Sense and Sensibility
Another Jane Austen Slam-Dunk!
A tragic beginning to a beautiful love story, Mr. Dashwood has just passed away leaving his inheritance, by law, to his brother. This leaves Mrs. Dashwood and her three daughters somewhat poverty stricken. Elinor (Emma Thompson) the eldest daughter is stable and sensible even when the handsome Edward Ferrars (Hugh Grant) captures her heart. Marianne (Kate Winslet) on the other hand, wears her heart on her sleeve, and ever the hopeless romantic finds herself on the whim of a couple suitors. Both sisters find love, and lose it, but in the end they’ll both risk it all, to get it all.
It’s a tradition in our home, that whenever my mom is in town we hunker down and watch as many Jane Austen films as humanly possible. Well this visit was a short one but we still managed to fit in the classic Sense and Sensibility (1995 version). And what do you get when you jam three hugely successful actors such as Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, and Hugh Grant into one film? A film that is fun to watch the whole way through, that’s what! As with all Jane Austen films, gorgeous scenery, lovely costumes, beautiful music, complex storyline. So don’t think this version is any different from the rest, it still takes a while to develop the plot, which comes off as slow and some may think boring. But if you are a Jane Austen fan, you’re sure to love this one just as much as the rest of her movie collection.
Motherly Advice: I watched this film with the filters on lowest and I don’t know what was cut but let me assure you, this version of Sense and Sensibility is c.l.e.a.n. !! Even the costumes aren’t as low cut as the newer Jane Austen films that are being released. The only thing I could warn you of is some of the content is quite scandalous. There are affairs being had, illegitimate children being born, sons/daughters being disowned. All of the things that you or I might think nothing of, but if you were to watch it with your young children, it might plant seeds of curiosity that you may not be ready to discuss. That’s my motherly advice on that subject and so I would say I hope you mothers out there enjoy this film with your daughters ages 13 and up.
Trisha - ClearPlay President of the Jane Austen Fan club!
Rated PG for mild thematic elements; 136 min; Directed by Ang Lee