Review: Jane Eyre (2011) · 6:24am Sep 20th, 2015
Cary Fukunaga's rendition of Charlotte Brontë's genre defining gothic romance is a wonderfully beautiful and impressionistic film, with a rich atmosphere and subdued yet powerful performances weaving together in an elegant and emotive retelling of the classic tale.
Fukunaga's direction is immersive and atmospheric, without sliding into overwrought melodrama. Instead, he gives the film a strong emotional center and an equal strong visual aesthetic, working hand in hand with Adriano Goldman's ravishingly beautiful cinematography to create a film that perfectly encapsulates the trademark gothic look of the windswept English moors and looming manors that dot the lonely countryside. Beyond this bleak, yet beautiful landscape, Fukunaga also manages to capture the complex emotions of the story, and infuse every scene between Fassbender and Wasikowska with a potent, raw and sensual sexual tension that boils hot while still being impeccably tasteful, which means the scenes have a greater impact, explicitly because of their restraint and tightly coiled dynamics.
Both Fassbender and Wasikowska do exceptional work here, with Wasikowska giving a finely textured and subtle performance as Jane Eyre. She isn't flashly, but she is real and fully embracing and embodying the Jane Eyre persona. And Fassbender is a boiling cauldron of power in his tightly wound performance as the moody Rochester. He always fills his scenes with a stately power and gravitas that only Fassbender can create, while also being undeniably sensual at the same time. But again, this is heightened by his restraint, as every scene between him and Wasikowska plays out like a tightly wound dance, just waiting for the climax.
Jamie Bell and Judi Dench both give excellent supporting performances, and the costuming is simply beautiful, along with Dario Marianelli heart-achingly beautiful and deeply emotive score. But of course, the focus remains, as it should be, on Fassbender and Wasikowska, and so the film never looses focus or drags.
And really, the cinematography (almost all natural light or candlelight), is mind bogglingly beautiful and impressionistic, and it is a mystery of the ages why it was snubbed for a nomination.
So suffice to say, Jane Eyre is a poingnet, deeply emotive film, and a testiment to Fukunaga's, Fassbender's and Wasikowska's skills.
5 out of 5 stars
