The next classic novel for the big screen in 2020 is Emma. Directed by Autumn de Wilde, Emma sees the titular character (played by Anya Taylor-Joy) as an independent and auspicious wealthy socialite in Victorian England, who takes Harriet Smith (Mia Goth) under her wing for her own grooming. The two become friends, and make their way to precure or object the fancies of certain men within their circle.
Not knowing what I was in for with Emma left me grappling for a hook in the opening for a few many minutes. The young woman Emma is not instantly warm, nor is she supposed to be, and from the time I accepted that this movie could be a bore, I eased into it and ended up appreciating it quite a bit. I’ve never contemplated reading Jane Austen’s novel but I imagine this movie tasked itself with punching up the visual comedy in early scenes to help engage a modern audience, before the true drama of the story could take hold. Then, there’s a bit of Cruel Intentions about Emma, as Emma sees herself as a keen match-maker, and while there are no seedy bets to be made, Emma and her brother-in-law George Knightly (Johnny Flynn) do quarrel over Emma’s manipulation of situations to align her perfect romances. Harriet fawns over Emma for her approval, like a high-school sidekick would a popular girl, and even turns down a love’s engagement because Emma would turn her nose up at it. Emma can be vane and particular, with the best scene of the movie coming out of the blue, when Emma absent-mindedly insults her clucking friend Miss Bates (Miranda Hart) in front of her entire party; one sharp remark turns that scene on a dime, and gives Emma a chance to confront herself, and redeem herself from her unruly tendencies.
There are so many in-movie conversations regarding other characters that learning each character’s name is integral to getting the most out of Emma; I doubt I ever got there by movie’s end. The movie quickly becomes a love-triangle with eight sides – a love-octagon as it were – and anticipating who is destined to fall in love with one another is where the fun lies. I’ve never seen an episode of Gossip Girl, but Emma is pretty much what I imagine it to be like; full of melodrama, where we see our characters dealing with the highs and the heartbreaks as they go. Emma could be the first and original soap; an inspiration for tv-serials anyway. But I did find myself invested and really eager to discover how it may all play out. Some situations lead to misunderstandings that are more obvious than others, but the young cast is competent enough to keep me engaged. I would argue this movie is a traditional chick-flick, but one with gentile dialogue and a historically-significant literary stamp on the side.
How does Emma stack up against Little Women; it’s not far off. The supporting characters of Emma, played by Miranda Hart and Bill Nighy are sharper and more humorous than that of Meryl Streep and Chris Cooper in Little Women. Anya Taylor-Joy is elegant as Emma, but the movie did make me appreciate what a talent Saoirse Ronan is with her portrayal as Jo that little bit more, as harsh as that may seem. The overall romance in Emma is stronger, more fantasised, leading to a more or less contrived happy ending, depending on how you interpret it. The crescendo of this love story is exciting, with George Knightly making a confession underneath the trees, that compares favourably to Timothee Chalamet chasing Saoirse Ronan around the field in Little Women. Not sure why Emma’s nose starts bleeding though, for no reason other than to absurdly startle. You could also plan to see Emma just for the beautiful English landscapes and old Victorian homes these characters live in, bursting with riches. The time-period for Emma is the epitome of elegant luxury, and the cinematography is expertly crafted to accentuate it.
Whilst I doubt Emma will be one of my favourite movies of the year, as far as chick-flicks go, it is eloquently made and acted. I wouldn’t be surprised if Mia Goth pops up in more leading roles in the years to come either. Delightful.
3.5
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