Emma 2009: Episode 1.1
Emma 2009: Episode 1.1BBC
4 October 2009
Historical Comedy
DVD
C+
Recurring cast:
- Robert Bathurst (who would later be Sir Anthony Strallan on Downton Abbey) as Mr. Weston
- Louise Dylan as Harriet Smith
- Dan Fredenburgh as John Knightley
- Michael Gambon as Mr. Woodhouse
- Romola Garai as Emma Woodhouse
- Jamie Glover as Henry Knightley
- Tamsin Greig as Miss Bates
- Jefferson Hall as Robert Martin
- Joshua Jones as James Knightley
- Valerie Lilley as Mrs. Bates
- Jodhi May as Anna Weston
- Jonny Lee Miller as Mr. Knightley
- Poppy Miller as Isabella Knightley
- Eileen O'Higgins as Miss Martin 1
- Sarah Ovens as Miss Martin 2
- Blake Ritson as Mr. Elton
- Veronica Roberts as Mrs. Goddard
- Pauline Stone as Mrs. Martin
My review of the 1996 version with Gwyneth Paltrow is here https://reviewingeverymovieiown.blogspot.com/2015/04/emma.html, while the review of the '97 version with Kate Beckinsale is here https://reviewingeverytvshowiown.blogspot.com/2017/10/emma.html
As with the theatrical release of 13 years earlier, this is miscast, including, sadly, Emma. As written by Sandy Welch and directed by Jim O'Hanlon, both of whom would stick around for all four episodes, Garai has none of the dignity and elegance of the earlier Emmas. (I'd argue she even slouches and climbs on furniture more than Alicia Silverstone in Clueless,) That might not matter if this Emma weren't still supposed to be a snob. (Yes, a character could be both a slob and a snob but not this one, who finds Harriet's farmer suitor too ungentlemanly.) Additionally, I found some of the "missing scenes" and male narration to be heavy-handed. I've certainly come across worse Austen adaptations, but I'm dubious about this one. I will note that Gambon is also miscast, but it's a mark of his versatility that he could play such a meek character only four years after his shoutiest Dumbledore movie (Goblet of Fire of course).
That said, I'm certainly up for watching another episode or three. This one covers from Emma's infancy up to her quarrel with Mr. Knightley about Harriet.
As with the theatrical release of 13 years earlier, this is miscast, including, sadly, Emma. As written by Sandy Welch and directed by Jim O'Hanlon, both of whom would stick around for all four episodes, Garai has none of the dignity and elegance of the earlier Emmas. (I'd argue she even slouches and climbs on furniture more than Alicia Silverstone in Clueless,) That might not matter if this Emma weren't still supposed to be a snob. (Yes, a character could be both a slob and a snob but not this one, who finds Harriet's farmer suitor too ungentlemanly.) Additionally, I found some of the "missing scenes" and male narration to be heavy-handed. I've certainly come across worse Austen adaptations, but I'm dubious about this one. I will note that Gambon is also miscast, but it's a mark of his versatility that he could play such a meek character only four years after his shoutiest Dumbledore movie (Goblet of Fire of course).
That said, I'm certainly up for watching another episode or three. This one covers from Emma's infancy up to her quarrel with Mr. Knightley about Harriet.
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