Becoming Jane (DVD)

The Jane Austen industry seems to be unstoppable. We're deluged with books, films and even crockery bearing her name - often incomprehensibly, since few of these latter day imitators can claim to inherit her intelligence, her wit or her acerbic insight into character and events. Becoming Jane isn't the very worst of these products. It's less ridiculously ahistorical in its portrayal of the Romantic era than most other adaptations, showing some kind of awareness that this was an era of upheaval: war, incipient industrialisation, the rapid development of cities, political unrest at home and abroad. But while the background to the picture has some kind of ...  Read the complete review

I recently watched Becoming Jane, starring Anne Hathaway as the popular author Jane Austen, and James McAvoy as her love interest Tom Lefroy. Many people are familiar with Jane Austen through her novels, or filmed versions of them. On a superficial level it would be easy to think of her as another frilly authoress, whose happy endings are inevitable. What they usually also contain, however, are some measure of sadness, frustration, failed promises and abandonment - issues which the author, a "spinster", it would seem, had firsthand experience with in her own life if going by this film's interpretation. Becoming Jane is based on the early part of Jane ...  Read the complete review

It's safe to say that I'm far more interested in Jane Austens life than her written works which is possibly why I've become quite attatched to this film. It was shown on the telly the other day and despite the fact that I do have the DVD I had already circled it in the Evening Post TV listings. Just in case anybody in our house had any queries as to what we would be watching that night. The film is about a young Jane Austen, the youngest daughter of her family she is expected to marry a wealthy gentleman who has offered his hand. The money she'd inherit could easily sweep away the chance of looming poverty which is hanging around like a bad smell. The ...  Read the complete review

Becoming Jane is a historical romance film that was released in 2007 and was inspired by the early life of author, Jane Austen. It is rated PG due to some minor sexual references and a small amount of violence and the film is 112 minutes long. Plot Becoming Jane follows the life of Jane Austen. She is the youngest daughter in a struggling family and is expected to marry for money but she doesn't love the man that has offered for her. Her elder sister is already engaged and Jane is the intelligent one who doesn't want to succumb to conformity. Jane is an avid writer and her friends and family often like to hear the most recent of her works. ...  Read the complete review

Firstly, I have a piece of advice: don't watch this film on a plane if you're anything like me when it comes to crying over films! So embarassing...I was right by the loo as well. I did get some funny looks.... Anyway, on to the film! Plot *** The film tells the tale of Jane Austen and her romance with Tom LeFroy, a man who appears at first rude (bonus points to those who spot the similarities with a certain Mr Darcy!) but soon catches young Jane's eye, and who only seems to have eyes for her in return. Sure enough, they fall in love, but the practicalities of life soon get in the way and they are torn apart. When this happens, I am ...  Read the complete review