Emma. (2020) Movie Review 

One modern element is that every frame of the film looks like Instagram. Or pinterest. Just luscious down to every perfectly placed detail. That may be why the nosebleed hit so hard. It's so imperfect, so messy and unexpected that is almost our opportunity relax. It also could symbolize Emma's arc. This is a girl finally ready to accept she can't control everything.

I’m so glad I came across your wonderful adaptation analyses. From now on -yours ever😊👍

this movie is more in line with jane auten's style and spirit than any other adaptation .

I was surprised at how much I did enjoy this film, especially her father and his health shenanigans. I also enjoyed Emma and Knightly's relationship and how they seemed so comfortable with each other. Jeremy Northam will always be my favorite. That film is still my favorite, but I definitely find this one interesting and worthy of rewatching.

This one is my one of those comfort movies which I can see whenever I feel a bit low. It fills me up with joy, love, tears and everything. Particularly love the chemistry between Emma and Knightley. In this adaptation they realised much earlier that they have feelings for eachother. In the dance scene. So when Knightley runs behind Emma upto her house and she runs down to him, they almost accept each other. But then the situation turns over. An unsaid misunderstanding runs through them. Knightley' s despair, Emma tries to understand what is wrong with him.... There are not much dialogue but you will understand it all. I love those part. Most of the adaptation show their feelings and the end of the movie. When Harriet speaks her feelings for Knightley. 2020 version is more realistic in my opinion. I love the human aspects of Knightley. Johnny Flynn done it fabulously. I'm a great fan of him. And the last kiss is the cutest thing !! Overall I LOVE the movie.

I could not have said it better myself. I was induced into thinking that this version was too flippant. I watched it time and time again and could not determine what was deemed wrong with it. You have removed my confusion on so much of the dialogue, setting, garments and casting, all purposeful, thoughtful and knowing. This film is step forward from the Ramola Garai version. Comparison I do not want, haughtiness I do not want, but an entire cast in harmony is to be cherished. 😊

Anya Taylor Joy is a real gem. Between this, Split and The Witch, she's probably my favorite young actress. I still have to watch Queen's Gambit. Her performance was so great I found myself accidentally rooting for her even when I shouldn't have, when I wouldn't in real life.. It was like She in H. Rider Haggard's novel of the same name in that way. I loved it.

I totally agree with you on your analysis. Especially the part about the visual appeal of the story. I was unaware that the director was also a photographer and music video maker---more directors with this background would be nice! Also, I think this being the director's 1st movie, there was a pride and care and love put into things---unlike so many current Hollywood corporate productions that no one director really cares about or puts any extra effort into.

I’ve been holding back on seeing this for the same reasons you did. So, I’ll finally rent it. Also I like Mr. Knightly best too, especially as played by the sigh-worthy Jeremy Northam. I’m definitely put off by the prospect of being subjected to nudity because Knightly isn’t titled and it was also my impression that he wouldn’t have a “dresser” though he would have a manservant. But I’m a stickler. (I’m still fuming about Kelly Reilly’s ridiculous costume in the Maryton ball scene in P&P 2005 and it’s been over ten years since I saw it. I *loathe* that version.)

The real hero in the Austen's novel is Knightley, in my opinion... This adaptation is quite good in the spirit of Austen novels. Images are beautiful. I would have love a bit longer movie.

I don’t know why I’m so surprised that you’re great at this. I love it that you’re doing a recent movie review.

Miss Weiselberry, the transcript below reads like a Klingon translation of your very enjoyable review. If that's an example of AI in action, I think that it's safe to say that we're still a long way from Skynet. Anyway, you have your own uniquely fresh, humane approach that no AI could ever replicate or replace.Excelsior!

I love Emma. It's my favorite Austen novel. I really didn't like 2020 Emma much. It is a beautiful looking film. I think it's hard to develop the relationship between her and Knightley in a theater film's running time. So I felt that it came out of nowhere. I didn't really feel emotionally drawn into this version mainly because this Emma does go overboard in being mean. It stood in the way of me caring about Emma. I think the 2009 version got the right balance between her controlling nature and her caring nature. I agree... I LOVE MR. KNIGHTLEY. He is my favorite. Johnny Lee Miller is my favorite Mr. Knightley.

I very much appreciate your sharing of thoughts, feelings and assessments. Always remember that a movie is a match between an audience member and a producer and not all matches work out as well for some as for others. Nothing pleases everyone all of the time. Thank you again for sharing and I look forward to seeing yours each week.

