First, as some may or may not know, this is the story of two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, in early 19th century England. Their father has died and left them, their younger sister, and their mother adrift. Their stepbrother and his evil little wife dispatch the Dashwood women out of the family home and into a little cottage. They are supposedly destitute (but of course with servants), and this is the tale of their search for a suitable husband.

There's so much to say and I don't want to simply turn this into a synopsis and a review, but certain things must be established: Elinor (Emma Thompson) is the older sister and extremely reserved and proper; she is in love with Edward (Hugh Grant) but can't show it because he hasn't expressed his interest overtly (although he has, covertly). He cannot express his love because of his prior promise to another young lady. Marianne (Kate Winslet) is impetuous and falls in love with a dashing young man, Willoughby (Greg Wise), who deserts her in a most cad-like manner; meanwhile Colonel Brandon (Alan Rickman), a neighbor of the Dashwoods who is much older than Marianne, suffers in silence in his love for her.

Oh the performances. Oh the scenes. First off, the time period is so well executed, in the scenes, houses, furnishings, countryside, manners, etc. I simply LOVE period films and this one really draws me in. The director of this film is Ang Lee, and many of the crucial scenes are shot painfully stylistically. The scene, for example, where Edward and Elinor meet so that she can tell him that Colonel Brandon has offered him a parish in which to be a clergyman (due his recently disinherited status) so he can begin his marriage to the other woman--and of course we know Elinor is so in love with him, and he knows it, and yet they must be so civil. And they cannot touch!

The script is understated, witty, perfectly delivered. I really enjoyed this story, it was very much like reading a great book, and as much as I loved the actors' performances, it was very much a joint effort, a repertory performance in the service of the whole.

Emma Thompson is one of our greatest treasures; I reminded myself again as I watched that she simply is my favorite actress.

Alan Rickman was a revelation the first time I saw this movie, for my only knowledge of him was from "Die Hard" (this was before I saw him in a dozen other movies, including "Truly Madly Deeply"). He is so decent, in fact so decent it's hard to believe but he makes this character completely believable as the quintessential caring gentleman. I loved his house, by the way, so sparsely furnished, like a big empty castle.

Hugh Grant again proving that he is quite a good actor and not simply a cinema idol with boyish good looks (although he certainly has this in spades).

Kate Winslet was good in this but not outstanding; however, I believe the role is not that nuanced. I did find myself disbelieving the character a bit in terms of her actions because they seemed so contemporary (although her elocution was always completely perfect and within the period). They were, however, directorial choices and I suppose the broken-hearted girl actions may be in the book (it's been a very long time since I've read Jane Austen, but not so long since I read Howard's End, and I guess the passion is there in people -- simply between the lines).

Minor roles I relished the most were Imelda Staunton as a distant relative of the Dashwoods who was oh so silly and her husband played by Hugh Laurie who was oh so acerbic. (I do love Hugh Laurie and I see him on commercials for a show on TV with an American accent -- how bizarre!)

Well, that is all; anybody else have comments?

Rose

What about the liberties Emma Thompson took with the novel? Do you think she kept to the essence of Austen?

I will probably have more to add after seeing the movie again. But I remember how visually beautiful the movie was and seeing an interview at the time of the movie's release with Emma Thompson telling how the warm the weather was during filming and that they held off shearing the sheep and how hot they were and that she felt sorry for them!

I have always like Emma Thompson, she doesn't make enough movies to satisfy me - and I thought it was terrible when Branagh left her for that Bonham-Carter who I have never liked (off topic-sorry!).

Pat

I'm a sucker for a good period piece, too. I haven't read Sense & Sensibility in a few years, but that last time I did I remember thinking that Emma did a right good job with the adaptation.

I liked Kate's performance. Her Maryanne made for a good contrast to Eleanor's reserve. Hard to imagine living in a time when everything was so very proper. But, it makes the scene where Eleanor realizes that Edward is not married to Lucy all the more effective. You realize then just how much Eleanor has bottled things up inside herself.

I really enjoy the music in the movie, especially the songs Maryanne sings. It's very pastoral. Unfortunately, on the soundtrack, my favorite (Weep You No More Sad Fountains) is done by an opera singer. That's the one Maryanne's singing when Col. Brandon first sees her. I prefer whomever sang it in the film...simplier and more poignant.

