When checking out the Bonus Features, I took a look at the "Bennett Family Portrait." That's where it hit me. As several of the actors described the characters they were playing, I realized I was hearing a new, sort of humanistic twist on each of the characters. Mrs. Bennett is actually quite a heroic figure because she gives her all to save her daughters from poverty; Mr. Bennett loves all of his daughters so affectionately and would do anything for them. The family is happy, etc. etc.
- Thinking back on the film after seeing this bonus clip, I remembered some scenes that illustrated this view. At the ball, after Mr. Bennett stops Mary from playing another tune on the pianoforte (and embarrassing her by doing so), you see him searching her out and consoling her as she weeps on his shoulder. This does not happen in the book.
- Lydia, after getting married to Wickham, has none of the self-importance she portrays in the book -- merely a tragic sort of adoration for her new husband.
- Mrs. Bennett's comments are toned down, especially her rudeness to Mr. Darcy and her favoritism toward Lydia.
So what you get is less of a moral story. When you read the book, or see the BBC version with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth, you see the good, the bad and the ugly. Some characters struggle with faults and are aware of them (Darcy -- his temper and pride). Some characters discover their errors a bit late (maybe too late?), but repent nevertheless (Mr. Bennett- his neglect of his family). Others are entirely blind to their own hypocrisies (Mrs. Bennett, Mr. Collins). You see human beings in various stages of both ruin and redemption.
The new movie takes all of that away, leaving you with basically one message: that one should be careful not to form opinions of others too hastily. Everyone has a good side and just needs to be understood. We're all just trying to make it in this world full of pain, etc. etc. Even the soundtrack plays this up, with its melancholy melody.
I still think it's a good movie for many reasons. Being faithful to the book is not one of them. Did the director read the book? I can't help but wonder.
