Becoming Jane (DVD, 2008)

This is the premise of "Becoming Jane" and it looks particularly attractive on paper because it's also a vehicle for Anne Hathaway, a rising actress ("The Devil Wears Prada") who seems just right to embody the spirit of this most filmable of 19th-century women novelists.

And the movie goes a certain distance on its ambition, star power and acerbic script -- it's an enjoyable period romance. Yet, ultimately, the unique magic of Austen so beautifully caught in 1996's "Emma" is missing.

The story takes a real incident -- a flirtation with a roughish Irish lawyer (James McAvoy) that occurred when Austen was 20. The script then goes on to imagine that this was the star-crossed love affair of her life and the experience that made her into the author she would become.

Along the way, it also tries to be a template for the distinct kind of witty, insightful, feminist-minded novels she would write -- particularly her masterpiece, "Pride and Prejudice," whose themes and characters it contains in embryonic form.

The movie is eminently watchable: The production values are blue-chip, the script is often funny and cute, Hathaway is reasonably charming and the supporting cast -- especially Julie Waters (as her mother) and Maggie Smith (as the village grand dame) -- is strong.

But the movie doesn't soar: The chemistry of the stars is rather weak and all optimism and spunk is lost in the final act (the opposite arc of a Jane Austen novel). At 120 minutes, the whole thing feels awfully drawn-out.

In the end, it's always hard to make a memorable movie about a famous author, because what an author is and does is so internal. "Shakespeare in Love" certainly pulled it off. This movie doesn't.

OVERALL
6/10

THIS IS A RENTAL AT BEST!

I loved "Pride & Prejudice", and Anne Hathaway, so I purchased this movie without first viewing it in the theater, it had a PG Rating so I thought, "what could be bad about this one"? Well needless to say I wasn't too impressed with some of the content that should have ranked it at the very least PG-13.

I have three reasons why the movie deserves a PG-13 Rating.

1. In the first five minutes there is a scene with Jane's mother and father in bead talking about "perfection" and before the scene is over Jane's father goes under the covers to "arouse" his wife
2. Jane's love interest in the movie and her brother strip down necked and streak through the bush to go skinny dipping and there is no attempt to hide it.
3. Jane's brother and also her love interest more than once are seen "boxing/fist fighting" and frequenting the "whore house".
All of these scenes would be very uncomfortable to watch with others, especially your children, even teenagers.

It is a very sad story but does seam to stagnate a little.

I just thought it appropriate that you be for warned.

I would actually rate it Very Good! Of course I am partial to anything with Anne Hathaway. I was really impressed where, in the bonus features, Anne said that she did research on Jane Austin while she was in college. She was interested in the character she played, more than just the paycheck. I also enjoyed James McAvoy very much. I liked that way he played a flawed character, but also made him seem very genuine.
Some critics berated the movie makers for taking liberties with the facts of Jane Austin's life. In the special features, they stated that some of the ideas portrayed were just hypothesis. I liked that fact that they challenged some of the standard, preconceived notions we have about the time period.
This is one of those movies that gets better each time you watch it. I enjoyed the movie very much and even more so the second time I watched it. It was very interesting to pick out the situations from her own life that she portrayed in her books. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys Jane Austin movies (I personally prefer the A&E/BBC versions). To the purists and literalists, I say lighten up and enjoy it for what it is.
The only part I didn't like about the movie is that I had to wait for it to come out on DVD to see it, as it wasn't in any local theaters. Don't know who to credit with that blunder but I'm happy now, since I have gotten to see it.

I THOUGHT THE MOVIE WAS BRILLIANT. THE ACTING, DIRECTION, COSTUMES, AND LOCATIONS WERE WONDERFUL. ANNE HATHAWAY IS MY GENERATION'S AUDREY HEPBURN. JAMES MCAVOY IS MY GENERATION'S SCOTTISH BRAD PITT, IF YOU WILL. JAMES STEALS EVERY SCENE HE IS IN. ANNE IS BEAUTIFUL AND YET IT SEEMS SO EFFORTLESS. THE STORY IS SET YEARS AGO BUT HAS A NEW AGE FLAVOR TO IT. IT IS VERY FUNNY, SAD, AND ROMANTIC AT TIMES. THEY SHARE A PALPABLE CHEMISTRY AND CHARISMA. I THOUGHT THE ENDING WAS VERY, VERY ORIGINAL EVEN THOUGH THEY DON'T END UP TOGETHER. I THINK IT IS A WORK OF ART. I RENTED IT AND LOVED IT SO I BOUGHT IT OFF EBAY. THANKS.

Love anything about Jane Austen. Movie tells her story and how she became such a great author. Very romantic

Great product!! My movie game on time and it was in great condition. The movie plays perfectly. I really enjoy this product. The seller was honest on the condition. It was the right movie. It came on the expected date and I did not have to wait very long for it to come.

