Read User Reviews and Submit your own for Love & Friendship

6

TVJerryMay 28, 2016

Don't get excited when you find out that this is based on Jane Austen's novella "Lady Susan." Although it's set in the lovely 18th century locales of the author's other tales, the central character (Kate Beckinsale) is unlike her typicalDon't get excited when you find out that this is based on Jane Austen's novella "Lady Susan." Although it's set in the lovely 18th century locales of the author's other tales, the central character (Kate Beckinsale) is unlike her typical heroines. She's a selfish, dishonest, scheming widow who manipulates everyone around her to find husbands for herself and her daughter. Although Beckinsale is lovely, she doesn't possess the charismatic qualities that could have made the character compelling. She dominates the dialogue and there's lots of it…not much of it as clever as needed. The only memorable character (Sir James Martin) is played with delightful dizziness by Tom Bennett. The surprisingly colorful costumes are exquisite and there is a lively pace that keeps the film afloat. It may look like a typical Austen flick, but lacks the elegant charm and romantic appeal we've come to expect from the genre.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

All this user's reviews

2

NerdConsultantOct 17, 2016

This is a film that was drastically oversold by the critics. It’s a film where very little to nothing happens. Kate Beckinsale tries her best with it but ultimately it’s a flawed film. There is very little that happens in the film and whenThis is a film that was drastically oversold by the critics. It’s a film where very little to nothing happens. Kate Beckinsale tries her best with it but ultimately it’s a flawed film. There is very little that happens in the film and when things do start getting going, the film ends!!! Admittedly I am not the target audience for this film, I am not a fan of period dramas, especially the Jane Austen period dramas as I think they are often stuck in a formula that is tired and old and they don’t try to do anything contemporary with it, the trailer for this film alluded they were going to to that with this film, however, it doesn’t fully commit to that. The film is not really funny, not very interesting, I would skip it.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

3

DavidnbMay 30, 2016

Kate B, and Cloe S seemed to think that they were in a high school production of the Importance of Being Earnest. KB in particular was in way over her head, delivering each line as an epigrammatic bon mot, rather than an expression of herKate B, and Cloe S seemed to think that they were in a high school production of the Importance of Being Earnest. KB in particular was in way over her head, delivering each line as an epigrammatic bon mot, rather than an expression of her truth, some very bad acting here. she was in way over her head. Fortunately, the rest of the cast were fine actors, and managed to pull this out being a total disaster.

There is a reason that this is Jane Austen's least known work.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

9

brownbatMay 20, 2016

One of Whit Stillman's best, and a great adaptation. In an interview on Bullseye, Stillman explained how most Austen adaptations can fall short, by playing up the romanticism and missing Austen's cutting humor. This was more faithful toOne of Whit Stillman's best, and a great adaptation. In an interview on Bullseye, Stillman explained how most Austen adaptations can fall short, by playing up the romanticism and missing Austen's cutting humor. This was more faithful to Austen, and her material was a great vehicle for Whit Stillman's approach to dialogue-driven comedy, which has always felt like a mix of classic and modern. If you like Stillman, or if you've just been waiting for an Austen adaptation that captures her tone better, you'll love it.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

6

Brent_MarchantMay 26, 2016

Excellent production values, capable acting and witty writing aside, this period piece comedy ultimately comes off as largely inconsequential. The dry humor is mildly amusing, and the conniving protagonist plays like Joan Collins Lite, butExcellent production values, capable acting and witty writing aside, this period piece comedy ultimately comes off as largely inconsequential. The dry humor is mildly amusing, and the conniving protagonist plays like Joan Collins Lite, but otherwise there's not much to this lightweight fare to significantly engage the viewer's attention. Just because it's Jane Austen doesn't mean it's good.… Expand

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

All this user's reviews

5

foxgroveJun 6, 2016

The reasons that this less well known Jane Austen novel has taken so long to reach the screen becomes all too obvious in this unsatisfactory adaptation. Whilst the screenplay is very literate and not without its moments of humour, the barrageThe reasons that this less well known Jane Austen novel has taken so long to reach the screen becomes all too obvious in this unsatisfactory adaptation. Whilst the screenplay is very literate and not without its moments of humour, the barrage of verbiage finally adds up to little in the way of real drama. The cast give it their all and Kate Beckinsale is suitably conniving and manipulative as Lady Susan. Ultimately, though, it remains a resolutely small and unambitious chamber piece. The high production values that helped elevate both ‘Emma’ and ‘Sense and Sensibility’ are sorely missing here, even if the costumes on display are beautiful in themselves. Love and Friendship is finally and fatally undone by its lack of dramatic incident.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

