• Starring: Jamie Bell, Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender
  • Summary: Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender star in the romantic drama based on Charlotte Brontë's classic novel, from acclaimed director Cary Fukunaga. In the story, Jane Eyre flees Thornfield House, where she works as a governess for wealthy Edward Rochester. As she reflects upon the people and emotions that have defined her, it is clear that the isolated and imposing residence – and Mr. Rochester's coldness – have sorely tested the young woman's resilience, forged years earlier when she was orphaned. She must now act decisively to secure her own future and come to terms with the past that haunts her – and the terrible secret that Mr. Rochester is hiding and that she has uncovered. (Focus Features) Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 35
  2. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. Reviewed by: Andrew O'Hehir
    Mar 11, 2011
    100
    Jane Eyre is a passionate, impossible love story, one of the most romantic ever told. But it's also a cold, wild story about destruction, madness and loss, and this movie captures its divided spirit like none before.
  2. Reviewed by: A.O. Scott
    Mar 10, 2011
    100
    A splendid example of how to tackle the daunting duty of turning a beloved work of classic literature into a movie. Neither a radical updating nor a stiff exercise in middlebrow cultural respectability, Mr. Fukunaga's film tells its venerable tale with lively vigor and an astute sense of emotional detail.
  3. Reviewed by: Ian Nathan
    Sep 5, 2011
    60
    There's no question it's stunningly mounted, and Wasikowska makes a much stronger Jane than Alice, but the romance is overripe and the climax underdone.

See all 35 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 18
  2. Negative: 2 out of 18
  1. 10
    From the introductory sequences of director Cary Fukunga's Jane Eyre, it is obvious that the adaptation would lead towards emphasizing the Gothic elements of Charlotte Brontes original novel. The film opens, the audience sees 18-year old Jane Eyre running into the country in a directionless path. While context is absent within the opening segment, this so-far meaningless fragment of the film is devastating. The striking cinematographic images and the poignant score within this scene quintessentially evokes a modest subtlety of sorrow. With this subtlety the director forms an expansion of this subtlety throughout the film, creating an adaptation that is undoubtedly haunting and a true representation of Brontes original vision. This film based on the novel of the same name is a coming-of-age story of orphan Jane Eyre (Mia Wasikowska). The film first tells its story by alternating between memories of the protagonists dreadful experiences at her charter school, and her present-day growth into an independent and expressive woman. After the background of the character is established, the film primarily focuses on Jane Eyre, and her romantic relationship with her employer, the Byronic character of Edward Rochester (Michael Fassbender). Much of the novel’s main core is cut in order to shorten the length of the film, but the essential thematic elements - feministic independence, love and passion - remain in tact and prevalent; Absent are the elements regarding with religion and atonement. Overall, the film depicts Brontes novel in a manner that seems complete, that only slightly loses some coherence, due to the fact that it is principally told in a cookie-cutter manner of storytelling. But what makes Fukunga’s film unique from other interpretations of the novel lays not in the plot, but in the technical production value. Dario Marianellis haunting score along with Adrio Goldmans cinematography, enables each moment is formulated into an emotional tug highlighting the underlying darkness of the Brontes work. Moreover, Jane Eyre would not be able to retain its status in the literary canon without the character complexities of Eyre and Rochester. In fortuitous results, the leads of the film bring life to the characters in a fashion that is almost spot-on. Michael Fassbender (Inglorious Basterds) plays Edward Rochester perfectly as the character as his he perfectly portrays a transition of an archetypal emotionally dense character to one of passion. But perhaps the film’s reliance is based on Eyres character. Mia Wasikowska (Alice In Wonderland), wholly encapsulates the original characters struggle to find her own moral compass, but the actress does not quite hit every mark. Eyre is character that should flaunt independence and femininity, but the actress depicts Eyre too emotionally distressed that this aspect of the character is partially dismissed. After watching Cary Fukungas Sundance favorite, Sin Nombre, I had a feeling that I was witnessing a future thread of a new directorial star. Without a doubt, Fukunga’s sophomore effort, Jane Eyre, further affirms my prediction. Overall, Jane Eyre is a beautiful film that not only incorporates modern production value, but the accurate haunting emotions that Bronte encapsulated within the large threads of her novel. Although some of Eyres characterization somewhat falls flat in some aspects, this film exceptionally introduces the film to a modern generation. Expand
    • 2 of 2 users said yes
  2. People in love smile. They smile a lot. It's an expression that signals our interest in someone who delights our heart, a gesture as irrepressible as the wind through the Dales. Mia Wasikowska however never much alters her expression of dour gloom in this remake of 'Jane Eyre', a movie with no warmth, no chemistry, and certainly no passion. She is the ice queen of the frozen moors, and it comes as a surprise that Rochester could possibly have fallen in love with her, an even bigger surprise that she has any feelings for him. If you want to view a visually beautiful film, I can recommend this movie. If you want a tale of intelligent wit, fine dialog, and heartfelt passion, you'll need to read the book. Expand
    • 1 of 1 users said yes
  3. Boring, boring, boring, too much sense as false and the dialogue, and I hate the dialogue in verse form. and redeemable only good thing was the performance of Madame Judi Dench and Mia Wasikowska Expand
    • 1 of 2 users said yes

See all 18 User Reviews

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