Loved this movie. Any Jane Austen fan will adore this love story that explores a possibilty in Jane Austen's relationship with Tom LeFroy (played by the brilliant and handsome James McAvoy). Get your tissues ready, I cried huge tears and not many movies can do that to me.

I enjoyed this movie, as it seemed to stay true to Jane Austen's real life story. Though not as entertaining as movies based on her writings^, I'd still give it a B+. The acting was believeable and strong (from most of the actors, especially James McAvoy.) All and all, worth a watch from any Austen fan.

Perfect!! The movie was exactly what I ordered and came very quickly. I would definitely buy again. Very reasonably priced.

This is a good movie that my wife really enjoys and I have to admit I actually liked it as well. Rated PG so the whole family can enjoy it, although at 2 hours long the kids will probably doze off!

Some romance novels have happy endings. Jane Austin's have been so. But, unfortunately, hers was not to be. Pride and Prejudice, in my opinion was the best romance novel written. It had all the elements of a romance and a true relationship. Unfortunately, that was not the case for Jane. In Becoming Jane, I found that it could have happened. All the elements were there: love, romance, timing. But, in the timing was the time or era of Jane's romance. Not a good time to be other than a "blue blood" and not a woman. For Jane was destine to have her life cut short, end in a loveless life and have her books as her reward for her principles and following the rules of the time. I thought Becoming Jane was a mixture of the happy and sad masks of the theater. If I were to have to quote a portion of a poem that would describe Becoming Jane, or the Life and Times of Jane Austin, it would be this:

The saddest thing in life is when,
One has to say it could have been.

The romance in Jane Austin's life was to be vicariously lived through her novels. And at the end of the movie, it couldn't have been more pronounced as to when all she had to show for the romance in her life, was the reading of words from a book that the daughter of her past love begged her to readfrom. How sad an ending from such a woman full of romance and love. I highly recommend Becoming Jane to those who have had to endure the pain of a lost love and the possibility of success still achieved through that loss.

One of the best movies that I have seen in a while. I watched it off TV and fell in love with it. Anne Hathaway did a very good job portraying Jane Austen.

This movie is so sad and beautiful all at the same time. I had seen it before and just had to own a copy so I can watch over and over. The actors do a wonderful job portraying the times that Jane lived in and the morality that she faced. What an interesting and brave woman she was to venture out on her own when that was not considered suitable.

This movie was so awesome, a co-worker recommended it and it portrays the intricacies of Jane Austin's life in a way that is quite liberating and I don't pity her after watching this movie. She was portrayed as a woman before her time and a heroine!

Great Movie all around..it's nice to hear about the story of one of the greatest writers. Her own life story is very sad compared to many of the people that she wrote about!

I love jane austen and movies set in the 1800's. I like clean romance movies. I enjoyed this very much.

I needed this dvd for a birthday gift and I was so grateful it arrived so quickly. Our children are enjoying this DVD and I would recommend your services to a friend. Thanks so much!!

I NEVER RECEIVED THIS ITEM -- I'VE FILED A CLAIM AND STILL HAVE NOT HEARD BACK!!!!!!!!
I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN HALF.COM AND THIS SELLER, WHO DID NOT RESPOND TO ANY OF THE THREE E-MAILS I SENT IN REGARDS TO THIS ITEM. I ENTERED MY CREDIT CARD INFORMATION TO PURCHASE THIS ITEM, SO THIS PERSON AND HALF.COM OWE ME THE MONEY I SPENT ON THIS ITEM THAT DID NOT EVER ARRIVE, AND I STILL HAVE NOT HEARD BACK ABOUT MY CLAIM.

I love this movie. A great romance, great acting in my opinion. If you like Jane Austen at all, I would recommend this movie!

TERRIBLE SELLER, PRODUCT NOT WHAT DESCRIBED, RUDE AND VICIOUS. SENT UGLY EMAILS, DON'T DO BUSINESS WITH.

I'm a big Jane Austen fan - so I loved getting a little, if somewhat fictionalized, glimpse into the woman behind the great novels. It also helps that I like Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy. Actually all the cast was wonderful. So if you're a fan of period pieces, Jane Austen, anne or James, or simply love a good love story. I would highly recommend this.

I loved this film. The cast were well suited to their respective roles. James McAvoy, though not handsome by any means, was so charming, I fell in love with him. It was true to time period, except for the modest kissing between Jane and Tom, which would not have happened in real life. The setting was beautiful and the story believable.

I have been wanting to see this movie since it came out as I am a big Jane Austen fan. The ebay purchase with this seller was just the way ebay should be....great item, fast shipping..very smooth transaction. Thanks you!

The DVD was just a burned copy and it stopped playing about half way through. And it kept freezing before it stopped. I was rather disappointed in the product