SENSE AND SENSIBILITY: A Fresh Take That Honors the Classic Austen Vibe
Sense and Sensibility has some new faces but holds fast to the classic feel and vibe of the Jane Austen novel. Directed by Georgia Oakley, this version captures not only the story of the Dashwood women, but the beauty and hardships of that time period. Where some modern novel-to-film adaptations are forgettable busts, Austen still proves to be the queen of storytelling.
Movie Specs & Synopsis
Synopsis: Sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood must leave their Sussex estate to live with a distant relative while facing both romantic and financial struggles.
Runtime: 2h 12m | Rating: Rated PG for some thematic elements, partial nudity, and brief violence.
Where to Watch: In theaters now
Pressure, Poverty, and Potential Beaus
In Austen’s world, the name of the game is marriage. There are limited time and options to be too picky. With the death of their father and poverty knocking on the door, the Dashwood sisters—Elinor (Daisy Edgar-Jones), Marianne (Esmé Creed-Miles), and Margaret (Bodhi Rae Breathnach)—are in need of husbands. Okay, maybe not Margaret, but the older sisters for sure are feeling the pressure.
The men in their sights? Edward Ferrars (George MacKay), who is the brother-in-law of their half-brother John; an emotionless Colonel Brandon (Herbert Nordrum); and a charming neighbor, Willoughby (Frank Dillane). All three men seem to have something to offer the sisters, but obstacles, distance, and pure uncertainty threaten to keep them single.
“Austen is so good at creating love triangles and stress-filled scenarios to keep the viewer engaged and sweating along with the characters.”
Austen is also adept at giving us unforgettable supporting players who bring humor, colorful emotion, and at times well-meaning help and advice. Two standouts here are a very distant cousin, Mrs. Jennings (Fiona Shaw), and Sir John Middleton (Turlough Convery). These two are so fun to watch on their own, and when in the room together, it is absolute vocal mayhem.
Unbreakable Sisterhood and Contrasting Hearts
Edgar-Jones and Creed-Miles are both fantastic choices for this new endeavor. Their bond is unbreakable in spite of how different they are—a testament to what it means to love unconditionally and the strength of family ties.
Elinor is logical and slow to show emotion, allowing time and conditions to guide her decisions. Marianne is more “live out loud in the moment,” expressing love and feelings as they surface. This gives a lot of depth to the film as we watch each of them navigate the dating waters.
Enraptured by the Process
Likewise, the beaus are all three so very different in style and mannerisms. It is easy to root for your favorite, and even though you sort of know how it will all work out, you are still enraptured by the process. Polite society was rule number one for the day, and sometimes you want to choke the characters and make them just say what they are thinking and wanting! Colonel Brandon especially is reluctant to share anything that he is feeling, while Edward has issues of his own to work through and may have to forfeit his heart for honor.
Look, this is not a new story. The well-read novel and previous films have already outed any spoilers I could give here. At the same time, there are viewers out there—like me—who had no idea how things would twist and turn to get us to the expected ending. So whether you are going in with no knowledge or you have every line of dialogue memorized, you will thoroughly enjoy this adaptation and what Georgia Oakley does with these lovable characters.
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