun 22, 2008
I am a dedicated Janeite ... Jane is my favorite author; although I am not much of a "chick lit chick" Jane is comfort food. As I see her she is the original DIY Riot Grrrl who would give Kathleen Hanna a real run for her Rebel Girl money. I've read the books more times than I can think of; cut a wide swath through the literary criticism; read the few remaining letters Cassandra didn't see fit to burn, and have seen every movie adaption out there. And I agree with, I think it was EM Forester who said, "Jane will get you out of a tight spot!"
I am not excessively critical of Austen movie adaptations as I seem to enjoy them all; I just like some better than others. Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth still "own" Pride and Prejudice in my humble opinion ... I think it will be awhile before those two are truly unseated from their respective roles of Lizzy Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. And although there is a lot of blather about Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds being too old to play Anne Elliot and Fredrick Wentworth I heartily disagree -- they contributed wonderful performances in their Persuasion version roles, supported by the absolutely fabulous character actors Sophie Thompson who played a hilarious sister Mary and Corin Redgrave who played an equally hilarious Sir Walter Elliot.
It was with some reticence that I purchased the Sense and Sensibiity Collector Set ... but what the heck, I get three films focusing on Jane Austen, including the latest adaptation of Persuasion which is my favoriate Austen novel and an update of Sense and Sensibility thrown in for good measure.
I am truly delighted by Sally Hawkins as Anne Elliot and Rupert Penry-Jones who was every bit her equal as the upwardly mobile Fredrick Wentworth. It was also really cool to see Anthony Head post "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" as the vapid, vain and mean! Sir Walter ... which is such a departure from his Giles-Buffy days. The only real complaint, albeit a picayune minor one at that, is Julia Davis, who plays Elizabeth Elliot, is wearing a really bad wig. This is a stunning adaptation and Simon Burke is to be heartily commended as is Rebecca Eaton who once again proves why she is "The Master" in Masterpiece Theatre! One final note: This is the BEST on-screen kiss I have EVER seen ... topping even Billy Crudup and Claire Danes in Stage Beauty! (and they were for real).
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