Love & Friendship

[kevinknapman]

Whit Stillman makes a triumphant return to form (following the slight and disappointing Damsels in Distress) with this delightfully arch and witty adaptation of Jane Austen's Lady Susan.

Stillman has always excelled in the genre of the comedy of manners and social mores (should anyone need convincing check out Metropolitan and Barcelona) and finds a perfect match with Austen here. Bringing out a more acidic tone than we've usually come to expect from previous adaptations of the writer's work.

Kate Beckinsale jumps at the chance of playing the almost entirely irredeemable Lady Susan after a run of increasingly uninspired leather clad appearances in the Underworld series and clearly relishes every line of duplicitous and condescending dialogue. Plus it's also a pleasure to see her reunited with her Last Days of Disco co-star Chloe Sevigny.
Aussie Xavier Samuel is also entirely convincing and charming as the object of affection for both Lady Susan and her daughter while Phoneshop's Tom Bennett effortlessly steals every scene he's in as a dim-witted suitor.

Those who prefer their Austen to be more romantically inclined may well be disappointed by this more cynical approach but Stillman fans should find much to satisfy. Plus at just over 90 mins it doesn't outstay its welcome.
Personally I loved it.

[alythonian]

Edinburgh packed as usual by 6pm with the non workers of the town. Lucky sods!
Two walk outs by two people under 40 so demographic instantly doubled in the cinema....sorry, the Edinburgh a Times audience brings out the worst in me....
Anyway, the film. It was clever and witty and relevant 200 years after it was written. I got some laughs out of and not just at Lord James. Now, Lord James, I know he was playing as written largely but all that kept going through my head was Father Dougal! Maybe that's where Graham Linehan got his inspiration in part?!
Chloe S got in my nerves, she just didn't feel believable to me, the rest of the cast were all jolly good though.
I enjoyed this and it was a good timing, not too long.
7/10

[McG]

Glasgow Quay was about 3/4 full. I think there was one couple who left.
I'd heard from scootermcc that he had this film as his worst of the year after he had seen it at a Press screening so didn't go with any great expectations. However, it wasn't as bad as feared but certainly not a film I'd recommend unless the person really wanted to see the novella 'Lady Susan' transferred to film. There was some funny parts and some displays of ignorance which were used to bring humour too. At times the relationships verged on the farcical with people coming and going.
I've been, I've seen and I'd not choose to see it again.
Marks 4/10

[yogi]

I wasn't really convinced by Kate Beckinsdale as the desirable, scheming Lady Susan so the whole thing dragged at times despite its short running time, but some of the lines were still fantastic and every moment the James Martin character was on screen the movie got much better and was laugh out loud funny at times. 5/10

[nosila50]

At the Edinburgh showing and agree that you have to be quick to get your self a seat in amongst the majority of Times Readers of a later age. Have timed the journey from work to a T so as long as no roadworks I make it and can just about grab a decent seat.

The film itself was enjoyable and funny in places but much as I love period dramas this does not rate in the top 10 and would not have pa*d to see it on the big screen. 6/10

[prettyxcool]

Thanks to elski, went to the screening at Curzon Mayfair with a Q&A with Whit Stillman and Kate Beckinsale.

A period comedy that feels more like a theatrical play. The story twists and turns and has so many witticisms that certainly you will need to watch several times to catch them all, as they come sharp and fast. Lady Susan’s reaction to a gentleman who has the bad taste to call out to her in the street is just classic. In another scene she tries to marry her daughter off with a rich idiot, "But marriage is for one's whole life!" her daughter protests against the match making, to which she replies, "Not in my experience"! Sir James Martin as the rich idiot is hilarious. Kate Beckinsale as Lady Susan scheming and manipulating, is delightful. 8/10

[elski]

a free Q&A is available on curzoncinema till midnight tonight
https://www.curzonhomecinema.com/#!/fil ... IP_Q_AND_A

[cookiemonster]

I found this a bit disappointing to be honest. It took me quite a while to remember who all the characters were, and I just didn't think the story was good enough to keep me properly interested. I agree that there were some quite funny moments - usually from Tom Bennett, but I quite quickly forgot about it and wouldn't bother watching it again!

[raj101]

superior period costume drama.

4 stars.

[Diamond1]

Just brilliant!!!!!