All this user's reviews

1

KittyRoseranchMay 25, 2016

I am a Jane Austen fan so had to see this flick. Too bad so sad:
Beautiful costumes with lousy daily wig work. Redundant screenplay with flat scene work. Expositional character introductions felt dumbed down.
This movie falls so far belowI am a Jane Austen fan so had to see this flick. Too bad so sad:
Beautiful costumes with lousy daily wig work. Redundant screenplay with flat scene work. Expositional character introductions felt dumbed down.
This movie falls so far below what we've seen with Emma, Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice et al. The locations were promising but the cinematography disappoints.
Beckinsale's Lady Susan was not likeable or vulnerable in the least. For example: with Emma we know that she is manipulative and sometimes thoughtlessly wicked but we still root for her because Gwyneth Paltrow gave her a heart and a character arc.
I'm Glad we saw a matinee and didn't waste full price.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

All this user's reviews

2

swingMay 13, 2016

I guess you have to be a Jane A fan. I love period movies and literate ones as well. But Jane wasn't my cup of tea. Silly English humor. There was a dash of that. But there wasn't enough to make me love
this movie. I didn't relate to any ofI guess you have to be a Jane A fan. I love period movies and literate ones as well. But Jane wasn't my cup of tea. Silly English humor. There was a dash of that. But there wasn't enough to make me love
this movie. I didn't relate to any of the characters, empathize with them, or like them. It's very talky, and sometimes difficult to catch all the dialogue. It's too bad because with those critics four star ratings, I wanted to feel something. Come to think of it, I did. --the urge to leave the theater. The movie wasn't for me, though there was some cackling by those ladies in the movie theater who must have heard something that I didn't.… Expand

3 of 9 users found this helpful36

All this user's reviews

2

GreatMartinMay 27, 2016

Most people know Jane Austen’s from either reading her books “Pride & Prejudice”, “Sense & Sensibility” or seeing the many TV or movie versions of those books and “Mansfield Park” and “Emma”. The movie I saw this afternoon “Love andMost people know Jane Austen’s from either reading her books “Pride & Prejudice”, “Sense & Sensibility” or seeing the many TV or movie versions of those books and “Mansfield Park” and “Emma”. The movie I saw this afternoon “Love and Friendship” is a novella, entitled “Lady Susan”, which she wrote but never finished and was finally published about 75 years later after her nephew took over the task to do just that.

In this film directed by Whit Stillman, who also wrote the screenplay based on the novella, there are a lot of smart, funny, sophisticated lines telling the story of the beautiful, widowed Lady Susan and her manipulations to get her daughter and herself married by any means. We meet many of their relatives, friends and eligible men with the latter being picked by Lady Susan for a role she has picked for each.

The cast, starring Kate Beckinsale as a beautiful, believable Lady Susan and including such actors as Morfydd Clark, Xavier Samuel, Emma Greenwall, Justin Edwards, Jemma Redgrave, Stephen Fry and James Fleet, among others, fit in with the Jane Austen English characters with only Chloe Sevigny standing out for the wrong reason. Tom Bennett provides many funny moments but he seems too silly for the film and story.

Stillman does a good job of directing and offers a first rate production though at time the actors talk to low and/or a bit hard to understand, swallowing up the words in their accents.

Though I would not recommend seeing “Love & Friendship” I do know it will send me to reading the novella “Lady Susan” so I can read the words of Jane Austen and see how, if, Whit Stillman added to the screenplay or undermined the original story.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews

8

nutterjrDec 29, 2016

Genuinely fun, witty and at times laugh out funny in ways I did not think a Jane Austen's story could be imagine. Lady Vernon is devilishly charming and deceitfully charming played by Kate Beckinsale who even though has not impressed meGenuinely fun, witty and at times laugh out funny in ways I did not think a Jane Austen's story could be imagine. Lady Vernon is devilishly charming and deceitfully charming played by Kate Beckinsale who even though has not impressed me before is delightful here, whilst Tom Bennet's preposterous upper class twit Sir James is the film's true scene-stealer. The script and dialogue are so tight and full of brilliant one-liners that the film screams for a second viewing which I will gladly oblige should the opportunity arise.… Expand