Bill, if you still have the DVD, go through it and find the scene where Elinor and Marianne are leaving London in misery, in a carriage with a couple with a baby -- they're going to stay at Colonel Brandon's house and then go on home. The woman in the carriage says what a pity it is that she could see Willoughby's home from a promotory on their property (he's such a cad!), and she will have to build a hedge to hide the view, and her grumpy husband (H. Laurie) who heretofore appeared to be ignoring their conversation, says "You'll do nothing of the kind." That woman is Imelda Staunton.

rb

My other nod goes to Alan Rickman. Another extraordinary actor who is not afraid to do difficult (or different) characters. I had also only seen him in Die Hard and Rasputin so was pleasantly surprised to see him do a more sensitive, good-guy role. (Gotta see Truly Madly Deeply, from what I hear)

I'm always intrigued by how society was back in those days. So patriarchal, so chauvinistic, so oppressive. Who made up these classes and inheritance rulings anyhow? He should be flogged and put in irons, I say! Off with 'is 'ead, I says!

Emma Thompson was so good in her role as Elinor she is such a good actress. I thought Kate did a very good portrayal of the younger sister and such a contrast in personalities. Elinor so mature in dealing with the loss of her father and the move to the cottage and the way she was able to stifle her feelings while Marianne was so emotional and dramatic.
Hugh Grant was OK, but I don't think he is that good an actor and always seems to play the same sort of part-which gets old to me after awhile! Plus I couldn't see that he was a 'good match' to Elinor, they just didn't seem to go together.
I thought Alan Rickman was superb and is such a good actor, his facial expressions showed his emotions without having to say a word.
I do think I shall have to read the book to delve a little more into the character of Miss Pratt-she seemed to me to be a very devious young lady and certainly it seemed that she knew what effect she was having on Elinor talking about her "secret engagement".

I enjoy period movies, not just for the scenery in those lovely old homes, and the clothes, but because no one is 'cussing' and everyone "seems" so polite. Of course we know that there is scheming going on but it is done so politely!

Young ladies and gentlemen got to really know each other for months and sometimes years by discourse and chaperoned visits-they didn't leap into bed on first viewing!
Of course the laws of inheritance were terrible for women in those days, but men as well as women had to marry for money.

Pat

What's also funny about that last scene is that during rehearsals, Hugh Grant asked Emma if she was going to "keep up that crying" throughout his whole line. She told him yes, that it was absolutely necessary. She's brilliant, and he played it off really well.

Watching Sense and Sensibility for the first time a few years ago was when I fell in love with Alan Rickman. Then, I tried to see everything I knew he made. Recently saw "Something The Lord Made." He was better than ever. Also, I read somewhere that Kevin Costner cut out many of Rickman's scenes from "Robin Hood" because he was jealous that Rickman was stealing the show. Still, he had to leave the most pertinent scenes and "because it hurts!" will never be forgotten.

Emma brought many of the S&S cast back together for "Love Actually" in hopes of conjuring the same compelling effect. I don't think it worked but still liked it and really love the actors.

Harriet Walter as as the snobby Fanny Dashwood (the sister-in-law and Hugh Grant's sister) was also remarkable. Her scene with Lucy Steele (Imogene Stubbs) was hilarious as she eats her words and attacks Lucy.

Bestlawn you are correct that was so funny when Fanny slapped Lucy around and pinched her nose, of course it didn't prevent Lucy from marrying Robert-what a priss he was and they certainly deserved each other!

Pat

But the theme seems to be repeated a lot lately.

This movie is a lot like "Pride and Prejudice".

Sorry to be dificult,but for me, a woman's movie.

bestlawn, what great gossip you have. I wonder about their rehearsals and Emma Thompson weeping so raucously -- people, my gosh what talent. I have cried during rehearsals and it is perfect and on cue and I worry to death that I won't be able to do it during the actual play, and that in fact has frequently happened!

Rose

I would've thought the opposite of behavior at that time in history, more like people would be more brazen, and outright in their intentions and emotions. But maybe that was true of the 'lower class' ? I did appreciate the un-stated acting, so much had to be read between the lines. I didn't like Hugh Grant in that role, he seems so waifish, compared to the mightier Emma Thompson. Some day I will read the book. One of the last scene's was memorable to me, where Willoughby was on horseback, gazing at the 'cottage', where the girls lived. You could imagine that he was feeling much remorse over his decision to cast Maryanne aside, but cad as he was, he was shallow after all, wasn't he~?!

Pat