I've only seen the adaptation from the 90s and, what can I say, I love Jeremy Northam as Mr. Knightley. I don't know if want to see another actor in that role 😬. But I loved your review so I may try this movie sometime. Last year I reread Emma after many years and I loved it, I wasn't expecting that. Also, I'd love to see a book-movie comparison of Austen adaptations as you did with Jane Eyre 🤩

I watched it this morning just to be able to follow your review; this movie is well outside my normal interest zone but I enjoyed it tremendously. I'm about the same age, size & hair color as the lead actor, so I spent some time trying to identify with his motivations. I didn't think Emma was a bad person, she was just doing alpha female stuff. I did find myself wishing a bit that I lived in Regency times and I think a second watching is in order. When it came to the nosebleed scene I thought to myself, "I bet that wasn't in the book. How would you even write a scene like that in a book?", and I started wondering how they would induce a nosebleed in a movie on cue. Like you, when I was a kid, I seemed to get nosebleeds all the time for absolutely no reason, so I found myself thinking about it a lot. I'm really glad I watched Emma; I especially appreciated the dialogue, costumes, and sets, and just how damned complicated everyone was.

I haven't seen this version of Emma but I loved the review and I dislike the way directors a lot of the time will add nudity or sexual things to be more "modern." It is usually more than a little forced and there is an odd thing where people think it's always modernizing those kinds of aspects, reminds me of the early 90's with some family sitcoms doing that in the guise of making it more "modern" and it doesn't work and makes it so out of place.

I saw the Paltrow three times in the theaters in the mid 1990s. I was hoping to do the same with this version, but Covid got in the way. I do have a version of this and the Paltrow version on DVD. I've also seen three different BBC miniseries versions. Kate Beckinsale's Emma is closest to what I imagine her to look like -- I always imagined her as a brunette. The Dorwin Godwin version is rather dated. A lot of people really like the Romola version. Let's not forget Clueless, a modern version of Emma. Yes. I haunt Jane Austen Facebook groups.

Forgot to say, love the owls and,,, have you seen the latest Little Women film,, LOVE IT.

Adaptations can be really tough especially if the people adapting it don't have a good understanding of the society where the source material was created; they can get the wrong take aways. That being said Jane Austen's characters are usually very relatable and timeless, so that helps a great deal.

The funny thing is that I had the most enjoyable time watching this movie, and your review of it. Funny, because period romances aren’t generally my cup of tea. So perhaps no one was more surprised than me (except perhaps my wife) how thoroughly I enjoyed it. You’ve articulated well all the reasons I did, so I have nothing to add that could possibly be more insightful than you have been, already. I hope I’m not repeating information you already know, or that some other commentator has pointed out, but I was also quite intrigued, and incongruously delighted, by the nosebleed scene myself; so was moved to do a little research on it. (Surely it is the most romantic, charming, and touching nosebleed scene in the history of cinema.) This minor departure from the novel was entirely the inspiration of director Autumn de Wilde, based on her own experience with awkwardly timed nosebleeds. Most remarkably, Anya Taylor-Joy is such a talented actress, her nose actually bled during the scene! While plans had been made to interrupt shooting and allow makeup to do its thing to implement the nasal “special effect”, in fact Taylor-Joy spontaneously began all on her own, without need for technical assistance. At her insistence, shooting continued through the end of the scene. Kudos to Mark for the shout out to Starcrawler, whose lead singer (Arrow de Wilde) gives quite stunning performances herself. Jagger has nothing on her!

Thank you so much. Your imput is fascinating to watch. I enjoyed it very much. I love this film. It is totally beautiful. I recommend that if you can do come to the UK for a Jane Austen pilgrimage. Visit Steventon, Chawton, Winchester and Bath for example. Especially in Bath for the Regency Parade in September. It is wonderful. Years ago I would groan at the very idea of Jane Austen's novels but somehow and very suddenly she became my obsession. Jane Austen grabs your attention and doesn't let go! I love this remarkable woman completely.

Hi there. Thanks for the great review of this latest version of “Emma”, which I have not yet seen though I am very familiar with the story. Someday I would LOVE for you to do a video of your top five or top ten favorite novels. I can guess from your videos that “Jane Eyre” would probably be on the list and I would love to know what other books are among your very favorites. Thank you as always.

