Pride and Prejudice (DVD)
Nevertheless, no matter what the Academy thinks this title is certainly one of, if not the, best films of 2005. Even if director Joe Wright seems to point out flaw after flaw in his audio commentary, I still think this one is a masterpiece.
A film does not need to be uppity and pretentious to be an Oscar worthy film and that is the pure genius behind Pride and Prejudice, it speaks of a world in which I just described but it maintains a reality that almost anyone and everyone can connect with even if it takes place in 1797. The Bennet sisters range from giddy and childish to uptight and overly mature giving audience members an opportunity to connect with any one of them and start the cheering. Then there is Brenda Blethyn as Mrs. Bennet and Donald Sutherland as Mr. Bennet, two performances this film could not have done without. This film absolutely nailed it when it comes to the casting and even though I doubted her chances before I saw the film, Keira Knightley is perfect as Elizabeth Bennet and it is a miracle that someone so young and so talented can also be this much fun to look at.
So, what of this DVD? Well, there isn't a ton to talk about as it only has a couple of mini-features and the earlier-mentioned audio commentary by director Joe Wright. As for the featurettes there is one that focuses on the cast's impressions of the Bennet family and the film on a whole and a look at the life and work of Jane Austen as seen by the cast and director.
My only gripe about the DVD would be Wright's commentary. Throughout the commentary he bounces back and forth from praise to ridicule as you can tell he is happy with most of the film, but he gets very specific when he doesn't like something. In my opinion self-criticism is fine, but when the film is as widely accepted as Pride and Prejudice was I don't need the director to point out meaningless flaws. Sure, tell me how you didn't have enough money for some expensive CGI work as Renny Harlin did in his Exorcist: The Beginning commentary, but when you get to be as nit-picky as Wright does in his commentary you begin to notice flaws you wouldn't have noticed before unless you are looking for them, and each time I watch the feature now I will be seeing those minor details and that bothers me. Is this reason not to buy the DVD? No, but it is reason not to listen to the commentary if you love this film as much as I did.
Overall, buy the DVD, watch it, and then watch it again. I never expected to like this film as much as I did, but I am sure glad I gave it a chance as I plan on watching it over and over now that I have it on DVD.