MANSFIELD PARK Reviewed 1/3/2000

Seen with two people who know and love the work of Jane Austen. It is set in period but the dialog, though flowery, is quite nowist, with characters expressing sensibilities and perspectives that they simply would not have. The lead, Frances O'Connor, looks like a young Sally Field, even down to facial expressions, which isn't her fault but is an incredible distraction (you keep expecting Sistuer Bertrille).

The movie is also slow -- four Indiglos -- and then the climax, when the inevitable Jane Austen reshuffle occurs (the handsome one revealed as a rake, the faithful brotherly type finally gets to declare his love) is done on fast-forward with incongruous and unbelievable speeches. This is analogous to Oliver Stone doing JFK -- if you know Jane Austen, you're not going to recognize the movie and it will infuriate you, and if you don't know Jane Austen, you can go along because of the pretty scenery, but you will be bored.

I'd give it a miss.

ã Copyright 2002 David Alexander Smith