Thank you for your work on the wonderful reviews of these classics. I hope you and your family have a wonderful day and week. On a side note I like the color of that blouse. There was a time where I had some shirts like that and it was very big at the time. I forget the name for that pattern. I usually stick to mostly solid colors. Sorry, too much overshare on my part. Have a lovely day.

Thank you for this review. There are few things better than being pleasantly surprised by a movie. I'm glad yall enjoyed this version of Emma. Haven't seen it myself, ever since I found out Clueless was a modern retelling of Emma I find it hard to watch any version without picturing Alicia Silverstone. Still I always want to try and your review bolsters the argument for it

Thanks for the great review, and I agree that I was glad to have seen it. I was dreading it, but it worked on many levels. What I can’t get past, though, is the level of ostentation. She was gentry, yes, but certainly not titled. Her lifestyle in this film seems to be that of a duchess (consider the Pallisers; though different era it was equivalent to their house, staff, and sophistication) and not a local, ordinary manor. The clothes, the decorations, the size and scope of everything was just too much! This element distracted me throughout-even the shop was ridiculous for a rural setting at that time. If we consider the excitement of the sisters in ‘Sense and Sensibility’ over their chance to go to London, that would indicate how different the countryside was from a big city, and even London wasn’t as polished as this film. Also, no matter the real age of the actor playing Mr Knightly, there was little sense that he was 12 years older and watched her grow up. They seemed very much to be contemporaries, so that dimension of the story was simply lost.

I saw Emma early last year in the cinema with my mother.We like the costume period drama,s and horror movies.This type of film usually brings in a large audience of distinguished elders.When Mr Knightly exposed his naked backside.Well,I heard a loud gasp of pleasure followed by an echo of appreciative chirping in the auditorium.(My mother did not do this.It takes more than a shot of raw rump to get her excited.)My first thought.The more uncharitable,sanctimonious side of me."How dare that elderly lady objectify Johnny Flynn like that!"Then the better more caring side of me took over."I hope that that lovely lady's ticker can take it."Anyway I thought that it was entertaining,gorgeous looking and well acted.I hope the pleased lady enjoyed it and did not find the lack of nudity in the rest of the movie a letdown.I liked your observations on how it compared to the book.I hope this comment wasn,t too cheeky.If so.I apologise profusely.

Mr Knightley is my favourite Austen love interest as well. They're the only couple I can see as really being good *friends* above all, and having the kind of equality that comes from really knowing each other. There's less formality than with most of the other couples, which maybe makes them feel more contemporary.

New bookshelf owls! Regarding the film, I too am wary when people go modernizing stories set in the past (especially the further back you go) But you have me intrigued with this. I'll give this one a shot. I especially enjoyed the production design evident in your photos. It looks like they did a good job. So if nothing else, I'll enjoy that.

I thoroughly enjoyed that film, more than I expected I would.

Although Emma isn’t one of my favorites, there are good things in all the versions I’ve seen, including the 2020 version. I found the 1996 version more emotional somehow, but Anya Taylor-Joy I thought was an improvement over Gwyneth Paltrow. However, you may be shocked that I find Clueless, the teen version with Alicia Silverstone, which follows Austin’s plot pretty well, the most entertaining while still managing to pack a lot of emotion in this “as if” teen romp, a film very much of its time. I think it shows Austin’s story has a lot of flexibility.

"Awkward and unfortunate" moments do happen, don't they? :-) Splendid review, as always. This is on my list of possible birthday/Christmas gifts for some of my female friends. Thanks for another great video!

I liked this one as well. Across the board the performances were great. I'm a big fan of the whole cast! I have not read the book, but I do own it. One of these days I'll get around to it.

Hello Jerome! Looking sharp! Hope you’re doing well and hope your family is doing good! This is awesome that you are reviewing Emma! Have a wonderful Saturday

It was an okay adaptation. My favourite is still the 1996 TV version with Kate Beckinsale is my favourite.

