Mansfield Park 7/10

Mansfield Park (PG-13) 1999
Reviewer’s Tilt (7)
Period Drama-112min
Special DVD Features worth a look-Director commentary

Director Patricia Rozema combines Jane Austen’s personal notes and letters with Austen’s novel Mansfield Park, in an attempt to open a window into the classic author’s soul. Frances O'Connor, plays Fanny, Austen’s alter ego, raised in poverty, but given a taste of the good life when she moves to the great Mansfield Park, a country estate owned by her relatives. Her aunt and uncle love her, but relegate her to third class citizenship (second class citizenship being reserved for “privileged” women). Fanny falls in love with her cousin Edmund (Jonny Lee Miller), but sees little chance of ever entering proper society. Soon, a charming and wealthy rake (Alessandro Nivola) and his beautiful sister (Embeth Davidtz) enter the picture, pursuing Fanny and Edmund and offering them a chance to escape their poverty and lack of social status.

Undercurrents of slavery, debauchery, lust, incest and betrayal flow just beneath the surface of this great estate. Like her mother and aunt before her, Fanny must make the Hobson’s choice between poverty and ennui. Harold Pinter is fabulous as the family patriarch, and the supporting cast all give fine performances. My only reservation about this film is Rozema’s attenuation of Fanny’s venom and the buffoonery of those around her. In her attempt to make the heroine both more likable and plausible, Rozema undercuts Austen’s artifice. This unfortunate direction tempers both Austen’s wit and her vilification of nineteenth century society. The movie is good, but Austen’s original vision is genius. Not that genius vision is inviolate. Rozema’s changes however, ultimately weaken, rather than strengthen, the underlying story. I heartily recommend this film, but anticipate a future version of Mansfield Park, incorporating this great acting with Austen’s unabridged artistry.

Format: Color, Widescreen anamorphic, Closed captioned.
Sound: (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Extras: Director commentary, making-of featurette, trailer.