I also really enjoyed this version and it surprised me, I'd watched some episodes of the series Dickinson around the time of Emma's release and the series put me off watching this film for ages, I judged it unfairly and assumed it would be similar in how it would try to update its story and visual style for a TikTok audience lol, the audience who believe Bridgerton leaves all costume dramas in the dust lol, to be fair I haven't seen Bridgerton and it might be good and to be fair to Bridgerton fans if they watched BBC Pride and Prejudice or any other costume drama they might like them too lol. I don't know if I disliked Dickinson I believe it was pretty well received but for me it a felt a bit inauthentic to the period and I thought Emma would also feel that way but I was wrong and it was very well done, minor differences were tasteful and it was beautifully shot. The Ghost of Emily Dickinson : " Oof, quit dragging Boomer!, shows a real one, it's lit, i's lit, no cap, periodt!!" lol. Another terrific review. ~ Thank you Ms Weiselberry ~

yay!!!! Glad you reviewed this newest version. While I enjoyed it, I think I too liked the 1996 Kate Beckinsall version best. Here is a question for you- I hesitate to even ask, because I can guess that you would not approve of it- have you watched Sanditon, the first season? I hear that the second season is being produced. I know there are some parts I do not approve of at all- Jane Austen would be horrified- but the heroine and hero are so perfect for each other, - well I have said enough. Thank you for your insights, always!!

I didn't like the bare bums and i didn't like the songs. It was beautifully shot and the Emma actress is a brilliant actress. But overall i was longing to turn it off and watch Romola Garai's Emma again.

We are in luck! Thank you for reviewing it 🙆‍♀️

Hello, how are you. You so nailed the review of Emma. It was one of the last films i managed to see at the cinema. It was so luxurious , the sets, costumes the acting. Anna Taylor Joy was really good at playing Emma. Your right , the scene at the picnic was so emotional to watch, Emma here was really awful, but,, as the film went on she learnt how to be a better person. As for Bill nighy,, what an actor. I love how he portrayed the father,, and those screens,, so funny. If you or any body reading this is a Jane Austin admirer , please look for " LOST IN AUSTIN ", It was on ITV ( an english television channel in 2008,), its actually on youtube ( ru-vid.com?search_query=lost+in+austen+cap+1 ). A fantasy about a Jane austin fan who, falls into the world of Jane Austin,,, its only 4 episodes, but its very good, and funny. Enjoy if you get the chance. Love your reviews, keep them coming. D.

My favourite version stars Romola Garni.

The Director's daughter is lead singer in a Punk Rock band called Starcrawler. The sound quality of youtube videos of them do not do their albums justice. I recently bought both the albums and really liked them. Full of energy and pretty darn rockin'. Best played with the sound turned UP.

Finally someone who loves Mr Knightly like I do. The nudity added nothing to the story IMO ! Thanks for the review ! 😀

I have fondness for the music of the Paltrow version by Rachel Porter, which won an Academy Award. I enjoyed the music in this one too. I thought the Paltrow version a little more faithful, but this one more witty. But Austen had no archery in her novels, so Paltrow's was not completely faithful either. I thought Romola was a little too nice to be Emma. I think this version strikes the right balance with the character.

I love the 'JUST DON'T DO IT' plea that clearly came from the heart . Must admit I laughed at that as much as some of the blooper outtakes you do. As for 'Emma'. It falls between two stools. I know I am not the prime audience. But clearly the female parts were so well acted and put across while the males were so easily forgettable compared to previous adaptations.

It's always going to be a hard job to adapt a novel to a movie, especially one from over two centuries ago; having to make it relatable to modern senses without removing the core aspects that fans love. You either have to focus on the the period-drama like this or lean into the modernization like She's All That/10 Things I hate about you. When I saw this one, I was worried they would change too much but luckily they managed to adapt it simliarly to how the recent Little Women movie did; that perfect balance. Random video idea but it'd be interesting to have you rank adaptations of the classics to give recommendations over "this is the most faithful" and "this is the most enjoyable".

Oh, thanks for reviewing this movie!

I still haven't seen it yet, but am interested in this review.

Yay- finally! I was hoping I would review this- it was the last one I saw in theaters before the lockdown! I was mostly disappointed ☹️ - it was NOT my style & the acting wasn’t impressive.

Movie review suggestions. There are two classic movies about presidential assassinations. Manchurian Candidate and Suddenly. Both star Frank Sinatra. Candidate is a personal favorite with Sinatra as a soldier suffering from Battle Fatigue (PTSD) who is rescued by Janet Leigh.

My favorite austen hero is also mr. Knightley! The 2020 is enjoyable for the costumes and backgrounds but i don't like the story portrayals. They make it too obvious from the start that mr. Knightley is the love interest and all other characters seem silly. Frank Churchill is not charming enough to make everyone love him. My favorite Frank is in beckinsale and garai version. Spoiler alert. What i hate the most is the ending. Why would Emma went to persuade Robert Smith?! The time has passed and she couldn't know harriet and robert feelings. It shows that she hasn't learn her lesson. And they kiss in "front" of mr. Woodhouse is just outrageous.

Great Review 👏

I saw it just before the lock down in March 2020.

I see you there in the title period, I see you.

My day for suggested movie reviews. The Big Red One Sam Fuller,s autobiographical ode to the First Infantry Division. As an aside Sam Fuller and Charles Durning were together on Omaha Beach on June Sixth 1944.

Miranda is wonderfully funny in early episodes of 'Not Going Out'.

I haven't seen the movie, but I recognized Josh O'Connor from The Crown. I haven't seen The Crown either, but I have seen dozens of clips and cast interviews on RU-vid and have toyed around with the idea of watching the series in full. Have you ever seen it?

The one downvote came from Mr Wickham

I had trouble understanding the thick accents in this movie, especially in key moments and when people were crying.

I can't re-watch this, no matter how beautiful it is, because every time I see this Emma I can see the blood coming out of her nose in every scene. Yuk.

I find it hard to relate to Regency period drama's --- they talk so much and in such a stilted manner. But I'm glad the Heroine had an arc --- so many these days do not.

I didn't like it. At all! I'm old fashioned and older. My favourite Emma is the Kate Beckinsale version which is the first one I ever saw; there might be something in that.

will you review Clueless (1995)?

ARE THE SHADES OF WEISELBERRY TO BE THUS POLLUTED? You are too generous, Miss J. Please forgive me for the following rant. This adaptation was eye-roll-inducing nonsense. I think it's the worst example of recent Austen adaptations favouring form over substance. Yes, it's shot prettily, there's much care and thought put into design, costuming and other visual details, but they simply get the story wrong. I'm not slavish about adaptational fidelity [I think Clueless is an outstanding adaptation, for instance] but changes have to make sense within the movie itself. It was a little interesting to see Emma and Knightley attended by servants in their dress, but what does it add? At least with Flynn's nudity I can kindasorta understand the female-gaze-y contrived sexing-up for a female audience - as you say, that goes back to Firth's aquatic adventures - but why does Emma bare her arse to the fire? MOST IMPROPER. Same with the nosebleed - it's a bizarre distraction at a critical moment. I laughed out loud in the cinema at the sheer daftness of it before retrieving my eyeballs, which had rolled quite out of their sockets. How did they get the story wrong? Emma in this movie is fundamentally unlikeable, which is a fatal flaw in adapting the story. "Borderline horrible" is an apt description, because AT-J's Emma is cold and mean. Yes, Emma Woodhouse is flawed; she is snobby, conceited, selfish and naive. However, she is also good-natured at heart, kind, lively and witty. Little of that is shown in the movie, so we are left with an unfeeling mean-girl. It's thus hard to engage with her story, hard to understand why Knightley loves her and hard to accept the change in her character by the end. AT-J is a talented actress but the interpretation here was way off. Speaking of Knightley, Flynn is horribly miscast. He looks like the stable-boy has been strategically shaved and dressed in his master's clothes. Knightley is supposed to a middle-aged gentleman - the ideal gentleman, if such a thing exists - with authority, gravitas and subtle good humour. In contrast, Flynn looks awkwardly bewildered and uncomfortable in his own skin. More of a scruffy man-child than a self-assured gentleman. And what's with the hair? We're supposed to believe that he's dressed head to toe by a valet who nevertheless allows Knightley to leave the house without brushing his damned hair? Most of the casting decisions and portrayals were odd. Bill Nighy is always watchable, but should an aged hypochondriac be spryly leaping from staircases? Frank Churchill was loutishly charmless, Jane Fairfax insipid, Harriet Smith anaemically depressed [and what happened to her eyebrows? Yet another weird distraction] and Mrs. Elton merely annoying rather than comical. Only a few characters hit the mark for me: I love Miranda Hart and I agree that she was terrific as Miss Bates [nobody comes close to Sophie Thompson, however] and Josh O'Connor was enjoyably unctuous. Badly done Emma. Badly done. P.S. and they left out the gypsy scene. Shocking lack of gypsies; I can't believe you let that one go.

Listen their is a big-eyed owl to the left on this video. Be careful and great review.

I don't know about the high collars worn by the men here?...if you have sideburns, your not wearing high collars, trust me.

Audumn de Wilde did a great job!

This Emma is too modern

this movie is very realistic except for the lack of lesbians in it.